The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-19
STONED Mr.. BEACH
Toughs Try to Break Up
the Religious Meeting
For MOtormen.
sNoWBALLs FOR THE SPEAKERS
Meeting Held In the Traction Cons
pany's Waiting Rcom--A
Poor Attendance.

The Traction Soul Saving Association held
its first public meeting yesterday afternoon
in the waiting rooms at the car stables. The
association, which has for its object the con-
version or saving of the souls of the conduc-
tors and motormen employed by the Consoli-
dated Traction Company, was started
several weeks ago by several good
men from West Bergen. They met
at the house of Mr.. W. H. Beach, who. with
Mr.. Hamilton Rink, is at the head of the
scheme, and mapped out a plan of action.
At first they thought of hiring hall, and
then they decided to first consult with the
officers of the road Messrs. Beach and
Rink were appointed committee to wait
upon the magnates. Mr. Beach saw Man.
ager Young, and telling him of the hopes
and objects of the Association, asked
for his cooperation. Mr., Young referred
him to Mr.. Sayers, Superintendent of Trans
portation. He listened to the scheme and ex-
pressed himself as willing to do all in his
power to foster it.
THE WAITING ROOM ALLOWED THEM
To prove this he offered the association
the waiting room in which to hold their first
service, promising them that if it proved
successful he would give them larger place.
The attempt at saving the souls of the
great difficulties, such as snowballs, stones,
heoting, jeers, etc. Shortly before four
O'Clock two of the brothers journeyed to DR..
Brett's church, and getting the small organ
started to carry it to the waiting room, SO
that they might have music at
the meeting. They got half way across
Montgomery street with it when the young
toughs of the neighborhood spied them. Be
fore they got to their destination they were
pelted SO hard with snowballs and stones
that they had to put down the organ and
chase their assailants. They finally got the
organ into the waiting room and the service
began.
MR.. BEACH sNowBALLED.
There were about fifteen motormen and
conductors in the room when Brother Beach
arose to talk. While there only fifteen men
inside there were about two hundred boys
and toughs outside, and they were all trying
| their level best to break up the meeting.
The windows of the room were opened and
through them they threw snow balls at the
speaker and at the organist. Many OF them
struck the mark, but the speaker kept right
on, never needing them. He explained to
| the men what the association" proposes to
| do and told them of how railroads all over
| the country are inaugurating missions and
religious societies for their men. He said
| that the association" had been organized to
bring the Word of God to the men, who,
owing to their hours of work, get no oppor-
tunity to attend church. He did not try to
| save any one Yesterday, being content with
explaining the motives of the movement.
THE OTHER SPEAKERS STONED.
| Mr.. Beach left Immediately to attend the
services at the South Bergen Reformed
| Church. The meeting progressed, and so
| did the interruptions. Brother Brinkerhof
| talked salvation, and Brother Rink prayed
| while they were stoned. When the meeting
closed, and as they were going home, it is
said that the missiles few so thick that they
had to stand in front of large plate glass
| window to save themselves from being
| hurt
| Some of the motermen treat the move
as great joke; others are indignant at the
| thought of any one trying to save their souls,
while very few look favorable upon it and
are willing to cooperate with the good
brethren who originated it.