The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-23
PRESBYTERIAN union.
Dr.. John Hall Praises the
Work at a Meeting at
DR.. Hers Church.

People who wore cheerful and smiling
countenancas were very plentiful in the
First Presbyterian Church Tuesday night,
In anticipation of an evening to- be passed
pleasantly and profitably. The occasion
was the first public meeting of the Pres
byterian Union, which anne into exist
ance on December IL last, and embraces
many in the congregations of the First
| Presbyterian Church, the Second Preshy-
terrain Church, the Scotch Presbyterian
Church, Westminster, John Knox and
Claremont Presbyterian churches. The
Union has a paying membership of two
hundred, and 1t is the desire OF the Union
to increase this to 1000. The fees are
| but one dollar q year q the object OF
the Union is mission work among the
foreign elemenG that has located in this
| CITY.
The Union does not want to begin its
work until 1t is assured an annual income
| of 81, 600, which a membership of 1000
would give it. The public meetings were
instituted for the purpose of stimulating
| the sentiment of charity In which the
Union was created with a sincere hope
| tn at new members would be added to the
roll call. The meeting Tuesday night
was not without effect, and at its con-
~clusiou. a number OF people asked to be
| recorded as members.
One of the attractions to this meeting
was the fact that DIR. John Hall of the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Oh urch in
New York had been advertised to deliver
an address. and any one who has once
heard DIR. Hall only requires the slight
est kind or an invitation to be In
duced to listen to him again. When
the meeting opeued there we're on the
platform the Rev. Charles Herr,
pastor Of the church, the Rev. DR.. Hall,
the Rev. David Mitchell and the Rev. L
W. Hathaway. The Rev, Thomas Houston
the blind pastor of John Knox Church.
sat with his wife in the audience. After
the congregation saBg a hymn. the Rev.
St. Luke scripture appropriate to the
occasion, and che Raw. Mr.. Mitchell
PRAYED that God would give the Union
wisdom to enable members to reach the
poor with charity and open up the dis
triets which ara now in darkness, The
Rev, MI. Herr then introduced Charles
D.. Ridgwav, the Secretary of the Union,
who read the minutes of the last meeting,
the constitution adopted. and announced
that he was prepared to enroll additional
names to the list of members.
A SENSIBLE TALK.
DIR. John Hall followed, and among the
things he said were tnese:-"I came here
Oul2uU III 6pCdh t lGW VII u "oAh
of Presbyterian Union. I wish to say In
the first place that all are agreed that
Unions are an advantage and that our
fellowship in the church should be al
active thing and ourselves and u neigh
bors should be identified in good work
together. I think n great advantage In
having a Presbyterian Union is that the
members of u churches are brought to-
gether aud that forms q basis for a united
action in the work of charity aud good.
I hope the Union will be the means of
spreading the truth,
FIND OUT THE TROUBLE.
"When a physician is brought to a pa
the case and then afterward mt the
question of remedy. Snch being the
case, we might ask what are the reasons
that so many goddess people are in our
cities aud what can we do to stop the evil?
We have heard of darkest London, dark
est New York, but thus far l lave not
met any author who has desert bed dark
est Jersey City, but this city is drifting
tina way, and unless q change comes. We
will hear of ii. There is one thing we
must keeoin mind, however, and that Is
that natural corruption is not alone
found iu the slums. It is found every
where, but It differs in thas in the
tenement houses 1t may be reperted
and made known, while in the higher
grade of society it may remain hidden.
Sin in the human race and corruption IN
The heart are found in Fifth avenue just
the same as in the slums, but in the
slums they are shown more TO the public.
This spring from which evil comes is found
in us the same as it is found there, and
Judgment will come in due time to US IL
we have no repentance.
WHERE EVIL EXISTS.
II have often Thought that II you take
an average from l loco psor people and an
average from 1000 we'll TO do neople you
will find that The comparison will net be
unfavorable to the poor. One of the
great dangers to us IS the saloon, and
Chen the gambling houses and places of
iniquity, which cannot be described to
this audience. You can understand the
thoughts of tue father whose sons n
daughters must be in contact with such
human beasts, male or female. 1t is
awful to contemplate. A great evil is
that the Sabbath is not Kept by the null
tftude of people. Some cannot because
they must work to find bread for hungry
mouths, but there are many who can not
make that plea. Many devote their
time Sunday to reading newspapers con-
tanning a list of murders, criminals and
the proceedings of the divorce courts. In
this way they do not get Gods training.
this. Some are protesting christians.
There are Thousands of, such In New
York. II the Union could do anything to
lessen that evil it would do much.
H REMEDY EoR EVIL.
"What is to be done? There is a tend
ency in many quarters to divide up yir-
tues in sections, apdthere is a correspond
ing tendency in other sections to divide
vice. This is wrong. It Is the result of
not religious training. The man who re-
ceives the Gospel becomes a good mau
and father. Missionary work will convey
the Gospel aud bring wise, practical
Christian b~enevolence in contact with
those needing them
At the conclusion of the address James
Mckinney, William C. White aud Will
lam Darling were appointed a committee
on nominations. It will be their duty to
nominate the next list of officers. When
this business was disposed OF Rev. Mr..
church to partake Of a collation..