The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-05-27
MINISTER'S AT WAR;
Methodist Rev. Spe11meYer
Anglers Baptist Rev. Won
BarchWitz.
DIME MUSEUM METHODS.
An ''Ofensiye" Handbill and q Tart
Letter-New Problem In
Church Ethics.
Special to The Jersey Ctr Ns,O,.

Specadt 10 Inc JeTSev Cttu Neles.
NEWARK. May %. 1S93 There Is high
| old time among the devout Methodists Of
this city, and the row is all because one
Methodist clergyman has irretrieyaoly
injured the tender feelings OF Baptist
| Brother,
The Rev. Henry fSpelImeyer, Pastor OF
| the Central NJ. e. Church. on Market
street has done the injury. and the Rev.
O. Won BarchwitZ, red hot Bap.
| tist, who has his own ideas about
etiquette, Is the man who resented it.
ORIGIN OF IT.
It all happened in this wise. Brother
Spellnleyer's chucch was having come
bination s'at home" this week. One day
| was devoted to the Peak Sisters per-
formauces, another to a pulling match,
| and the third scooped in all that was left
| that church could possibly do. Brother
| Spelimeyer had circulars of invitation
printed, and had them addressed simply
Dear Sir" One of these ehanced to be
placed before the expounder of the Bap-
| tist faith, aud he was forthwith exoeedr
| ingly wroth. The idea of Methodist
| minister addressing Baptist preacher
| in tbat manner was ply not to be tol
eratsd. Sc Brother Won BacchWltz, to
| sSJisfy his peut up feelings. caused the
| following denrsciasory letter Of The
L II
meyer to be priRteG asd crcutated:--
VAN BARCHwIT1's LETTER
| Rev II. spellmeyer, Pastor Of Central NJ E
Church:
| DEAR SIR AND Observation-Disclosures of my
churcn received from your people number Of
handbills, inviting thea TO participate in certain
| 'Dime Museum performances, or at least ac-
knowledge such by their presence in your
| church May "a. IS and 25.
| They felt, after reading the invitation, that
| an insult had been offered them individually
| and the church 10 which they belong.
| At our regular Tuesday evening meeting
| these invitations wers handed TO Eae and was
| requested publicly 90 state something in regard
to the matter, which did with tears in my eye 5,
when tire disgraceful character of the
| show was astounded at tine shameful spirit,
| to say the least, which prompted the issue OF
| these papers and then the distribution OF th EN-
among inoffensive men and women, who ne YER
| did your people any harm, many Of them being
members of my church.
| AS church we feel ashamed and aggrievsd
| that professed Christians (D should resort to
such disreputable means to anuse the people
and fill the treasury OF the church. As an indi-
vdual feel more like hiding my face in shame
! before every inhdel and unsaved man and
woman. because that a church, Of which the
| Rev. Mr.. Spellmeyer is the pastor, copfesses
thus openly that tho precious Gospel OF the
| Son Of God has lost its powers and that he
| believes with the lnfldel tnat the Word no
| longer is sufficient to hold and save and at
tract the people, but it Is all &c humbug. an i'm
| position, and tnat these substitutes must bs
| introduced to do the work. Having form
| Of Goodness, but denying the power thereof.
| is awfuliy illustrated by this business. I am
| exceedingly sorry and grieved that you and
| your people have come to that, and thus become
| an occasion that our blood bought privileges
will be rrampled upon and called useless thing
by the world. u it the close proximity to
| Miners Theatre to which this ID due! Has the
1 theatre swallowed the church, Or the church the
| theatre, though Central Church was first oh the
| spot?
| We protest against such attempts to draw
aside our people on the hill, aud to poison their
| minds, especially the young, who though many
| are still unsaved, are righteously indignant at
| such blasphemous proceedings, and calling 1t
branch of church work. -
! We pity you from our hearts We feel sorry
| for you individually; we weep because OF the
disgrace that again has come to the Gauge of
Christ, and lessons the probabilities OF revival
| work moro and more, and because of the awful
| judgment that will overtake us 10 due time.
4 unless we repent and return to God.
| For the sake Of perishing souls about US, do
< lift up your voice against this abominatton; !;
| spare not and be not afraid. God win bless you
l and prosper you thousand times more II you
would be true to Him: In great sorrow,
| Yours in the Gospel,
| o. Won BAkcHwrrz.
l This open letter seems to us necessity, ber
| cause of the publicity given to your so called
church work; aud furthermore to aid you In re-
/ buking this thing before the official brethren or
your church whom you serve.
Copies of the above letter were distrib-
uted by Young men in front Of the Gen.
| trai NJ. E. Church. The officials OF the
| church heard OF It and came out and
| threatened the arrest of the young men.
The latter told their spiritual adviser OF
! tee stir their work had created. sud.
| nothing dsunred in the least. The Rev.
| Won Barchwitzs ordered the young men
| 70 hia again TO the church doors Of the
asv. Nj. Spelimsyer and continue to dis
teipate this open letters. And they did.
Nons WAS arrested, but There Is no telling
wnat it will all end in.