The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-25
INGERSOLL IN JERSEY
PREACHERS TRIED TO PREVENT
HIS LECTURE ON THE BIBLE.
An Old statute Resurrected Against
Infilels, but the Authorities Re-
fused to Enforce II.

NEW YORK, Feb. 24-The attempts
made to prevent Col. Robert Ingersoll from
delivering his lecture on 1.-The Holy Bible
at the Hoboken Theater tonight proved a
failure. AS a result of protest issued by
the pastors of three of the most prominent
churches in that place. Mayor Pagan yes
terday issued orders that the theater be
closed to-day, thereby practically debarring
Colonel Ingersoll from appearing. The
Mayors decree occasioned a great deal of
comment last night, with the result that
the matter was reconsidered to-day Be-
fore noon Corporation Attorney Minturn
and Mayor Pagan called on the Rev. H. r.
Beatty, the minister who is at the head
ana front OF the reform movement in Ho-
boken. and stated to- him that it was the
opinion of the corporation attorney that no
steps could be taken by the authorities to
stop the lecture. Shortly after noon a con-
sultation was held in the Office of Chief of
Tolice Donovan, at which, In addition to
the chief, the Mayor and Mr. Clark, man.
ager for Colonel Ingersoll, and Mr.. Davis.
the manager of the theater were present.
The two managers were informed of the
decision of the corporation attorney and
they departed with the assurance that the
lecture might take place.
To prevent any disturbance on the part
or the audience and also to stop any bias
phemous utterances on the part of the
lecturer, detectives Nelson and Gallagher
were sent to the theater from police head
quarters. Beyond frequent bursts of an
plause the audience was most orderly and
the speaker confined himself almost entirely
to his text with an occasional ironical al
lusion to the clergymen of Hoboken and
statutes OF New Jersey law to which the
fQfnr"arE a hnA,, alsx
his well-known lecture without reference to
the attempt to stop him until he had
reached a point In the discourse for which
evidently he had been waiting-where he
alludes to the ignorance and sayagery in
the Bible. Here he broke away from his
text long enough to say:
There was enacted a statute in the state
OF New Jersey a hundred odd years ago when
most of its inhabitants were savages, which
says that no body shall ever discuss the
Bible except on one side. Since then the
inhabitants have grown. civilized. They
play; they have leen civilized to a degree
where they can realize its absurdity: and to
realize that the statute sleeps in the dimness
of the past. 1t has now been invoked by
q number of narrow-minded persons who
should have died three hundred years ago.
II don't blame them" the speaker CON
tinued, then heads are that shape and
they are not to blame
He said his audience could make up their
say, for he believed there was no statute
against that" That the Bible was inspired
he had some doubts. but" he added, +'if
the Legislature Of New Jersey SAYS the
Bible is inspired-it is, and that settles it"
Colonel ingersoll grew a little more bit
ter as the lecture progressed and declared
there never was any kindness in the heart
of priest and he believed that there were
persons in Hoboken to-day who would glad
ly bring fagots and build fire around one
of their enemies He said that no criminal
lawyer in the State of New Jersey would
allow a minister on the jury that was to
try a client of his. 1T is surprising he
said further on, how much these parsons
know of God and how little thew know of
human nature"