The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-14
MINISTER'S UNITE.
Meeting Of the Law and
Order League to Con-
Slider the Amend
ments.
APATHY AMONG THE BRETHREN
Rev. DR.. Brett Urges Vigorous
Action to Prevent Any Race
tracks in the State.
APATHY AMONG THE BRETHREN

The Law n Order League met in tn
lecture room of the Bergen Reforme,
Church last night and adopted the follow
ing set of resolutions
Whereas. The members of the Law ant
order League desire to call to the atten
ton OF all voters of the county who arr
interested in the safety of the State, thu
peace OF the community, the sanctity o.
the home. the approaching election on thu
GonstitStionaI amendments to be sub
united September rs; therefore be it
Resolved, That we approve OF thu
amendments submitted by the last Legis
lature TO the people, as a Safeguard
gambling. Pool rooms, policy shops ant
lotteries are death traps to the youth
h amendment is designed to make al
election of September IS is the oppor.
tuni.ty to erect a perpetual safeguard
against these evils.
Resolved, That we call upon the pastors
OF the county to instruct the congrega-
tons in the nature of the amendment, t6
urge them to activity and to use their in
fuence to bring good citizens to the polls
The great danger to our success lies In
lack of information and personal activity
| in the matter.
Resolved, That we recognize the press
as an efficient and important ally in the
work. of extending Information and
~arousing the people to their patriotic duty.
We further suggest to the churches OF
Hudson county that the devotional meet
80 ~ 1(Ah A1O W ~ ~
voted to the discussion of this all i'm
portant question.
The meeting was poorly attended, less
than a dozen members of the League
being present. Among those present were:
Revs. Cornelius Brett, D.. D., Charles E.
Little, Ralph w. Wick, w. Ackert and
Arney S. Biddle. The laymen were:-R.
H. Morrison, E.. w. Doan and c. B.
Richie.
The meeting was called to order by the
Rev. DR.. Brett, who issued the call for it.
DR.. Brett said he was in a peculiar po-
sition, as the Rev. ORD. Hathaway had
retired from the city, but had not re-
secretary, DR.. Chambers, had resigned,
n Mr.. Deck, who was appointed in his
place, had left.
Il don't know whether we have a treas
urer or not" said Dr.. Brett. eff we have
We have no money in the treas
ury. 1t appears, then, that I, as vice
president, am the only officer of the Law
and Order League who is left. We will
hardly want to spare the time now to
reorganize and elect new officers, SO 1 will
retain the position as presiding officer"
The Rev. DR.. Little prayed, after which
Mr.. Morrison was elected temporary
secretary.
DIR. Brett then said:-"We needn't in
dulge in any oratory tonight or stir each
other up to good deeds. In some minds
there seems to be a difficulty as to what
is the duty of the hour. Some persons
believe hat we will still be under the pro-
hibitory laws if the amendment fails and
are inclined to leave the matter in the
hands of the Legislature. In my opinion
if the amendment is defeated it will be
taken by the legislators as an evidence
that the people are tired of the pro-
hibitory laws and will repeal them. My
idea in calling this meeting was not so
much to nave it a public meeting with
speeches. as to arrange for another meet
ing on Tuesday of next week or some
other night. There are not enough of US
here tonight to make arrangements for
caring for the polls, although l had
hoped that that would be a secondary re-
suit of the meeting. We should see to it
that the polls are manned by those who
are friendly to the amendments
pr. Brett suggested that a mass meet
in one of the downtown churches.
Pastor Little objected to the mass meet
ing. as he said it would likely result in a
fizzle and would hurt rather thar benefit
the cause.
Rev. MI. Ackert, who from North
Hudson, thought personal work among
the voters the first duty of those present.
THE Republican party, which passed the
he said, lis now working
it. The leaders of the Demo-
cratic party are also working against it.
The men who are working for it are the
and those who ave been spoken
to by the ministers. I met a minister in
the northern part of the county who ac-
tually knew nothing about the amend
ments. Let us first inform those leaders
who are sleeping and get them to work.
Unless we adopt political tastes and work
at the polls we will do very little good. !
If there are any members of the ministry
or any member of our churches who are
let us turn the matter over to
them. They will understand how to fight
the ISSUE
The Rev. Arney s. Biddle said:-"It is a
to the ministry to know that
there are those who have been asleep and
nothing of this fight. It is pretty
that there is not a -saloonkeeper
If the minister's bread and butter de-
upon it they would know of it too, |
because they think it don't some of
them don't bother their heads about it.
| believe in using people outside of the
altogether. Some of them will do
better service and as faithful service as
church members. There are many men
outside of the church in whom I have
perfect confidence"
Mr.. Morrison told of the work for the
amendments which is being lone by the
Fsndeavor Societies throughout
the State. There was further discussion
then DR.. Brett appointed the Revs.
DR.. Little. Arney S.. Biddle and w. Ackert
:. ~ot n - iva f. f11 nr Ly