The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-06-14
A CHURCH CENSUS.
How Some Very Jealous
Christians Have Fared
Collecting Statistics.
GOOD NATURED CONTROVERSIES.
Retreat AZ st. Peters Begins
Today - Religious News.
Local and General.

The Minister'S Association. which is
engaged in district evangelical work, will
meet on Monday at three O'Clock in the
Second Presbyterian Church All tho
churches, excepting the Tabernacle, will
be ready to hand in report OF their mis-
sion work The Wayne Street Reformed
Church was the FIRST to complete its dis
trics, which is bounded on the north by
the Pennsylvania Railroad, on the south
by the Morris Canal, extending east as
FAR as Barrow street, and west to Jersey
avenue Five hundred aud eighteen in
diyiduaIs were visited. OF which two
hundred and fiftsen were Roman Catho-
lies. There were fifty-hve Methodists,
twenty-six Presbyterians, nine Dutch Re-
formed, sixty-three Episcopal ians, thirty
f1Ve Congregationalisfs, Twenty-Five Bap-.
fists, one Universaiist, twenty-two
Lutherans. twelve Hebrews, two
Quakers and twenty-five Skeptics. The
work assigned each visitor bv the Presi-
dent OF the association, the Rev. Charles
Herr. in the outset of this movement.
consisted in a little catechetical exercise,
simply asking and obtaining answers to
few questions. OF course this gave rise
TO many peculiar experiences between
the canvasser and the individual adj
dressed. The canvasser was to strictly
use the form of questions on the card,
which was presented at every house. The
questions. which were "Do you 60 to
cnurchW Are you church membersn
seemed to create 50 many surprises that
the canvasser was always obliged TO ex-
plain, and sometimes even to defend
himself.
A cANvAssER'S EXPERIENCE.
canvasser who flushed his work last
week while being interviewed by a re-
porter, said:--ssWhen put the question,
do you go to church, it sounded to some
like n call to repentance, for it seemed to
the listener like a reminder of criminal
neglect, and in others TO awaken
memories Of by-gone church going days,
when 1t was better with the soul than
low. The effect sometimes produced
was like a bell of alarm. as though 1t
signalled the outbreak of an ecclesiastical
war Of some sort, and It WIS quickly fol-
know What is it all about" and so
on. Or course many found
it easy to answer the gentle
question, DO you 20 to church? but not
so easy when the rather pertinent ques-
ton was put. Where do you attend
church, Are you in full membership
and SO / NAV state that as proceed with
any canvass was met by no Uniform man
ner of reception. but with gre at variety
of tone, temper, opinion and response. )"
A dialogue which took place between
visitor aud a Catholic was related in this
Manner
"A Catholic having read the little
printed slip introducing the visitor
remarked, Why, my good friend, don't
you know that there Is but one
hristian churches Of Jersey city
also believe in one spiritual church.
of which Jesus Christ Is the Head, but
they do not believe in only one localized
church. Several churches have sent me
as deputy from them Oh. RESPONDED
my friend, I am a Cathoiicp Yes,
continued i see we differ about church
matters. How do you like the recent
dogma OF the Popsss infailihiiity form
ally announced from Rome within the
that no such doctrine had recently issued
from Rome. which i, however, reasserted
as a fact in history. My respondent then
added I hope we are not angry, and
said ] am not so there was no breach OF
the peace. We merely had few words
aud parted. ut seemed" continued the
canvnsser. whenever any inkling
Of the object of the visits was anticipated
or known, | was received. not through
the open aoor, but at the half opened
door, which being partially opened with
one hand. was often swiftly closed by
the other In two instances only out
of twelve was the door violently close d
In my face, so as for safety was COM
PEELED to make hasty retreat. Only one
imam threw the little introductory paper
at me on closing his door, by which, how
ever, no bones were broken
HEBREWS WOULD TALK.
A canvasser VINO was interviewed IS to
his experience with the Hebrews said
.I5 was rather discouraging to meet
with Hebrews who would talk abo ut
Christ A young man of this race said he
believed In Moses and in Christ, and
made lively attack upon the old. old
story. He believed In Christ as a first
clRss man, but not in the pretty tales
told about his walking on the water and
sfilIin9 the stormy sea by speaking to IL,
and raising the dead, nor in that big
dream of His being God as well as man.
He was willing to listen to all ! mad 70
frntb. and | left him willing
10 hear more on the subject. !"
Although the canvassers have met with
success In having their questions answer
ed, the majority OF the people consider
the whole thing great impertinence.
some districts which were canvassed,
seemed utterly useless, as 1t was we'll
known that church going people lived
in them. The good derived py IL remains
yet to be seen by the people u was
rumered that the canvass was made to
find If there were enough people to estab-
lish Presbyterian Church, and 1t is uni
versaliy believed the canvass was made
RETREAT AT ST. PETERS
Tonight n retreat will commence in st.
Peters Roman Catholic Church. II will
be held especially for the young men of
Jersey CIty. The object Is to make
special preparation for The celebration Of
St Aloysius, the patron SAINT Oh yonen a.
will be conducted by six young priests
from different parishes IN the city. they
are the Rey. Father Kelly or 81. Mary IS
Church, the Rev. Father Mciiale Of St.
Joseph's Church. the Rev. rat1er Glancy
Boyian, and the Rev. Father McTighe.. 1t
Rosary. A sermon will be preached by
the Rev Father sheehan, followed svea by the
The same order Of service will be con-
tinued every night daring. the week. a
large attendance IS expected from every
parish, and the priests are worship 70
make it Il great success.