The Advocate and news., 1899-02-08
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THE GOSPEL OF A GLASS OF I
BEER.
Some Things the Churches Can Learn
From the Saloons, u They
Only Care To.
A sermon by Rev. Charles II. Parkhurst at 4
Madison Square Presbyterian Church, jan a
uary29. q
! NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ~ n

as one year ago did among the churches,
and shall probably soon deliver Sc
ries Of talks on What the Saloon Can
Teach the Church.
AT present desire merely to say that
l was amazed at some of the scenes wit
messed. First of all, l discovered that
there were among the bartenders and
proprietors Of saloons men of gentle
manly instincts and sympathetic con-
duct. But l was most affected by the
salOon-keepers methods of distributing
food and nOurishment among their pat
rons. At noon hour frequently found
the place swarming with host of work.
men who came in to drink a glass or
two Of beer and then crafty their hunger
from a sidebOard that fairly grOaned
with the weight Of soups, meats In va
riety, vegetables cheeses, pickles, sal
ads, sandwiches cakes, crackers, etc.
"A poor man was compelled to pay
only five cents, and then he was permit
ted to gorge himself, If he chose to- with
food that would stay with him the rest
Of the day. / found some Of the saloons
had posted signs which read as follows:
let no hungry man pass here. Come in
anu 6hL. OO uOL bCdEVS.
There are certain saloons which lay
out big spreads on all public occasions,
and invite the poor and the hungry and
the MANNED to come in without money
to partake of the lucious Viands
Il asked myself the question, What
would become Of all these wretched and
unfortunate people if the saloons Of the
city were suddenly abolished? Who
would carry them the assistance which |
these instrumentalities are now furnish
ing? At present the allied Christian |
forces are not applying themselves to this |
needed task.
'If a poor man seeks assistance
through the churches he finds them en-
scOnced behind the bulwark Of the |
United Charities, and before he can Sc
cure from that source the necessary food |
to allay pains Of the stomach he must |
first present credential of good charac-
ter. All, am fully aware that the sa-
loon has its curses, but | thought it
timely to call public attention to some Of |
its simple virtues.
II ask, without intending any insinua-
tion, but merely for information, what
is the church doing as a whole to substi-
tute this good work of the saloons for
whose annihilatiOn she is so stoutly
clamoring?
''Is 1t not time that the church should
learn that there is some gospel even in
a glass of beer?
rs 1t not time that she should learn
how to interpret and utilize this gospel
for the benefit of the downtrodden and
degraded? Bishop Potter recently said
that the saloons are at present a neces-
sity. The good bishop has spoken, per-
haps wiser than he knew.
"rhe saloons are not only the poor
mans club house, but they are his hotel
and restaurant, and, sometimes even
his hospital and infirmary.
Now | have spoken of the saloons
virtues merely to give hint of possible
new uses to which the church may be put
for tha good of mankind. Bishop Potter
hopes to see coffee house and inn in
every block OF the city, That is a con-
devoutly to be wished But
l have proposition to make to the
far less impracticable and one
which can be put into immediate opera
tion.
why are our great religious ediflces !
which have cost millions of dollars and 1
which are untaxed, why, | ask, are
these buildings empty all day and almost
every night in the week, while the :
grOans OF the suffering and destitute !
multitude are echOing against their hol- I
low walls?
My proposition is that we shall not
wait for money enough to be raised to
build and maintain coffee houses and I
nns, but that the lecture rooms and an
lexes Of all the churches be thrown open \
tor such use at once, till the poor shall q
be cared for by the people who profess a
TO monopolize goodness; by the peoTle
who declare that their highest ambition {
s to initiate the example Of their Great 4
Master, whose supremest joy was the re- Il
lief OF the suffering and feeding Of the 8
hungry. a
Il call upon Bishop Potter and all of n