The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-22
PLAINFIELD Is AMAZED.
PASTOR NEWELL DEMO UNCED ron
> An OK ON SECRET ORDERS.


AN ATTACK ON SECRET ORDERS.
re Objects TO Certain Funeral Rites or tho
RED Men, and the womrs OF the Degree
Of Poeahont.s Are On-nded-He win
Not Omciate Mt Hcntbenish Burinis.
The Rev. q. Kennedy Newell is the pastor Of
Hope Chapel. n branch OF the Crescent Avenue
Presbyterian Church OF Plainneld, Nj. He Is
about 30 years old. and during the three or forr
years that he has conducted the affairs OF Hope
Chapel there has been no more popular preacher
in tho town. During the past few days,
however. things have undergone n change.
On Sunday last Mr.. Newell preached a sermon.
during the course OF which he disperaged secret
societies In general. and alluded to tho Degree
OF Pocahontas. which Ia made up OF women. in
terms that surprised the female member OF the
congregation. nearly nil OF whom are members
OF one Of the two councils OF the Degree In Plain
Geld. Mr.. Newell very frankly admits that he
doesn't like the changed order OF things.
That sermon not only surprised Mr.. Sewell's
parlshioners; 1t offended them. They say so
frankly, at length. and in terms uncom plimen-
tary to the pastor. Members OF his church, as
we'll rs outsiders. have caused TO be published
in the local papers long letters denounc-
ing the preachers attack upon secret societies.
lie snys that he acted in accord with his con-
science, that he weighed his words well before
~uttering them, and hc 10 sorry that his parish
toner's and tho members of the order at which
they were directed should have taken them as .
reproof.
The people Of Plain6eld are fond OF orde~
aud societies. and almost every man and woman
In the town belongs to ono or two. The Desree
OF Pocahontas Is perhaps the most powerful
female secret society in tho place. not only be-
cause It has the largest membership and repre-
sents the best people. but also because II IL an
auxiliary Of the Improved Order of Red Men. to
which organization nearly every man In that
part OF New Jersey belongs.
In PiainReld there are two councils, tho Iona.
which is No. l. and the Paugh Naugh Caugh
Sinque. which is No. .. The two councils are
on friendly terms, and the only reason there are
two In the place is because there are too many
members for one lodge. The Degree is a benefit
society. The wives and families of sick and i'm.
poverished members are cared for, the dead are
buried and .bcir families looked after.
10 all this MIR. Newell has no objection. What
he protests against Is that the order has a ritual
Of It's own and the Indulgence by the members
christian church. He does not like the funeral
service which the Degree holds over Its
includes dropping. into the easket three white
Sstp ioye; the sv sInsins OF q SFies as Sna bird Sn,an 10 nG aRS
mountain" and ut the conclusion OF the hymn
messenger which carries the soul OF the depart
cd ono to eternal rest. This custom which the
Degree has adopted Is in line with the practice
The Crescent Street Presbyterian Church is
the richest in Plainneld. II has several chap.
Important is Hone Chapel. presided over by
Or, Newell. This Is practically a separate
WeaIthy "o one. Among the msmSers S "re
There is Mrs. ciarepeo Leland. the Poea6ontasoi
pauCh Naugh Caugh Sinque Council; Mrs. An.
drew Cox, who 10 keeper OF the records. and
Miss Ada Nash, who Is the collector of wam-
Pocahontss of Iona Council. Is also a member.
and so are some twenty or thirty Others IN the
G SITnS''' p 5ht , He mas; E or ib med Gp.p whG I % tne
Degree OF .Pocshontas. Of New Jersey.
During his time as rector OF. Hope Chapel:
Mr.. Newell has oficiated at n number of
funerals of members OF the Degree. Each time
the burial has been taken in hand by the coun-
Newell made any protest. so the members say.
About ten days ago Mrs. Robert Rushton. wife
aud a pember Of the Improved Order OF Red
men. died, Mrs. Rushton had been prominent
IN the Iona Council Of the Degree Of pocahnn-
Jas since IL started. She was a member OF Mr..
Newell's flock, and when the funeral took place
the church was crowded by members OF the
Degree and OF the Red Men.
Mr.. Newell oficiated. and at the cemetery the
members OF Iona Council took charge OF the
the dirge was sung, and the dove released. Mr..
Newell uttered no word OF hisapproval then. On
sunday his feelings on the subject became too
Violent to be suppressed any longer. AT tho
conclusion of the devotional exercises he came
To the NOTICES for the week. He read them OF
slowly. and when he came to the last one, said:
My friends, l Am going to read something to
you now which. while it may be unexpected. 1
feel y my duty TO speak about. IT. is something
that has been weighing on my mind for n long
time. 1t ha. worried me so that l could not
sleer. and ! think you should know how 1 feel
on a certain matter"
The members Of the congregation looked Mt
one another IN blank amazement when the pas
tor paused: Then they held their breath as he
Went on. The notice was to the effect that the
pastor had afforded funerals which had been
conducted by secret orders. and that ut those
been used which. to hi. mind. we're mot not
proper. He said that In Christian lands
burials are conducted with whatever Christian
ceremony the friends of the deceased wish. and
that no one has a right to dictate what these
ceremonies shall be. But the ones in which he
hsa s paa.'''b hss e sqa to T rarG. he wb rsisrr1 q.
could not, conscientiously approve. lie re-
that these forms seemed to him
that the custom of using birds ana 40 ~ers as
In such ceremonies were not in accord
He closed By stating that he hoped he would
never be called up N to attend such II ceremony |
again. making It pretty plain that he would de- |
cline to oficiato on such occasions.
A buzz Of conversation went over tho church
The moment the pastor stopped. and the con-
hasn't talked Of much else since.
once, although some Of the Older members Of
the church tried I" excuse his remarks By ad- |
her OF any order. he could not appreciate tho
ceremonies ana forms gone through at the
grave. The words return to the appeals
to heather gods" ,eem TO sting the mem bers
Of the decree of Poeahontas. and they have |
been look ing for an apology from Mr.. Newell.
While the pastor IL In his present frame Of mind
they are not apt to get II. He was seen AT his |
home. 4i5 North Fifth street. last night By q
sun reporter, but he declined to say anything;
been made from u sense OF duty. |