Shall the Churches Run Pool-Rooms?
By John Orcutt Corliss
AND now comes the reputed statement from Ohio, through the Los Angeles Herald of April 6, that the Rev. J. L. Boyer, pastor of Collinwood Methodist Church, said this: "The day of the old-fashioned sedate church has passed. If I had my way, we would have pool-tables and a smoking-room for our men members." If this is really the sentiment of the reverend gentleman, why would he exclude women members of the church from the men's privileges? If no harm follows pool and smoking-room practise for men church-members, why should it be closed to women members? There must be some reason. Is it not well known that the pool-room is parent to gambling devices? And if smoking is to be recommended for the church pool-room, why is that not following the world's practise, and why may not the drink habit creep into the place, since it is an accompaniment of such worldly resorts? Could a church pool-room truly be kept exclusive, admitting only church-members, when it so nearly harmonizes with just what the world wants? But why ask further such leading questions? Is it not clearly evident, from wide-spread and growing sentiment, that the church is not, as at one time, a place exclusively for praise and prayer? Who can not see in this a fulfilment of 2 Tim. 3:1-5? Can we not also discern the signs of the times in the fulfilment of Matt. 24:37-39? "Flee these things," O man of God! J. O. C.