The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-30

Simpsons M. E. Church, Central ave, J.cH
meefing TN Ts1sdsy = x 5Hes osess e d lsss Gents
Further than this, the meeting was an
| nounced on Sunday night by the Rev. Mr..
| AyIesworth, from the pulpit of Simpson
Church.
The Volunteers made all preparations to
receive their new leader in a style be4lt-
ting his rank and position. They met in
force at the Armory on Newark avenue
last night and headed by Colonel Miles,
Captain Tippett and the National Head
quarters staff band started at 1880 o'clock
to march to the church. The line of
march was pursued up Newark avenue,
around the Five Corners, through Hobo
ken avenue to Central avenue and thence
to the church. When they reached the
church they were surprised to find that it
was not lighted, and that the doors were
closed. crowd of people holding tick
cts for the Volunteer meeting were stand
ing On the sidewalk in the rain. Express
sions of surprise and Indignation were
heard on every side. Captain Rugge
halted the column and went to investi-
gate the strange proceeding. He was
Jonah, the sexton. who informed him that
he had received strict Instructions from
the trustees not to open the church to
the Volunteers. He could not explain
their reasons for issuing the order Cap.
tain Rugge smarted under what he con-
sidered an insult to him ana an attempt
to injure the Volunteers. but he kept
cool He told tho crowd that slight
isf 10 1,ad Il Ll--
be necessary to hold the meeting in the
volunteer Armory instead of the church.
The Armory is nearly half mile from
the church. Many of the crowd went
nome In disgust, while others followed the
Volunteers as they marched back to their
hall. A soldier was left at the church to
notifying any persons who should arrive
later.
The Volunteers were at a loss for an ex-
PLANTATION of this strange proceeding.
They could not tell why they had been
debarred from the church A News.
reporter Investigated the matter. He first
interviewed the sexton, Mr. Jonah. 81
cannot open the church, he said, with
out a written order from the committee.
Up to seven o'clock last night I had re-
ceiyed no order to open 1t for The
Volunteers. l wanted to make sure that
I was right i'll the matter so interviewed
every Trustee could find at home. Each
one told me not to open the church Thar
is all know about it,
The Volunteers marched UP to the door
headed by brass band. I met them at
the door and told them I could not open
the church for them. was sorry 70 dc
So 0c IN,
Volunteers =
The Fiev. Mr.. Aylesworth was also seen.
He said:-Last Tuesday uniformed
officer of the Volunteers and another man
called on me to see about getting the
church for It welcome meeting to Colonel
Miles. I told them that I haa not the
authority to let them have the church.
Such matters, I told them were in the
hands of committee of trustees.
gave them the names of the members of
the committee and they promised to see
them about getting the church, That was
the last heard of the matter until Sun
day night when a notice of the meeting
was handed me by the sexton, Just as I
entered the pulpit. It was unsigned and
I did not recognize the handwriting. /
read the notice as a matter Of courtesy
and mentioned that it was the first had
heard of it. thought it strange that |
had received no notice from the committee
as they usually tell me when they propose
to open tile church for special purposes
Some Of the officials were as much sur
prised at the notice as / was The
sexton came to me tonight and asked ME
what he should do. l advised him to see
the trustees. They say that they never
gave the Volunteers permission to use
the church. do not believe there is any
feeling against the Volunteers We have
had Colonel Hallinwood here and have
always been friendly to the movement I |
think the whole trouble must have been |
caused by the Loose manner in which the |
committee from the Volunteers made |
their arrangements
A reporter tried to see the members of |
the committee, but did net find any Of |
them at home. Captain Rugge said
Every member Of the committee gave /
his consent to our using the church. II /
called on them separately, and each one l
aid he would consent IL the others would /
kfter that called on them again and got |
their positive permission. l think that |
since that time they must have been in
iuenced by someone who is ailtagonistic I
% us. Being turned away al. the door I
IF the church was one OF the bitterest +
and most embarrassing experiences I
have ever had.
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