The Minneapolis journal., 1901-04-13

avenue church to take counsel about the
best methods of putting an end to gamb-
ling and kindred evils among the wealthy
people Of their congregations. The sec
tions of New York represented were Fifth
and Madison avenues and the West Side
along Amsterdam and West End evenues.
Holy Week a Social Riot.
After the conference one of the minis
ters said:
Holy week and the Easter vacation have
furnished periods of social riots. What 1
say is based upon my own observations since
coming to New York
One clergyman told how his wife had re-
ceived during holy week a note from a lady
in the congregation, asking her not to fail
to be at a prominent Fifth avenue social
resort, for the game would begin promptly
at an hour indicated next day. The writer
was one of the most active women in the
congregation and gave literally on Easter
day. 1t developed that the letter was in
tended for some one else and was sent to
the clergyman's wife by mistake.
The other point of discussion at the confer
ence was outlined by one minister saying
that pew after pew in his church was held
by man and his wife, who sat at the ends
with strangers.
This minister points out that conditions in
his church were not a whit different from
conditions in most churches in the Well-to-do
quarters of New York, and he asked his
fellow ministers why there should be so many
childless families. He did not want to men
ton Rome of old, but he said he had been
studying sizes of Sunday schools in Fifth
avenue, Madison avenue and West Side
churches
United Reform Movement.
We decided upon a common form of work
aimed to counteract present conditions in so
far as gambling is concerned, If such coun-
teraction be possible. The plan contemplates
personal work by ministers and trusted men
in the congregations, with the aim Of avoid
ing publicity, and because it is thought to be
better plan than to make public attack.
No, l cannot give names, but 1 am free
to say that some leaders in the conference
were men that have taken prominent New
York pulpits recently and are shocked by
! conditions they find in New York
Winnings on the Plate.
1t is my personal opinion that a great deal
! of the money put the plates in such lib
eral amounts on Easter Sunday came easy at
! the gaming table, or if it did not these large
Il
to supposed guilty consciences. 1t is a very
easy form of imaginary self-deniaI, this CIV
| ing of money by people who have plenty. in
stead of personal service and to atone for
dissipation.
| l am no longer young and have seen con-
ditions in many cities, but never imagined
conditions existing anywhere so bad as were
described at our informal talk last Thursday
and that by men who related what they knew
beyond doubt to be true
The following are some of the incidents
related at the conference:
Hostess Winner.
Central Park West mother hav,no ,
son in an eastern college, asked him r.
bring his college chum home to snen6
! Easter. The chum's father, resident n
Philadelphia, sent him $3.50 to defrav +bf
cost Of his New York vacation. The sec.
ond night after his arrival. at marty
| arranged by the hostess, the chum losi
every dollar and borrowed from his co1.
lege friend $25 with which he bought .
ticket home Part Of the winnings are
known to have gone to the hostess nile
The night was in holy week.
Tribute for the Church.
Two young men came to New York from
Pittsburg to spend Easter vacation. Thez
brought little with them except social
credentials, which took them into the hes
circles. Luck went their way and a game
played Good Friday night, so the minister
relating it said, netted them such large
sum that they left one hotel and went
to another more expensive
| Saturday they were called upon by d
lady, not the hostess, who demonstrated
with them mildly for keeping so much q
their winnings. Presently It developed