The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-07-05
BILLIARDS WITH PRAYERS.
Novel Enterprise TO Be Started in an
Indiana Town.


Indiana Town.
A billiard hall that viii be opened
each morning with prayer and religious
ceremonies. and In which Bibles and
theological tracts viii be substituted
for the usual sensational pictorial pa
pers and racing cards, is the unique in
novation projected by Evanston church
members. A license for the project viii
be sought from the Evanston city coun-
ell at its meeting tomorrow night
The moral" billiard hall has the
backing OF the pastors of two Of Evans
tons most prominent churches and their
CONGREGATIONS. and the suburb IN which
pool and billiard rooms have been ia
booed since the memory Of the oldest
resident has taken so kindly to the
novel features proposed in the schs.ae
that the council is expected to give its
unanimous approval 70 the scheme.
The idea Of a resort Of the kind, where
the morals Of the Evanston youth would
not be endangered. originated with VIII
liam Hudson Harper, a member Of the
First Congregational Church Of Evans
ton. and a prominent lawyer. Evanston
has been fighting the encroachment Of
the poolrooms for ten years. Petitions
unnumbered have been presented 10 fHe
cts. council IN the past, but because Of
the strong sentiment existing against
such places in the university town, all
of them have been refused.
Two weeks ago Wheeler c. Bartrarn,
former chief Of police Of Evanston. and
E. s. Garnhardt, who runs a pool and
billiard establishment in Rogers Park,
made the last application for a license
The petition was referred 10 he
police committee, but large portion
Of the community which does not b.
long 10 the Evanston Club or the Boat
Club rallied to the support Of the peti-
TONERS and asserted their privilege 10
be allowed to play pool or billiards in
q public hall, since the aristocratic ele-
ment took advantage OF the billiard
rooms in the cIubhouses.
The council was forced to reconsider
the poOlToom petition, and had begun
TO look favorabiy upon the idea when
Mr. Harper. enlisting the sympathies
of the Rev. John h Boyd of the First
Presbyterian Church. and the Rev. J. F.
Lola Of the First CONGREGATIONAL
Church. conceived a solution for the
danger threatening Evanston morals.
Several meetings were held at which a
number Of church members and fore
most citizens we're in attendance. and
the outcome was the Endorsement of
Mr. Harper's plan for a poolroom con
Quoted on strictly Young Mems Chris
tian Association principles.
The church members offer a special
inducenent to the public with the pro-
nosal to reduce the price Of billiards TO
10 cents an Hour and CT pool to 3 cents
4 cue. The men who are in the billiard
business FOR the money protest that the
churches are using trust tactics to force
them cut Of business, and that if a
public ooolr9om is to be established il
Evanston a license should be given to
those persons who are de9e ndeRt upon
the profits OF the hall for a living
The moral billiard hall undoubtedly
ranks higher IN pUblic favor and is
thought 10 have the better chance in the
council. The church members are so
confident of triumph with their Young
Mems Christian Association features
that they have appointed committee to
investigate she prices of billiard and
pool JagIes and the equipment necessary
for an up-to-date hail.-Chicago Inter
Ocean