New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-21
YOUNG MEsEROLE'S CASE,
WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH HIM?
SOME PEOPLE OBJECT TO HIM AS A MEMBER o,
THEIR CuURcH-orHERs ENDORSE HIM

SOME PEOPLE OBJECT TO HIM AS MEMBER on
THEIR cHURcH-orHERs INDoRsE HIM.
Renewed attention was called to the application a
Darwin j. Mescroe fer admission TO Plymouth Church
Yesterday BIZ statements OF serious opposition 10 n
and The intimaon that lively meeting Of the church
would be held when his name was to be voted upon
at the Friday night preceding the March communioa
on tbe first sunday In that month The facts In renr6
10 the application Of young Meserole soon after he
acauItal OF murder In the first degree In kIins
Theodore Larblg In the apartments Of Mrs. Dore Fovnsv
ComstOck were detailed in The Tribune OF January 4
When the young man locked up In Raymond stseet
Jail awaiting trial for his life his mother sent him
Bible lie was deeply impressed by reading 1t snl
became convinced OF the error of his ways and IL
need OF changed course Of life. Soon after he hol
reached this determination he attended meeting he
by clergyman in the fail and after the speaker hal
closed Ills address he noticed the wedressed young
man, unlike the common crowds OF "drunk and d.
orderly, persons before him. and supposing him vQ
called upon him to speak, Meserole was astounded,
but realizing that he must announce his new purpox
mt some time, arose and spoke OF his Intentions lie
wa, listened to with a close attention by his fellow.
prisoners who knew his story.
From that time he did what he could to induce then
to take the same step Of changing their course Of LIE
and became interested In the work. After his N
lease ne COnneteu HlHSeu Wlun inc lhu"Stini itVu9
for Discharged Ccnvicts I'm Lvingston-st. founded b.
Michael Dunn, ex-convct, and has decided to give
his life to the work. He sold his seat In the STOCK
Exchange and gave up bushes for the career OF city
missionary One day In passing the Bethel OF Ply
mouth Church ne was attracted to the services end
went In and took part. He there met the Rev Howard
S. Bliss. associate pastor Of Plymouth Church. who
invited him go to hear DR.. Abbott He did so a1l
was Impressed by his preaching 1t seemed to 1T bis
md bo n
services and the Friday night meetings and felt .
desire to unite himself with the church. When the
usual invitation given 10 all who desired to become
connected with the church to appear before the Mon
beIshp Committee he appeared with others. h
protested deep repentance for his former fe abhoR
renee OF It, and said that he intended to pesevcre Ia
the course which he had marked out. After hearing
him and the statements Of city missionary wha
knew what he had done the committee voted unani
mously to receive him.
According to the rules OF the church his name was
propounded on the sunday before the January CON,
munion ard the church meeting to act upon 1t W.
set down for Friday, January 1. Owing to the day
being legal holiday the meeting had to be deferred
and MeserOes application with that OF several othen
was laid until tho Friday night before the March
communion.
There is some opposition to the approval Of Mes
erole's application especially among the women
members Of the church. but 1t Is not likely that 1t wfn
amount 10 anything. DR.. Lyman Abbott said yes
teray that he believed the action of the church would
he heartily unanimous In approval. The indnation
that Meserole intended to withdraw the application
was unfounded, although he believed 1t would b
withdrawn II he thought 1t would cause any trouble
in the church General c. T. Christensen, OF the
Examining Committee. said that young Meserols had
told him that he would rather withdraw than create
dssension in the church. At first, General Chnstcn
sen said he thought the young man should wall
longer. but his statements and the work he wa
doing were convincing proofs OF his changed course Of
life and of his firm determination TO forsake his evil
ways.
A woman member, who did not wish her name pub
l!shed said Il do not think 1t wise for the church 70
admit such man 10 membership ard social footing In
the church. Neither my daughters desire 10 as
sociate with man Of the record forth In Meseroles
trial How any one who heard or read that EVIL
dence can vote receive him H. the church Is lcon'
ccivnble TO me. Let him wait If be wants 70 JOIN the
church until lie has shown his changed nfe by hs
the church of his parents instead of Plymouth Church,
II would be better for the church to err oy relecunS
one applicant than to offend many by their acions
Besides the influence OF the example will be bad.
vices who said 'Oh I'll Join Plymouth Church, Ike
young Meserole and 1t will be all right See how
evil that will be in the community
What Is the church for said another member, II
IL Is not to help those who want help! say, let the
doors be opened all who desire TO come in and show
fruits meet for repentance We should aid al. az
dead past to nobler things. The example Of Christ
should be all sufficient for u.s.
The members of the City Mission Society SPEAK
high term of the work which young Meserole is doing
after the holiday.