A BISHOP OPENS A PUBLICHOUSE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 1929, 20 March 1905, Page 2

A BISHOP OPENS A PUBLICHOUSE.

Bishop Potter, the head of the Episcopal Church of New York, has provoked considerable criticism by his action in taking a prominent part in the official opening of a pub-lic-house near the Bowery, which corresponds to the East-end of London.

When seven years ago, the Bishop of Chester and Cardinal Vaughan, with others, formed an association to establish canteens and refreshment bars, where the working classes could quench their thirst with intoxicating liquors, the American public experienced a slight shock. But when the bishop attended the official opening of the Sub-way Tavern and dedicated the house as a workingman's club, and lcs in the singing of the doxology in front of the bar, the gathering storm of protest from clergymen and other church people burst fortJi.

But the bishop did not choose to reply to the denouncers of the Subway Tavern and" the principles on which it was founded. The publichouse itself has answered them.

The first few days of its existence seem to have proved beyond the shadow of doubt that the "workingman's club, and led in the singing of manent fixture, and the proposed system is probably destined to grow until it has usurped the places of the low bars which have made the Bowery known all over the world. For upon the financial success of the Subway Tavern depends the growth of Bishop Potter's proposed great system—a saloon system fostered by the head of a church.

In no sense as a speculative venture was it started. All profits beyond 5 per cent. of the net earnings will be devoted to the establishment of other similar taverns.

So far the receipts of the SubwayTavern have exceeded the brightest dreams of the promoters of the experiment. Hundreds of thousands of glasses of beer and whisky are handed over the bar each day. The saloon itself is unobtrusive. A swinging sign, with "cafe" on it, betrays the fact that a business is going on inside. Liquor is not mentioned, and were it not for the swinging sign, "cafe", no one would suspect that the place was anything more than a cigar shop.

Jti front of the main entrance (here is put out every day a freshly chalked sign ; "Yes : This is the saloon dedicated by Bishop Potter. You are welcome."

The other day when one of the barmen at the place went to work he was a bit startled when he glanced at the black-board and read : "Yes : This is Bishop Potter's glnmill. Come in. You are welcome." The barman had reason to suspect that the change was made by one of the aggrieved licence holders from the Bowery, because over in that thorough-fare, unblessed and unsanctified as they are their trade has fallen off. In the bar of the "Subway" a dozen tables, provided with secular and religious publications, are at the disposal of patrons, where they may sit and sip their drinks, and read if they care to. On the walls are drawings by wellknown artists, a few palms and potflowers give a pleasant touch of greenery to the bar. The quality of the drink is said to be excellent, if the patrons of experience may be believed. Neither is there any reason to quarrel with the quantity.