The New York herald., 1876-09-23
THE POLISH CHAPEL AFFAIR.
STATEMENTS OF THE PASTOR or THE CHURCH
AND THE PEOPLES coMMITTEE-ANoTHKR
sIDK OF TIVE sTopy


STATEMENTS OF THE PASTOR or THE CHURCH
AND THE PEOPLES coMMITrEH-ANorHKR
sIDR OF THE STORY.
on the evening of tho 14th inst arad made by the
police ofthe Thirteenth precinct the hall attached to
the Polish church in Henry street, when the pastor
and a number ol young people male aud female who
were participating in an entertainment being given in
the hail. arrested and lodged in jail for the night
The raid was made by the police complaint OF three
citizens who before police mag slrase that the
entertainments held weekly under tho auspices
Of the church were dsordery. The following
statements from the committee Of the members of the
church aud the pastor himself present the facts con-
nected with these entertainments IL light different
from that in which the affair OF the raid was published
the newspapers the morning after the occurrence:-
COMMITTEES STATEMENT
NEW YORK, Sept 10, 1870.
All newspapers Of New York. with few exceptions,
have IN II very bad light, represented tho. affair
which took place last Thursday night 14th inst, at
No Sll Henry street, New York, not knowing any
ihngabout the position OF the buildings nor the cause
oil the affair; therefore the undersigned is induced 10
correct the same. Tho case runs thus
Two and half years ago Rev Mielcuszny came to
this city and has been appointed and recognized by
Ills Emnsnce Cardinal McCloskey as pastor Of the
Poles ia tns city In Decem Der last he bought prop
erty $50 900 in Horny street where stood lew Old
bull .ings From these buildings he has completed
church and schoo.room, separated by brick wall
ut No 3l5, and to the schooroom or SO named hall,
at No. 3l2 Henry street The Polish people very
poor, and cannot send their children 10 school,
they not able to keep teacher;
therefore the reverend pastor Temporarily was
induced to this room for Catholic faifs,
meetings and agreeable entertainments IN order
raise funds TO pay the debts said property Con-
venient entertainments were arranged once week,
and the Church Committee mad full charge OF thcm,
and the reverend pastor looking to the order OF
the audience All thls undertaking was not secret
TO tho Captain oil the Thirteenth precinct and evory
at tha nltnaN
informed and kindly requested by note to detail q
policeman. That very evening of the raid, at nearly
eight O'Clock, the policeman came INTO the residence
OF the pastor and stopped whIO there and then went
down aud took his station at The front entrance mo.
3l2 In the hall. Order was kept; all at once came
the Captain with his troop, and raided through the
front door and the rear OF the hall few minutes
before the raid the reverend pastor came and stood
along with the committee, which had full charge OF the
entrance along with The policeman. Afser halt an
hours lime the police found nothing forbidden by iaw,
except knife, which could be dropped by soTe enemy
The entertainment never lasted longer than from eight
to eleven O'Clock the ng. the ighbors
assert. These entertainments on Thursday evenings
laughing but the evening OF the raid there was
screaming ln conclusion, when all had been arrested
set liberty. the hall was ransacxed in every cor
and tho doors were nailed fast
In the name Of the Peoples Committee
r. BlEGANSKI, Chairman.
THE PASTORS STATEMENT
NEW YORK Sept 49, 1916
After fourteen years CT priesty labor in my country
came, in March, 1874, to this city, and found Lero
many OF my country people, SO gave my services 10
His Emlnepce the Cardinal hcCoskey, that ne nigh.
receive pastor tor The Poles IN his docsso which
he kindly did. brought with me few hundred dol
lars made collections among my poor people, and then
With tho fund OF about g. 900, the LIST OF December
last, l bought the ground, with the old buildings
thereon, OF which have completes church and hall
for school, meetings and other Catholic purposes, sepa
rated by brick wall about two feet thick Bad times
and the deception OF ono whom thought friend who
promised give me for my purpose the sum Of 81 OOO
and also the ruess calls have mado upon the Cath
olics to aid me, have placed me in such condition
that had something and take care for the safety
OF the church and save myself and my people from
want. In order to prevent this established nrst
LADIES' far, aud then week respectable enler-
tainment raise funds TO pay the dcDis on tho said
ground. All proceeds used Tor that purpose.
Those entertainments never kept up longer than from
eight to eleven O'Clock in the evening. OF every affair
OF .his kind informed the Captain OF police bv notice.
requesting him TO detail one ocer to preserve ordsr
On The evening OF the 14th inst the policeman came to
my house, At No 31S Henry street. where the church
stands about haipast seven O'Clock, and shortly after
he took his post usual at the door No 3l2 Henry
street. where the church committee were IN
waiting Everything was quiet in the hall
and outside l shortly after came TO
the entrance to II everything right and there
was detained in conversation by the members OF the
committee and the officer duty. Then, suddenly,
the Captain with body OF police and pushed mo,
with the members OF the COMMITTED from the front
door, space OF nty est into the hail, and there ar
rested me, together with all who were present There
was In the hail. we as at the front door, nothing
but quiet aud there cause Tor such usage l
am now very sorey prosecuted. Last night tho enc
mics broke many window glasses In tho church and
affair ADELBERrUS hlELCUSINf, Pastor.