Bisbee daily review., 1907-08-17
AN OLD CHURCH PROBLEM.

PROBLEM.
 A Baptist minister of Franklin, Pa,
 Is quoted by the. Pittsburg Gazette
 Times as saying 'T would just as
 soon hear the click of billiard balls in
 church as the reading of the Bible,
 providing 1t won a man to the cause
 of Christianity. know the idea of
 billiard room on church property | will shock trustees and deacons, but they must come to it or their church will lose it's influence" It is doubtful whether the good brother meant just | what is implied in this last sentence I-that billiards are essential to the
 influence of the Christian church.
 and that portion of his remarks may
 be passed by. But is it true that the
 church must employ what are com
 monly called worldly diversions in or
 der to win men and women. or is it
 even desirable that this should be
 done? That is becoming more and
 more a subject of discussion in all
 denominations. and this Baptist preacher declares unreservedly that the church must give to the people such 'pleasures of the world" as do not run counter to Christianity" Here opens a wide field.
 Of course. says our Pittsburg con temporary, billiards are not un-Chris- tian in themselves, but the same may
 be said of other amusements, and where is the church to draw the line once it departs from the accepted standards of providing for the enter tainment of those whom it would bring within the fold? If a billiard table for men, then it would be just as proper to introduce some other in- novations that appeal to the fads and fancies of both sexes. Card playing. when confined to games in which there is neither stake nor pr.ze, is not necessarily harmful nor counter to Christianity" There are many per sons protesting to be Christians and who, judging them by the liberal es- timate of today, are exemplary mem bers of the church. who solemnly pro test that 1t Is neither sinful nor un- Christian to attend certain kinds of theatrical performances. Must there be some provision for them and for the younger folks not yet in the com munion who hold similar views and yearn for like pleasures? Then there are others who, as far as the observer m.y determine. are good. substantial everyday Christians in their life and conduct, but yet remain away from church on occasion while they reveI in the absorbing pages of one of the six best sellers-possibly St. Cuth- berts." or My People of the Plains Should the church, in order to over come these, set out "all the latest books and magazines" as a feature more popular than the greatest book of all? Nor is there anything essen tially sinful. or counter to Christian ity," in the solace of a smoke and many man foregoes the sweet hour of prayer" of Sunday evening. the wife of his bosom sitting by while he indulges his love for tobacco. should there be a smoking room in the church? Thus examples might be multiplied and dozen Of the foibies or practices of men and women could be cited. any of them just as diverting as billiards. but few of which anybody would seriously suggest as suitable for the equipment of house of wor- ship.
 The problem of making church at tractive. not to say alluring. is as old as the Bible itself. and we are no near CT solution than the men of yore.