The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-10
PASTOR BRUcf'S BITTER LECTURE
He has Had Better Behaved
Audiences Among Thieves
and Fallen Women.
THE coNsIsToRY AROUSED.
A Policcman's Club Used as a Toy
in the Pews-A Waving
Handkerchief.

The week of prayer was observed this
week in the Greenville Reformed Church,
as in all the churches OF this city. by the
holding of prayer meetings every even
ing. The meetings in this church were
largely attended and very successful. The
majority of those who attended Were
young people, and everything seemed to
work smoothly and harmoniously until
last evening. when the Rev. w. p. Pruce,
pastor of the church, gave the young peo-
pie lecture that they viii not very soon
forget.
The meeting was very enthusiastic and
as usual was closed with few remarks
by the pastor. When he rose to make the
closing remarks, ne said:-"While the
past week has been one that viii be re-
membered by every one of this congrega-
tion with pleasure. still it was a
very sad week for me. Sad, because
of the way in which several young peo-
pie in this church have behaved during
the prayer meetings. Sitting here at my
table 1 saw-yes. actually saw, several
young people flirting.
sCATHING REBUKE.
"Talmage says that flirting is a damna-
ton. and say the same. have preached
before drunkards in New York and have
had better behaved audience than /
have here. l have preached In the Flor
ence Mission before the outcasts of New
York, drunkards, thieves and falleu
women, and they behaved better than
this congregation has, and IL at another
meeting find that the congregation is
not better behaved / will Immediately,
without further notice, hand in my res
iRnatlon as pastor of this church."
The remarks caused number Of young
men sitting in the rear pews TO squirm
and slylY nudge one another.
A CoNsIsToRY CHAT.
Immediately after the prayer meeting
Pastor Bruce called meeting OF the con-
sistory to talk over the matter. Mr.. S. l..
Harvey, who Is an elder OF the
cnurcn, teld NEWS reporter that
the consistory had decided TO eject any
person who caused any further disturb
ance. and it would make no difference
what family he belonged to or what posi-
tion his father held in church. This last
remark was made in loud tone in order
that 1t might be heard by two young men
standing near by who were noticed hirt-
ing with several young girls Both of
their fathers are prominent members Of
the church and 1t is now feared by the
congregation that the trouble will not
end here.
One young man was seen to take a
policeman's club out of his pocket during
the meeting and hit those who sat in the
same pew, and was also making profuse
bows to girl who sat nearby. The girl
answered the bow by slyly waving her
handkerchief
All this was seen by Pastor Bruce and
he decided he would put stop to it.
Pastor Bruce said TO the reporter that
he was sorry he had to take this course
and Furthermore that he was sorry that
those who created the disturbance were
members of the church, taught and con-
verted by him.
81 have been kind to ihe young men of
this church" he said, land l think that
they should at least return this kindness
by behaving at the prayer meetings.
Mr.. Bruce has been pastor of this
church for three years and has made a
large number OF friends during that time
1t was through his efforts that the hand
some new church was erected. Should ne
resign it would be regretted by every
member of the church. The communi-
cants are anxiously waiting for tomorrow
to see If Pastor Bruce has taken any
further steps in the matter