The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-08-05
.sPoONING PARLORs' IN CHURCH
The Rev. John II. Gum, of North
Baptist Church, New York, Be-
hind Scheme.


Free "spooning parlors" with
tactful chaperon within call, piano
to stir sentimentality, a safe as re-
minder that marriage means thrift
or disaster, expert advice on how to
propose and every other wholesome
aid that warm love for his fellow
man may suggest are part of the
scheme of the Rev. John r. Gum,
pastor of the North Baptist church,
No. PA West Eleventh street, New
York City. His is no sudden notion,
but the result of long and prayerful
thought.
There are countless working
girls living in furnished rooms who
cannot receive young men in them
and keep their regulations" Mr..
Gum said. "They are entitled to
have some place where they may en-
JOY the advantages that help their
more fortunate sisters to happy wife
hood.
The Church baptizes the infant,
confirms the young, wedS men and
women and performs the last rites
over the dead. There is no reason
that it should not take up this other
important office for humanity"
"Spooning parlors - is the name
Mr.. Gum has chosen after giving the
subject careful consideration. He
believes in calling things by their
right names and as his purpose is
frankly to supply place for young
men and girls to gather with an idea
of promoting affection that may
spring up to its natural and proper
result, he has resolved not to seek
any mask of title for the scene of
those activities.
Two large rooms, with a wide
opening between them, in the rear of
the prayer meeting hall of the church
are to be the " spooning parlors."
They are comfortably furnished and
provided with an ample supply of
sofas. These rooms have been lit
tie used in the church work hereto
fore, but Mr.. Gum expects them to
change entirely in this respect with
in few weeks.
Yes, There Will be Lights.
Illumination of the spooning par
lors is one of the details on which
this clerical confederate of cupid has
not yet decided. The rooms are now
supplied with both electric light and
gas fixtures. Everybody knows that
electric lights can be covered with
shades and gas lights can be turned
low.
We will have to see how things
go before we can decide about the
lights" Mr.. Gum said. but all
such matters will arrange themselves
l am sure.
Look at these two, comfortable
rooms! Isn't it a shame to have
hundreds of young men and women
of the right sort sitting on park
benches even in the coldest weather
when they might be in here?
May they hold hands? Of course
they may" and he smiled at Mrs.
Gum. Their counting was done not
so many years ago in the South. 1t
was quite evident while Mr.. Gum
talked of his first aid for sweet
hearts project that he regards mat
rimony as the most blessed human
state. His three fine children pre-
sented convincing arguments to back
his views.
How about kissing?" the report
er said rather apologetically. Maybe
Mr.. Gum did not hear the question.
1t is still unanswered.
Getting ready this laboratory for
the making of two hearts to beat as
one is the summer vacation of Mr..
Gum. His most careful thought is
being given to the means whereby the
" spooning parlor " may attract those
for whose benefit he has designed it.
Some changes already have been
made in the fittings of the rooms
where Live is to be welcomed. They
are comfortable and homelike and
the several pictures hung on the
walls are of subjects likely to turn
the mind toward thoughts of peace
full domesticity.
The piano ought to help, Mr.. Gum
thinks, and he is going to leave it
in the parlor. There are many girls
who never owned a piano who have
fine voices, and if they want to help
along by singing "Annie Laurie or
Every Lassie Had Her Laddie" they
will have a chance to play an accom-
paniment If all goes we'll that piano
will be almost able to play Here