The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-11-14
PALACE WORK.
First Anniversary Cele-
brated at the 'faber-
nacle-LaY Speakers.

Exultant strains of music pealed forth
from the TabernacIe's big organ last
evening. The auditorium and gallery
We're crowded. The choir with its full
complement of voices sang patriotic as
well as religious selections. Success had
80 far crowned the efforts of Pastor Scud-
der In the first years work in connection
with the establishment of the Peoples
Palace.
Last evenings service was celebration
OF what the Rev. j. Lester Wells, Secre-
tary of the new institution, is pleased to
call "the anniversary of its first edition."
On the platform were seated, besides
the two ministers. Deacon Hunt, Theo-
dore L. Parker. William H. Turner, Prof.
II. G. Wait of Hasbrouck Institute. ex-
Governor J. D. Bedle, Major Pangborn
and Joseph A. Dear. The pulpit desk
was f1anked with vases containing flow
ers. The choir's opening piece was "The
King OF Glory Shall Come In"
ANTI-sALooN,
After reading ScripJural selection,
Pastor Scudder explained briefly the OBJ
Ject of establishing the Palace. He de-
clared the idea was a great forward
movement of the Christian Church. He
said Catholics were doing the same thing;
Ine movement was spreading over the
country; he was glad to see churches
joining hands in the movement; it was an
antl-saloon movement
In his opening remarks, Secretary
Wells said:-''Funds having been raised,
two houses and lots on Grand street were
purchased and Immediately the
new frame building in the rear
aud lifting up the OLD reading room on
Henderson street, was commenced and
carried on to completion. The building
was opened November 9, 1891, and the
work of the Peoples Palace was formally
1naugurated. Over one thousand young
men, young ladies and misses and boys
and girls have been connected with the
institution during the year by ticket
During the year the roll has been 264, and
With so patron members the total num-
ber is 334. Every variety of employment
is represented by the young men. They
work in our factories. counting rooms,
sto. es and almost in every department OF
the commercial world"
REACHES THOUSANDS.
On the basis of record of visits made
to the institution. kept for one mouth,
the secretary estimated that $4,000 visits
had been made during the year. He was
RAdO W say Gudb TIC I6uQ0uCy QaQ D0G0 TO
add to the Sunday School, to enlarge the
audiences at church services on the Sab
bath, and to increase the membership of
the church. Its progenitors, he said had
kept their promise TO adhere to the motto,
''Pay as you go;" but larger edif1ce than
the present temporary structure was
needed. He recited the equipments of
the reading room. the batn1ng depart
ment, the physical instruction depart
ment, the amusement nall, refreshment
department., the assembly hall, the brass
band, the junior department, the indus
trial department, the clothing depart
ment. the labor and boarding house
bureaus, and other departments of the
institution.
CHAUTAQUA ANNEX.
Prof. a. G. Wait, IN a brief address,
alluded TO department about to be
started for the intellectual advancement
of members who might wish to join. He
said it was proposed to develop the mind
as well as the spiritual and physical con-
ditions of the members. A Chatauqua
circle was about to be established for the
benefit of those who are unable to secure
a college education. A diploma would
be given successful students at the end
of four years. The studies would mon
opoiize about forty minutes of each
students time out of twenty-four hours.
The first years course would EN- brace
Greek history and literature, history of
the diplomacy of this country. science and
studies along religious lines. The cost
would be but fifty cents as a registering
fee and to pay for postage and certain
Printed material.
AS to criticism of the Peoples Palace
idea, Prof. Wait said it was invited.
During sixteen years of experience, he
had never seen the spiritual phases of the
Tabernacle Church work in better con-
dition.
INFLUENCES OF EVIL.
Major PRngborn, among other things,
said that the presence of so large an audi
ence was in itself an evidence of the justi-
tication Of the establishment of such tn-
stiLutions. The past years experience
had awakened the people to the need of
such institutions. The perils that
threatened the future welfare OF this
country came from the cities. There
were plenty of moral people in the cities,
but in such cities as this was to be found
most threatening ENTHUSIASTICALLY and
politically. There was to be found the
largest kind of an aggregation of liquor
saloons, gambling dens and rude resorts,
In the great cities the greatest enemies
OF morality had the greatest swing. There
was to be found also the largest number
of young men without home Influences
Such institutions as the Peoples Palace
were powerful factors in controlling evil
influences. They met certain wants that
were not met by the church, ordinary
clubs or ordinary social organizations.
They supplied profitable amusement and
recreation. 1t was mistake on the part
of some of the best sort of people, pious
people, to suppose that innocent, pure
and clean recreation was not needed by
people and especially the young. He
never saw any 1mproprlety in coupling
this sort of work with church works, In
business parlance the Peoples Palace
idea had succeeded in drawing to itself
consider able clientage. 1t dealt with the
material most needed III building up
those features most desirable in any COM
munity. Work done for the youthful
portion of the community was the most
promising done in any field. 1t was
eminently Christian work.
THE CHURCH UP TO DATE.
Ex-Governor Bedle said the Christian
Church, in his judgment, was stronger
today than it ever WAS. The Church, ne
said, had awakened to the true spirit OF
Christian work. There was less of
doubt and more of faith in the Master
who Went about doing good. The Churcn
had awakened TO the practical side OF re-
ligion. Its great object was to lift up
fallen humanity-to make higher and
better manhood. 1t was rot easy to have
real healthy soul without healthy
body, or high moral standing without
high physical standing. The better
cal aud moral development. The pro-
yet low, but humanity was rising
II was brought up" said the Governor
Gas an old-fashioned Presbyterian, aud
ha Oraaf raaDppt for 10 old d,ot