Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-16
that win help our fellow
man." fl
ssBishop Potte's Rkm Shop"

'Bishop Potte Is q m Shop"
Rev. s. Reese Murray. in his discourse on
Bishop Potter's Rum shvp." at the Union
M. E. Church. taking as his text Let US
do evil that good may coms." said. in part:
II did not give the reformed saloon in
New York the name of Bishop Potter's
rum shop It Is theiname of the newspa-
per press for the saloon dedicated by
prayer and the singing of the doxology by
Bishop Potter not long since My text is
not misapplied. forathe ,bishop has said
that the saloon stands for a vast mis-.
chief and he is trying t3 find something
better, wholesome, harmless and undefil-'
ing to take its pIace,l Saying this and yet
declaring 1t social Necessity and dedi-;
eating one such mischief in the name of
the Holy Trinity. SHOWS he believes evil
can come out of god, which Paul and
Now, this subway saloon is not pure
philanthropy for poor men. 1t is intended
to make money good per. cent for div
such moral places, or poor mans clubs
The owners, therefore; are In it for their
health, quite as much as for the poor mans
elevations We all believe in the poor mans
right to q club as well as the rich mans.
We are poor enough, most Of us, to wish
him all the enjoyment he can get out Of
life. We deplore his surroundings and
ings for himself and family. But we be-
lieye more In, his securing that by moral
living, hard work and economy than by OBJ
tanning it where ne Is u INV II ne
and solicitations to drink more than he
feels is good for him. and where, If he con.
tinues to use this kind of retreat, he must
become hopeless sot.
"Men who mean to get ahead don't whine
about having no chance: men who sue.
coed were not generally scrambling and
yelling for a good time;
THE poor mans club Is a catchy phrase
for the saloon and seems to justify 1t. 1t
kind Of unhalances US to cry out against
ANYTHING the poor man really loves. But
inc tn make life bearable for his family,
than drinking up his small wages while
thew suffer for the comfort those wages
would bring?
r,vea in two rooms with a wife and five
children turning by Inevitable necessity
TO the saloon Inevitable necessity to
The aPS A Is s Especially ANY s of fss
and father of Ave children! Is his neces-
sity not at home, and every cent due that
poor woman and the five hunger-bitten
children he landed on tbs BIS gl?oef
should 20 for the man in such a case.
Don't pity the wife; she's only a, woman
and used to trouble and pain! Don't men.
ton the babies: they ought not to be mere!
to lean on in his misery. He needs friends
for a dull evening. which he's sure to have
in the two rooms with the cubs. At bed
time he'll turn up at nome as the club
And having had glorious time with the
boys, lights. warmth. laughter. jokes
what does it matter about the dingy rooms
for the babies. and the heartache OF the
woman he calls wife!
Don't blame the man. The bishop once
said How can I blame him whose task
is so narrow. so combining. so monotonous,
If now and then he "evens up. as he says.
;,,tr init "a
getting drunk? No, don't blame him!
What is life worth, what is life for. If he
can't abandon the woman and the babies
and get maudlin. blear-eyed. Knockout
Variety Is his spice. He must have his
club If he gets drunk, overlook it. 1t
may terrify his children 1t may over
whelm his wife with shame. It may even
about drunkenness. But-ah! his life is so
narrow, and this Jersey lightning will Zig
gag 1t in wider diameters! Don't blame the
man!
Some years ago good Catholic. but
a. fiery advocate of temperance. denounc-
ed Methodist preacher. Saying: We can
fight hell and win In this battle. If the
preachers will not lhe Up on the devirs
Potter in this battle. though justice re-
qures one to admit his honesty. He be-
liepes God is with Bhim,,yet knows the
risks that the matter inyalyes."- -,
Organizer Merty's lopinion. Sc
Mr. Isaac F. Merry. organizer Of the.
Sons of 2Tenrperancey fnoahswef~ TO the ia-t
terrugatories ofaa Staf vep3ft ef! said SCR
Eyes. have tread. aaJoat 9tlsSt saloon or
tavern, in New York s~hicip' was opened
with prayer and the singing of that good
old hymn. Praise God. From Whom All
prayer was by q bishop-Henry c. Potter
while he was standing on a case OF beer.
1t Is stated. Bishop Potter then delivered
an address. In which he praised the new
saloon declaring that It represented. more
progress toward temperance than all the
efforts of temperance leaders for fifty,
ye@rs. In the background, on the wall of
the saloon. we are told, was a picture
glazing negiige. Now what possible help
such things these can be to the poor
man cannot understand. On. the con-
trary, 1t appears to me they can only de-.
grade him physically. mentally, morally
and financially. The only difference can
see between Bishop Potter's moral saloon
and the ordinary saloon of commerce Is
that treating is not allowed in the former.
'"They call it poor mans club. Well,
yes. as Edgar E. Folk says, 1t Is a club to
beat out his brains. beat out his money.
and often beat out his soul. This Subway
Tavern Is well named-the underway
tavern to the devil" .
What the Rechabites Think.
Deputy High Chief Ruler John C. Moore
Of the Independent Order Of Rechabites
referred to the attempt of Bishop Potter
to establish moral saloon" as 1.-The ex-
pertinent of a lopsided man with some
thing he knows nothing Of
There is no atmosphere" said Mr..
Moore, with which you can surround
saloon that Will make 1t sweeter savored.
1 don't know of single plea that can be
made in favor Of strong drink. So far as
the practical work of temperance reform
Is concerned. the establishment Of subway
taverns and their dedication with hymns
and prayer will do neither good nor harm
to our cause"
Condemnatory Resolutions.
Several temperance societies have adopt
ed resolutions and taken other action con-
demrsatory to Bishop Potter for the part he
took In the New York saloon dedication.
At a recent meat}pp re porcoyerarce Lodge