VICARS DISCUSS BRIDGE

Evening Star, Issue 20428, 8 March 1930, Page 18

VICARS DISCUSS BRIDGE

DIVERGENT VIEWS “The evils of bridge drives we fat* reaching; they breed a bitter, covetous spirit, and often engender envy and jealousy, creating undue nervous excitement; friendships are broken and families divided—presuming, of course, that either money or prizes be the aim.” This statement was made by the Bev. W K. Woodham■ Denham, vicar of Chorley Wood, Herts, in a Christmas letter to hi* congregation (says the London ‘ Daily Tc!e« graph “It is with a sense of pain,” he writes, “ that I feel called upon to point out things which are certainly detrimental to the Christian life, and that pain ie intensj. fied when I realise that it concerns many whom I regard as parochial - friends. “Ail sorts of - excuses are made to der fend this practice; no doubt many indulge! in it innocently, just to be sociable, but re* gardless of the consequences. , I am willing to risk the odium of being narrowminded. “ People start off and profess to bo play, ing for the love of the .game, but unless they are watchful they are swept away by 'the stream, and have become gamblers ,to ■the 'ruin of themselves . and oft-times tb« ruin' of their homes, not to mention tha waste of time that; can and ought to bo devoted to more serious subjects. “It is a bad example for the young. It is the principle that has to be faced, and our Lord was the embodiment of every Divine and human principle. “I appeal most earnestly to all who are tempted to indulge in this soul-destroying practice to give it up and follow jtho Master.” ‘ Another clergyman, :the Ecv. T. P. Stevens: vicar of St.' Matthew’s, New Kent road, said; “It has been my experienceof whist drives that their influence is dll ' the other way. We have no bridge drives here, but our people like whist drives very much. I-think .they bring people together and make for friendship. The clergy encourage them, and I have never heard - it' suggested that they ■' are to blame -for broken homes.”