Pleasantville weekly press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1890-1911, 1909-05-15
DR.. GOODMAN, YOU'RE 1T,
HE AAYC

| he 0tt .
Dear Editor Same old story, tho
woman, she did" etc, Cherez la Femme
comes most apropos, for if the heads OF
the Mems Church could find the one who
slided into their unsuspccting midst she
would be unhappy
The smoke has considerably cleared
away from the portals of the Mems
church and DR.. Goodman can afford to
ignore the sensation, for has he not the
leading citizens of Atlantic City at his
back
Is he to be criticised because he has
succeeded in Turing from worse places
into his church, a score of men whom thu
average clergyman fails to get? These
men are not wanted by the old stylr
minister. They reach out only for the
moneyed man, the man Of fine appear
ance who viii support his church in plen
titude, give him all earthly comforts
while he talks heavenly comforts On
certain nights these men of rough ex-
terror, plain working men with no mon
ev to support a high-toned church nor
hear music nor good talks on interesting
subjects were allowed TO bring their fam
lies. wives, women quite as good and
vlrtuous but not as stylish, as those
who graced the best churches i'm their
thirty six inch hats and limped in on
six inch French heels In this church
the men could smoke. wear their hats, if
they wanted to, drink various temper
ance drinks and listen to the discussion
OF problems which they fully appreciated
DR.. Goodman gave his talents to this
kind of work just as AIaude Ballington
Booth gives her talent to the sIums. Is
he to be held up to adverse criticism be
cause he took another way Of reaching
the hearts Of people than has heretofore
been doney
From the beginning of the world new
and unusual modes have been wildly
taken up by the opposite side and lot
Of narrow, two by four people and burn
cd to the stake for their newly fledged
ideas.
It is not the poorly clad. the common
people who are wanted in the churches
The man or woman who attends the
modern church is made unhappy by the
contrast in wearing apparel if they have
not the latest style. The remark is
frequently heard from parents, Il want
the children to attend Sunday school
when can afford to get them Clothes
WHAT a tfaVeStv on reHI10n. on attend
|,ance to church. The shabbily dressed
man or woman in church is ignored and
made to feel true crufixcion of the soul
by the exterior. Religion as it is offer
ed today is robbed of its sweetness, its
true ring Of sincerity and fellow feeling.
The pomp and worldly display is fore
most and what glaring sins are com
mitted under the soft, velvety robes of
religion.
Dr. Goodman has struck the keynote
to the secret of success with the set of
men whom he has made an appeal to-
Nor was his congregation made up of
plain men. who never entered other
churches. Many of our councilmen. high
standing politicians, business men, men Of
weighty affairs. visited those meetings,
enjoyed a smoke while digesting the in
tellectual food offered If a good drink
was passed around, so much the better.
We are animals after all, the highfalutuM
is reduced to the kernel Of truth. 1t
can he ventured as q fact that, if more
harmless drinks. even cold water, were
on tap there would be less drunkenness