The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-31
"WHAT SALOONS TEACH"
DR.. Parkhurst Dallies With the Free
Lunch

l
| New York, jan s1-In his sermon IN
the Madison Square Presbyterian
| church, the Rev. Mr.. Parkhurst made
a defense of the saloons of New York.
1ndorsing in every particular Bishop
Potter's speech in which the bishop said
that the saloon was the workingman' s
club, and that to attack it under the
present conditions was hypocritica1. DR..
Parkhurst said:
81 recently made a tour among some
of the saloons of the city for the pur-
pose of studying their habits and meth
obs, as one year ago / did among the
churches, and probably shall soon de-
liver a series of talks on What the Sa-
loon Can Teach the Church.
tAt present 1 desire merely to say
that was amazed at some of the
scenes witnessed First of all, discov-
cred that there were among the bar
tenders and proprietors of the saloons
men of gent1emanIy instincts and SYM
pathetic conduct But 1 was most af-
fected by the saloon-keepers' methods
OF distributing food and nourishment
among their patrons. At noon hour I
frequently found the place swarning
with host Of workmen who came in
to drink a glass or two of beer and then
gratify their hunger from sideboard
that fairly groaned with the weight of
soups, meats in variety. vegetables,
cheeses, pickles, salads, sandwiches.
cakes, crackers, etc
POOR MAN GIVEN A MEAL.
only five cents, and then he was per-
mitted to gorge himself, if he chose to,
with food that would stay with him for
the rest of the day. I found some of
the saloons had posted signs which
read as follows: Let no hungry man
pass here. Come in and eat Do not
starve.'
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 luscious viands.
81 asked myself the questions, 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
furnishing? At present the allied Chris
tian forces are not applying them
selves to this need task.
IF poor man seeks assistance
through the churches he finds them
ensconced 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 Re
must first present a credential of good
character All, 1 am fully aware that
the saloon has its curses, but thought
1t timely to call public attention to some
of it's simple virtues.
WHAT IS THE CHURCH DOING?
81 ask, without intending any insinu-
alton, but merely for information,
what is the church doing as a whole
to substitute this good work of the
saloons for whose humiliation she is SO
Stoutiy clamoring?
us it not time that the church should
learn that there is some gospel even IN
a glass of beer?
rs it 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 neces-
sfty. The good bishop has spoken, per-
hans wiser than he knew.
THE saloons are not only the poor
mans club house, but they are his hotel
and restaurant, and, sometimes even
his hospital and inf1rmary.
Now I have spoken of the saloons
virtues merely to give a hint of posi-
BILE new uses to which the church may
be put for the good of mankind Bishop
Potter hopes to see a coffee house and
inn in every block of the city. That is
"a contamination devoutly to be wish
ed But I have a proposition to make
to the churches far less impracticable
and one which can be put into immedi-
ate operation.
why are our great religious edifices
which have cost millions of dollars and
which are untaxed, why, ask, are
these buildings empty all day and al
most every night in the week, while
the groans of the suffering and desti-
tute multitude are echoing against their
hollow walls?
My proposition is that we shall not
wait for money enough to be raised to
build and maintain coffee houses and
inns but that the lecture rooms and
annexes of all the churches be thrown
open for such uses at once, till the poor
shall be cared for by the people who
people who declare that their highest
ambition is to initiate the example of
their Great Master, whose supremest