A despatch from Pittsburg of August 6 states that the Rev. Mr. Fikes, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Franklin, declares, “I would just as soon hear the click of billiard-balls in church as the reading of the Bible, provided it won a man to the cause of Christianity,” and further declares, “I know the idea of a billiard-room on church property will shock trustees and deacons, but they must come to it or their church will lose its influence.” All of which is arrant nonsense. God saves men by the preaching of the word and not thru billiards, and that church which hopes to keep its influence for God and salvation will stick to the word and convert men that can get along without any of these things, because it will give them vastly more important and profitable things to think about.