The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-18
+l7mH+
Mr.. SCUDDER DENIES
Pastor Of the First Congre-
gational Church Says
There Is No 0pposi-
ton to Pool
Tables.
SECOND ONE PUT IN TODAY
Gymnasium Soon 10 Appear in the
Basement-A Practical
Congregation.
SECOND ONE PUT IN TODAY


More rumors are flying around that
there is opposition in the First Congre-
cation Church, at Bergen and Boyd ave-
nues, over a pool table which is used by
the young men of the church. There is
talk of a bubbling volcano in the church
which is about to burst and destroy it.
The pool table in question was pre-
sented to the pastor, Rev. John L. Scud-
der. by a wealthy friend in Montclair.
The table was fitted up and placed in
the north end of the mems %clubroom.
which is underneath the prayer meeting
and Sunday school room. On the east
wall of the room are a number of Scrip
tural texts and pictures. This room is
used by the Mems Club, an organization
composed chiefly of the older men of the
congregation. The pool table is under
their auspices and heavy curtains of red
stuff are hung around the table and can
be drawn across the entire room ii the
other portion of the room is in use.
When the table was first spoken of
the Board Of Trustees gave its consent
providing hat the. table was not used
while prayer meeting was on. The first
note of the supposed trouble was sounded
about two weeks ago when there were
rumors of opposition to the game. Some
of the members were quoted as saying
that they were disturbed while wor-
shipping at prayer meeting by the click
ing of the balls and that it was very hard
to get the young men to go to prayer
meetings while the pool table was in use.
Others, it was said, objected to the pool
table being connected with the church
and thought that a house next door
ought to be procured if such things must
be.
Mr.. Scudder was visited this morning
by a reporter of 1.-The News at his resi-
dence, adjoining the church, on Bergen
avenue. When asked if he had heard OF
any opposition to the pool table being
used in the basement of the Sunday school
room, Mr.. Scudder said
Yes, 1 heard a few days ago that Mrs.
Watson was opposed to the table, SO l
went to see her yesterday about it. She
admitted tina she was personally against
it because she had not been brought up
at a church where such things were used.
She was a Methodist. Mrs. Watson fur
Their said that she had to admit fnat ner
boy was much the better for the pool
table having been introduced, because he
came to our room and used the table, and
that's how he came to join the church.
I nave heard of no other opposition said
the pastor, and / am sure there will be
none. We are a practical people and be-
lieve in all these forms of amusement.
why. / myself was for two years an
J. 4 - VIZ D.1loro 3 7 lp N Inny tbacn
things should be done and what is best
for the young men. The talk about a bub-
bling volcano is all nonsense. Well, to
show just how much opposition there is,
we are gong to erect another pool table
today" Here Mr.. Scudder took the re-
porter into the basement where the pool
table was and explained the situation in
this Inc
That pool table there" continued Mr..
Scudder, pointing to several sections of a
table which were lying on the floor, lis
a gift of a friend of mine. Why, we
could not begin to accommodate the young
men with one table. 1t was ridiculous to
have as many as thirty and forty fellows
waiting around to get a chance to play.
The idea has been a tremendous success
and the second table is just what We
want. No, there is no truth that the
game Is on while prayer meeting is in
session.
This sort of thing brings the young fell
lows to prayer meeting, and when the
meeting is over you should see the num-
Der that comes down to play. ] haven't
heard any talk about the pool table be-
in the church proper. Why, if we
want to use the Easements what harm is
there in that? None, l am sure. The
are not consecrated, and we
are only doing what is justly proper"
Mr.. Scudder then led the reporter into
the basement under the lecture room.
This place." he said, may be shortly
fitted up as a gymnasium for the young
men and of course there will be no oppo-
sition to it. Next Monday evening a field
club will be organized among the young
men, and it will be called the South Ber-
gen Field Club. Drifting back to the pool
tables MI. Scudder said that there was no
opposition to them, and he thought that
they were a great benefit to the church.
He said they attracted the young men,
many of whom win shortly join the
church. Mr.. Scudder was very enthusiasts
+;o ox,a I,ie noo1 tables