The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-09-02
RELIGION NOT IN II.
So Says Superintendent
Smith About the Mis-
sion Meetings.
GRAHAM TALKS DIFFERENTLY
Asserts That it is a Catholic Move
With the Police Pressing
the Button.

When I saw Counsellor E. S. Cowles
yesterday afternoon / asked him il he
knew of any reason why Superintendent
Smith should. as alleged, persecute the
people conducting the Morris Street
Mission2
II only know what the mission people
say is the reason" Mr.. Cowles replied.
"And what is thati"
"The mission people believe that
Ca tholicism is behind it and that Super
intendent Smith is doing what the
Catholics want. don't know how true
this is, but understood from the Mis-
ion that this is the reason"
The next person called on was Abram
L. Graham, the cornetist, who was ar
ing office on Washington street. He is
well built ana pleasant man and ap-
peared to shrink from further notoriety.
Eyes" he said, 81 will hold a meeting
next Sunday. Superintendent Smith
told me that if did SO he would arrest
me again. This is despotism, but it does
not alarm me. do not believe any COM
plaint was ever made to Superintendent
Smith about our mission. l arrived at
this conclusion after l asked him for per-
mission to continue the meetings. He
refused and his principal reason for SO
doing was, from his own lips, i don't be-
lieve in those meetings.
Because" continued Graham, "he
doesn't believe in them he wants to stop
Us from holding the meetings. Another
reason why l don't believe any complaint
was ever made to him is that the cornet
is not constantly played; on the contrary,
it is used very little. The meetings last
half an hour and consist principally of
exhorting.n
HAS any one ever interfered with your
meetings."
ACCUSED OF HEREsY.
"a man who is Catholic did so three
weeks ago. He constantly interrupted
me by asking questions. He said my re-
marks were heresy, and altogether he
made himself obnoxious. Instead
Of 1 aiding - the - mission ssiIGa work work
put In an appearance, so far as / know. |
never saw one there while the meetings
were going on. | am one of the trustees
of the mission, and the trustees have told
me that they always have trouble from
the Catholic quarter. The first Sunday
held meeting In Morris street the Cath
olics said they would throw dirty water
on those present. The Superintendent of
our mission has a list OF one hundred
families in the neighborhood who approve
of our meetings, and our Bond OF Hope
mas n membership VI Ou6 uuuuEcu duu
fifty children. They like the meetings,
but the Catholics tell the children not to
attend them-that it Is a sin to do so.
have number of times asked children
why did not see them at the meetings,
and they told me this. OF course, can
not expect that Catholics will approve of
any form of worship other than their own
when they won't send their children to
public schools"
Are other outdoor Sunday meetings
disturbedP
mo, sir. Meetings are held every Sun
stables, and instead of being interrupted
by the police they are protected. Two or
three weeks ago | attended one of those
meetings. and three instruments We're
played. No one attempted to stop it. One
hoodlum made some unnecessary re-
hustled him away in double quick
time"
You will hold meeting next Sunday
afternoon?"
"Yes.n
"And play the cornet?"l
ABOUT THE CoRNET.
81 am not so certain about that. may
net, for Superintendent Smith declared
this meeting should not be held. He
made no reference to the cornet. may
not play that instrument and thus find
out if the Supe rintendent is determined
III breaking up tu0 luoctluSs do WS-A 90
suppresSing the cornet."
When / called on Superintendent
Smith yesterday and told him what was
said by Mr.. Cowles, he laughed.
"I am not such a good Catholic as TO
permit my belief to interfere with my
duty" he said. "Religion and politics
do not enter the Police Department. and
will not"
pondered over the politics part of this
reply q moment, for it almost took my
breath away, and then l inquired If he
intended to stop the mission meeting next
Sunday.
lido" the superintendent replied. 81
don't believe in them. They only draw a
crowd of hoo6lums together and cause
fights and trouble and annoy the neigh
bors They obstruct the streets, and no
body OF people has right to do this, re-
ligious or not. What are these mission
people? Not a single one is a Clergyman.
The law is plain in the matter, aud in
tend to stop the street meetings"
But outdoor religious meetings are
held elsewhere. The parks have been
used for this purpose"
Not this summer. and before this these
people had permit from the Board of
Aldermen. These Norris street people
only have a permit from the Street and
Water Board, subject to the approval of
the Police. AS for my Catholic ideas on
the subject, that is bosh."