The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-03-10
Mr.. SCUDDER EXPLAINS.
What the Tabernacle's Pastor Has
to Say About that "Des-
perate Cry"
the Editor Of the Jersey city Netos:-

To the Editor of the Jersey City Neucs:-
The desperate cry'' which is attract
ing SO much attention seems likely to
have a wider circulation and advertise
nlent than was at first intended. The
appeal was written to interest wealthy
men, who would be likely to aid such a
benevolent enterprise as was therein
described. The object set forth was not
to build a church, as some papers erron-
eously stated, but to erect a building de-
voted to the interests of humanity.
1t is our purpose to include within this
edifice a magnificent gymnasium, ten pin
alleys, inside tennis courts, club rooms
for young men and boys, departments for
manual training and halls for recreation
and amusement. The Tabernacle is
abundantly able to carry on its own
church work, but it is not wealthy enough
to build and endow such an institution as
have named.
Feeling the imperative necessity of
such an enterprise to counterbaiance the
corrupt influence of the saloons, which
are very numerous and attractive,
prepared an appeal that would explain
my undertaking. There has been feel
ing strongly and frequently expressed in
Jersey City that all the churches between
Henderson street and the river were we'll
located for an early death; and when two
churches. once strong and influential, dis
banded for lack of means to carry on the
work, many have said that ulti-
mately they would all become extinct
The facts were appalling, and ] myself
did not rest at night, thinking of the
future of my own church. Deeply in debt,
the outlook was not encouraging. ! saw
only one course open to us, which was to
pay off our debt and promptly adopt
methods suited to the wants of lower
JERSEY City. This we have done, and /
am glad to say that God has blessed our
.rof fodo 40
gational Church in the State of New Jer-
sey, having membership Of over six
hundred and fifty, and death now
looks an impossibility. All our
churches in the locality mem
toned have had a hard struggle,
tion of the Grand Street Church, so far
as the church is concerned, is not a sue
cess; as missionary enterprise, assisted
by outside aid, it is doing good work and
has my hearty sympathy. This organe
ization does not own the building nor TIL
lots on which the church stands. The
pastors rent is paid by the Missionare
Board of the Reformed Church, and y
part of his salary is raised by subscription
outside his own parish. Under thesn
circumstances consider my statement
.so lie sorsecf NJ. Zabriskie is doing
good missionary work, aud is much be-
loved among the poor. | wish him God
SDeeu dui SOlly W th&hC OACoC opCCtliC
statements, but in justice TO myself the
publicity given to my desperate cry''
demands them. This circular was not
printed to disparage his work
or that of any other church,
and in it no names were mentioned.
Ishould not have spoken of other churches
had not wished TO emphasize the fact
that we were the only church in the dis
trict strong enough tn carry forward this
gigantic enterprise. If the Tabernacle
did not undertake this work, it must re-
main forever undone, and the necessities
of the case are imperative, as the endorse
ment of many noted clergymen and lay
men will prove.
If I have offended any Of my brother
ministers, am very sorry, but have moth
ing to retract TO present my case ade-
quatey to the benevolent public, was
compelled to state in u few bold touches
the condition of this portion of Jersey
City | have said no more about these
churches than have said Of my own in
times past. Wishing all the churches in
Jersey City the utmost success, am,
Respectfully yours,
JOHN l.. SCUDDER,