New-York tribune., 1899-06-12
FAVOR THE PARK PROJECT.
ADVOCATED IN THE INTERESTS OF
MORALITY.


! AND AT THE CHURCH OF THE PILGRIMS
MINISTERS EARNESTLY IN
DoRsE THE PLAN.
In many Of the churches last night the plan Tor
the proposed park in the recently burned district OF
Coney Island was strongly advocated. Both min
listers and laymen argued that the city government
should at once create such a park not only as d
recreation grounds also in the interests OF good
morals.
In Plymouth Church s. V. White presided over
large and enthusiastic meeting. Cheers greeted the
declarations Of the speakers. among whom were
Controller Bird 8. Coler Elijah X KENNEDY anu
! the Rev Dr. Hills. Resolutions were adopted au-
1 vocatng the park project and Controller Coler
delivered an address. which was received WIN
much enthusiasm. Among other things he SAID; 1
hold II TO be an established truth that every doar
expended to better the moral and physical coiiui.
ton of mankind Is stone laid In the structure OF
higher civilization. Governments and municpa'i-
ties as well as individuals may he morai anu ue
| cent law abiding and progressive
ITO promote the mental and physical well-oelng
! OF the children should be the first duty OF the
I State. When you take care OF the American small
boy you are guarding the future OF the America"
Nation Let their young lives develop In the sun
light; give them plenty Of innocent amusement
and the safety Of our country and our institutions
is assured for another generation.
ITO better the condition of Coney Island ana
| transform into a park locality notorious lor I'M
morality and crime ! regard az an important etep
! forward In the direction Of better government IL
is in fact important that it cannot be casseo as
a sectional issue or a local improvement CAP
plause) II is matter that concerns the people OIL
the whole city 1t is a movement In the interest OF
morality and humanity.
| "J bcteve that the city authorities will go on
until
is blotted out and a great public park is put upon
the site TO stand as an enduring monument TO that
sound public opinion that is the inspiration anu
/ sustaining force Of all good government
SPEECHES BY MR.. KENNEDY AND DR.
HILLS.
Mr. Kennedy whose interest in parks has always
been manifested not only when he was Brookyns
Park Commissioner. but since then showed the
| necessity for the speedy establishment OF PARK
as proposed He said that 1t would improve the
morals a. we'll as the appearance OF the island, ana
that it should be made pleasure ground Tor thoSe
who cannot leave the city in the summer season.
! Dr. Hills said in part: This park is one of the
great needs of our people The rich do not neeu H.
for they can make their way 10 any seashore re-
sort The well-to-do do not need 1t. for they can
| IND their way into some Northern forest. 5 but
it, for they the children, not OF vacations, oue S
of ncessan toll Their lot II is 0 20 ibey nnd their
/ way about upon the heated paVements, OF woIk III
Gst of a tropic summer day And to this million
o people belong the glorious beach its cool breezes,
.rnis beach so accessible SO beautiful. health:
full seems like the special gift Of nature ana OF
oq or three i9 oqh thousand peop who it for
the purpose OF degrading their fellows It belongs 10 10
shore % and surf and land and and sky but who
TO snoy sh9 saloon t@s Psrf and gaming o
| DR. Hills described resorts OF similar nature In
coneested districts adjacent TO great cities had
| been Of incalcuabie benefit to the people
AT THE CHURCH OF THE PILGRIMS.
The Rev. DR.. s. D. Mcconnell of Holy Trinity
! Church; the Rev. John Perkins Forbes. OF the
Church OF Our Saviour and ST. Clair McKelway
last evening advocated the project for a park at
! Coney Island In the Church of the Pilgrims, at
! Henry and Remsen SITS.
Dr. Mcconnell said that moral grounds the
park should be established, and that wisdom, dis
| cretIon and a generous spirit Of lberality should
| mark the protect He spoke OF the natural beau
| ties Of the place and the great advantage thal II
| possessed in being in such close proximity 10 the
Mr. Forbes spoke in the same strain hound
St Clair Mckelway said that there was bound 70
be opposition TO the movement rom those
directly interested and f1 who & pao n6 by pe5
indirectly. such politicians. who are Wiling 20
sell themselves to any party or TO the hlghest Do
! der and from the pessimists among whom, the
speaker said there is certain percentage OF van
They are the last to favor any good movement
they the first 70 claim cohs,degaoe ted be
proposed park work OF development ana SUP
/ situation. Mr. McKelway's idea is 10 provide PARK
| with good music and refreshments that would not
! demoralize degrade or vitiate, and that II snould
be a pleasure place on a large. easy and liberal
! scale ..,..o .s
| Authority should not be too obtrusive. ana,
above all =" the speaker said, we must not let them
see that we are trying prescribe code or morals
| for them" Mr.. McKelway believed that both poht-
| ical parties would favor the park scheme.
| DR. Storrs said that when he first drove 10 Coney
Island fifty years ago, he exclaimed involuntarhy:
| This is place for children in the summer time
Dr. Storrs is in favor OF the city providing places
! If Intelligent Christian moral influences com
, bned" said the Doctor the park would soon be
a resolution indorsing the plan and requesting
the Municipal Assembly TO act favorapy was
America" was sung by all at the close of the
meeting.
ADVOCATED IN OTHER CHURCHES.
In the morning the Rev. DR.. ]. G. Bacchus. rec
for OF the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation. In
Cates-ave devoted his sermon TO a discussion OF
tho subject The Proposed Peoples Park at Coney
Island ~ 1,- .o -. 49, .
Avenue Congregational Church, delivered a pre-
lude 10 his evening sermon on Coney Island
adopted by the church. favoring the idea of the
Controller 49,, -,-,
At the evening service in St. Peters Episcopal
Church the following resolution was passed:
| Resolved, That this congregation heartily IN.
dorses the proposed plan to transform Coney Island
into public seaside park. and urges our municipal
government to take every possible step Tor the ac
complishment Of this end"
SALOONKEEPER WINS HIS CASE.