The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-04-19
NEW JERSEY NEWS.
.ACT|AG A CARDINAL SIN.
DR.. Bishops scathing Sermon
Causes Trouble in His Church.
Active Workers and Their Families
Withdraw and Arc Angry.

ORANGE, y. j., April l9.--There is
another frst-class sensation In the Re
formed Church OF East Orange and the
families of John Leonard Merrill, David
n. Brigham and others have left the
church, because the pastor, the Rev. Dr.
George :. Bishop. had In one of his ser
mons said things which these parish
toner's appropriated to themselves as par
ticularly applicable to them and theirs
Only a few months ago Joseph Moulton
Morrill,. John Leonard Merrill. jr., and
A. II. bingham were among the most
active workers in the church. but they
were too much welded to society to suit
| their vigorous but opinionatei pastor.
DR.. bishop Is rather peculiar in his
clerical ideas. He always wears full
cept no stated salaries for his services
but collects from his congregatio their
contributions by means of small boxes
placed in the corridors. His wife is said
to be wealthy, and every Summer they
both go to Europe for a vacation.
Mr.. Bishop is u hot Calvnist and Of
ten has his sermons printed for distribu.
ton. His strong words have created
trouble In the church before, once in par
| ticular when he was said To have de-
| nc unced rich men of his congregation.
| John Leonard Merrill. Jr., was one of
| the most accomplished Young men. and
en- earnest worker In the church. He
| rsei to conduct many of the Young Peo-
pies meetings held before the Sunday
evenings services. lie was also a val
table aid In the Sunday-school. as was
| also his brother Joseph.
The trouble, however. was that John
| was said to be somewhat OF n tlirt He
| Is n member OF the best society In East
Orange. and a clever dancer and singer.
He is also President of the East Orange
Lawn-Tennis Club.
| Len Merrill, as he Ia called. has theat-
Lott nl noNNtF ftrN,u ntNI hnss asrts tan
eral pretty operas produced under the
| auspices Of the Lawn Tennis Club. He
arranged and composed The Jalabaloo'
and 1.-THE Pollywogs of Shantytown"
| and several other comic operas, which
the Club has given In various parts OF
/ the State.
Both the Merrllls and young Bridg-
man are good clog dancers, and 1t Is
against this particularb ranch OF the
theatrical profession that DR.. Bishop is
said to have taken exception.
| Not many weeks ago Dr. Bishop, in
one of his sermons, denounced in scath-
ing terms the whole theatrical business.
and especially the amateur stage. He
gave the impression that 1t was his be-
dulge In impersonation in any form. Al
all events the Merrill brothers and
young Brigham WINGED under the
thrusts given them, and are reported to
pastors remarks, and to have made
known their wounded feelings to theiI
| friends.
Scarcely a week after this all Of the
members of the Merrill family and the
Brighams and other members of the
congregation withdrew their letters
from the Reformed Church. and thu
Merrills Joined the Central Presbyterian
Church.
The Merrill boys are now rehearsini
for a new farce. which will be produced
soon.
Pastor Bishop, when seen by n reporter
denied that he had said anything whicl
was intended as a rebuke to the Merrill
or Brigham boys. He declared that HI
always liked to see young people EMO!
themselves in proper way.