A. Singular Innovation.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXVII, Issue 1374, 27 August 1895, Page 3

A. Singular Innovation.

THE TOBACCO PIPE IN CHURCH. The experitneab of making tobacco an ally of* religion promises to be a success in the estimation of those who have undertaken it in the English capital. A London despatch of July 23 mentions that at a chapel in the East End arrangements were made on a recent Sunday for the congregation to smoke. More than 2,000 men, araoug them the poorest of the poor, attended. A few ctme smoking; the others carried pipes in their mouths with the bowls inverted to denote emptiness. The gentleman who was to conduct the service, and who himself blew a cloud from a brier commenced to distribute the tobacco. The supply was. contained in a bag, and each recipient got enough to fill two pipes. By the time all were served many wreaths of smoke were curling roofward. Several ladies who were there to assist in the services took seats on the platform. First there was a prayer, and it was curious to see pipe bowls and tobacco smoke half screened by one hand while the eyes were reverently covered with the other Then there was a hymn, in which the female portion of the congregation joined,, but not many of the men, it being difficult to smoke and sing at the same time. After that came what they evidently enjoyed more than all else—-a hymn sung with much sweetness by a lady. Probably they would not have ventured to applaud, but as the chairman, who still puffed his brier, clapped his hands, all followed with great vigor, and their faces testified how much they were in earnest. A chapter was read from the Bible, and the chairman then preached on the miracle of the six barley loaves and two small fishes. He delivered a simple discourse of, half an hour's duration. By that time the limited allowance of tobacco was smoked out, and after the crowning hospitality of a cup of tea with pieces of bread and marmalade for all, the proceedings cime to an end. The Sunday afternoon smoking concert is likely to become a I permanent institution in Whitechapel.