The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-13
SUNDAY AT THE PARKS
RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY RELIC
 IOUS BODIES.
Citizens Pledge Themselves to Stay Away From Resorts on First Day of Week-Alleged Gambling
 Devices. '.t

A resolution. which originated with the Sunday school of the Dexter Ave-
 nue Methodist church pledging their
 members not to visit Electric Park or
 Pickett Springs on Sunday has been adopted by four Montgomery Sunday schools and by the congregation or the
 Christian church of which Elder Barnes Willard M. sweatt. superintendent of
 the Dexter Avenue Sunday school, Is the author of the resolution. It was Sunday schools of the city and has
 been discussed by the Ministers Union
 although no action has been taken on
 it by that body so far as Is known.
 The Sunday schools which have adopt
 ed the resolution are those of the Dex-
 ter Avenue Methodist church. the Clay
 ton Street Methodist church, the South
 side Baptist church and the Cumber-
 land Presbyterian church.
 It Is said that the resolution will be
 presented to other Sunday schools
 Sunday morning. Some of the Sunday
 school superintendents have taken a conservative view of the resolution
 saying that it was a matter to be con- sidered by the teachers rather than the school or by the congregation it.
 The text of MT. sweatt's resolution is as follows:
 Resolved. by the Dexter Avenue
 sunSsy teps that hs yoaton of sanctity of the Sabbath by the estab- lishment of skating rinks and other amusements not consistent with US and Pickett Springs on Sundays, and pledge ourselves Co use our influence to keep our people from going to these places on Sunday"
 due largely to reports received by re- ligious persons that gambling devices
 were operated at Electric Park and that immoral pictures were exhlplted
 h, tho papnu Arcade there,
 In company with President N. J.
 Greil, of the Montgomery Amusement
 Company, which conducts Eieetrrc
 tiser visited the park and inspected
 the devices and the pictures. There
 are two devices, one in the Penny Ar
 cade and one in the bowling alley,
 these devices. a slot machine. plays
 music when a coin is deposited and Is so arranged as to deliver money Tn receptacle if the player of the macnlne this machine encourages form Of gambling if 1t is not in ftseIf gam.
 bling device. Young persons who Vlsle the park. many of them children, pa
 The other device Is a fortune telling machine which delivers to the lucky person a check which is good for q President Greil said that these games were innocent and harmless. He salo he was advised that they were not H. legal and he is not disposed to remove them from the park. ,,
 There is nothing naughty, immoral or suggestive about the pictures at the park, but the signs which are put ou' to attract the pennies.
 MT Greil admitted that sunday was the best day for business at Electric Park, adding that if the park was closed on Sunday to meet the obJec' tions of the Sunday schools, the enter prise would have to be closed alto- gether. He said that he. was arrang- | Ing for church and auxiliary bodies tG picnic at the park this summer and 1 that several persons interested in these branches of religious work had Vls- | tied the park and investigated all o1 | the amusements and had given them their hearty approval.
 w. H. Ragland, General Manager o1 the Montgomery Traction Company owners of Pickett Springs, expressed surprise that a resolution had been dl- rected at that park for Sunday desc
 Why" said MT. Ragland, i've have heen especially scrupulous about the
 conduct of our park on Sunday; It i: | surprising that skating at Pickett | Springs should be attacked by the res, | oiution. We have skating at Picket, Springs, but the contract especially prohibits skating there on sunday | There is no skating at Pickett Springs on Sunday. We have sacred concerl | there and that Is about all we offer or Sunday except the pure, fresh air and an attractive car ride"