The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-20
SERIOUS TROUBLE BREWING
IN TIE DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH
OF EAST ORANGE

Dr. Bishop Relieves and Prssshss th~s
Thestregoins is an Abe-in stien-Ams-
tsur Pisywr,ght Merrill ssd H,s rri.ns
bingham withdraw From the Chureh.
ORANGE. N. J.. April 1910 the Rev. DR..
George 8. Bishop. pastor Of the Dutch Re-
formed Church OF East Orange. dancing and
theatre going are abominations. He IL q thor
ough believer In the Caivinistic doctrine. and
because Of this he resigned his psstorate OF
the Brick Presbyterian Church. East Orange.
twenty-six years ago. and organized the Dutch
Reformed Church Of which he has ever since
been PASTOR In DR.. Bishops congregation
there are or rather there we're. some young
men who belonged to the East Orange Lawn
Tennis Club. This club gives every year q
theatrical performance. and the PLAY that IL
produced has always been from the pen Of
John Lenord Merrill Jr., member Of DR..
Bishops church.
Last year the play was called The Island OF
Jalabaloo." and all the parts msle and female.
were taken BY young men. linn sdiatsly after
the production Of this piece DIR. Bishop began
to preach against dancing and theatregoi Il.
and his crusade. which has been continued
ever since. has resulted In the withdrawal
from his church OF Mr.. Merrill and OF
Arthur N. Bingham. who had a prom
inent part In the production Mr.. Mer-
the target OF the sermons as the author
OF the comedies. Recently Mr.. Merrill took q
letter OF withdrawal from the church and
AFFILIATED with the Central Presbyterian Church
Of Orange. Mr. Merrilps example was fol-
lowed shortly BY Mr.. Bingham. The parents
OF the young men remain In the church, but It
Is rumored that there are other designations
The young author has Just completed an
other comedy called The PollywoRs OF Shay
town" WHICH will be produced next month.
Of bis withdrawal from br. Bishops church
don't want to say .snything. about the
matter" answered Mr.. Merrill when asked
the reason for his w wit 1T was ys,y
DR.. bishops views. thought the ,wissst course
to pursue was to leave the church. My parents
and my brothers and sisters are still MEN,
Was your withdrawal caused by Dr.. Bish-
ops Germ ons against theatrical performances
IsG S Sees s an %msp:s .mopns q
theatres or In many other amusements that
are considered to be eminently proper, He is
81 sae he a..
Stunning way is large. He is older than I, and I
believe his views should be respected, although
Members ofthe church compla ain because DR..
Bishop had attacked the young men publicly
them privately.
Tho thought that his actions and motives
were being criticised was something new to
DR. Bishop. and whom he was called upon to-
night he said:
=" See here. my young friend, don't you know
IT. q wrong to question the motives Of minister
OF God2 A clergyman 10 a delegate from the
Lord Jesus Christ, and II any man aseails
delegate. that man will be punished. Minis.
be assailed with impunity. New 1 never
preached a sermon against the Last Orange
Lawn Tennis Club. but dancing .Ind theatre
going are denominations and device Of the
devil; l shall continue to do what I can to
put them down."
Open disruption In the church Is feared be-
cause OF DIR. Bishops extreme Views. It is said
that his resi- nation has been asked for. but
this could not be confirmed. az en- bers OF the
church and DIR. Bishop himself refused to talk
Of the matter.
"Oh. we're having an awful time In our
church just now" was the nearest conflrma-
ton THE Sun reporter could get from mem
Der.