A Sad Thing | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 7, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 36.

A Sad Thing.

We refer to the dedicatory address of Bishop H. C. Potter of New York, at the opening of the “Subway Tavern” in that city, August 2. This saloon aims to be a “moral” one; it will sell only the best grade of intoxicants; it will not sell a man too (?) much; it will have a room for dispensing soda water and beer alone, with no stronger liquors in sight; it will give food with the liquor; in short, it will aim to be a workingman’s club. It will do all this for the same reason every man keeps a saloon—to make money. Bishop Potter approved of this “model” saloon, and the exercises closed with the “Doxology.” We are glad to see the protests from ministers all over the land, and especially that from the secular press. One class,—not universally,—is singing Dr. Potter’s praise, namely the liquor men; and why should they not? Well, we ought not to say that. Why should they? They know the misery, the wretchedness, the filth, the squalor, the crime, engendered by the saloon, and surely they must demand some sort of consistency in a Christian minister. This act of compromise on the part of the bishop will greatly help the cause of intemperance and cause the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme. Already one man is reported as getting drunk at the “Subway” as the result of the bishop’s talk. As a minister of Christ, how could Dr. Potter do this?