Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-12-20
pREACHER-POkER
PLAYER LEAVES TO
TAKE real JOB
Columbus, o. Minister Knows
/. Every Card in the
Deck

in the geek. "A HllllloCSl mas DeeI
discovered who believes that MOI
oil profanity is sacrilege, and who
nrefers the rough and ready man.
her of the Canadian miner to 6
$4,000 job in an Eastern city.
The Rev. R. Arthur Basham, 6
vo1ng Presbyterian minister OF
Columbus, Ohio, has answered the
wi sent out by the miners of the
Vconper camps at Athapupuskow
Lake county, in the northern Mani
toba, for a parson who 'sis a he
man, who wears a mackinaw jack
ct and stucs his pants in his boots
can paddle a canoe, play good
game of poker, and give good ac-
count of himself in a knock-dowr
and drag-out row."
No Mandy Panty Dude
The advertisement reads -
"Wanted, a minister of the gospel
for Athapupuskow camp. Must be
good poker player. No namby-
panlby dude preachers need apply
81 am not an adept poker player
but | can learn, just as | expect
| those eminrs to learn my game,''
4 declared DR.. Bashan1. He prefers
n not to be called "Reverend."
at is the only call to preach that
appeals to me. I'd rather be a
Santa Claus to a bunch of miners
in that Canadian copper camp, than
minister to all the elders in
Christendom. l do not think the
church shall fail to supply these
fellows with a preacher, and the
Skind of a preacher they want"
AN Basham knows the needs Of these
|ahen, having, served as a circuit
Hider in Northern Manitoba before
,The went to France as a Y. M. c. A.
worker.
81 had a circuit of 40 miles, and
lots Of times l had to run along
behind the dogs and the sled to
keep from freezing to death. One
Of the happiest recollections of my
life is the meeting up in North
country, with a derelict, who was
a Cornell graduate. The minute |
me him he said, 'Basham, Pm a
drunkard.'
Played Chess All Night.
Il liked him, and his case i'm
pressed me deeply. Many a night
/ have played chess with him all
night, trying to help him forget
liquor. l spent a lot of time with
him, and one night it was neces-
sary to knock man down in a sa-
loon because he tempted my friend
with bottle of whiskey. After
that they let him alone. | count
one of the greatest achievements of
my life the wooing Of that man
from the control of the grip of
liquor. That man is now one Of
the most splendid fellows | know
II have spent II years in the pit
kand II in the pulpit said Basham.
Nat the age of II | was coal
hiner in Wales. Now l have six
ENrothers in the mines of Wales.
There were eight of US in the
world war. One was killed and all
were wounded. l am not green at
the job. l know the lives Of min
ers. I have played cards with
them, and l am willing to match
miners bible Ga deck Of cards J
. against the Bible l teach any day.
"Oh, yes, l have played cards. !
was tried for heresy once for play
ing whist in the home of one OF
the elders of my church. Because
the action of this church received
great publicity, DR.. James L. Cor
don of Winnipeg took a kindly IN
terest in me and encouraged me tc
continue my work in the ministry
pointing out the advantages OF go
/ ing to college, and personally help
ed me in that respect by sending
me to the United States, after hav-
ing preached several times In his
church in Winnipeg. l have writ
ter DR.. Charles wv. Gordon (Ralpi
Connor), whom l knew in Wlnnl'
peg, of my willingness to take the
job with the miners. While spades
are trumps as rule among the
miners, believe that l can tel
them something about Christ, wht
is the ace Of hearts, and am conn
dent that he will take some tricks
Has Played For Money
Did you ever play cards to-
money!" he was asked.
eyes, but l didn't know it at TIN
time. 1t was in France. l Wa
Z, spending the afternoon at the hom'
Of French Colonel. The Colonel
Adaughters and a Countess witt
whom l had been associated In tn
Red Cross bazaar suggested tina
We play bridge. / learned tn
S21me that afternoon, and at tn
hd of the game / noticed the Wo
men counting up, but it neVe
dawned on me that we had bee
playing for money until the Col
onel told me that had won. J!
was rather an embarrassing posi-
ton, so l took the money and turn
ed it over to the fund for disable
French soldiers.
Il am not content to be a dron
IN the beehive of the kingdom Q
/ dod," declared Basham. ,"lf b
per cent of us as ministers were t
90 on strike at once, America
sNotestantism would not suffer 1
m least degree. We aren't essen
tRl, but most of us are not Will
ing to admit it,"
IT is Basham's belief that thel
Is something materially wrong Wit
me spirit of the church and tn
ministers. stTba Masons and OthC