The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-02-24
"A LOATHING
AND A CAUSE
DR.. Herr of Jersey City So
Speaks at a Funeral of
a Rich Jersey City
Club Member. h.

Ono Of the most remarkab funeral adj.
dresses ever delivered was that made on
Thursday night by Rev DR.. Charles
Herr Of the First Presbyterian Church, Of
Jersey City. over the body Of William J.
Mc1lroy, who died after short illness Of
| pneumonia at the home Of his father,
| John McIlroy. on Bramhall avenue. The
big house was filled to OVERLOOKING by rel
atives and friends Of the deceased, and
nearly 200 members of tho Jersey Cttv
Club. Of which Willifm McIiroy had /.
many years been prominent member at
tended in body.
Dr. Herr opened his remarks with a
eulogy OF the dead man. to which the
mourners listened with respectful nterest
But suddenly the minister changed the
tenor vi his discourse, and while His hear
ers were transflxed with establishments
and dismay, he continues:
"This is y death that ought not to have
occurred: There was no hope, humanity
speaking. for MIR: McIlroy from the mo.
mont he was attacked. The disea'e found
him In such impaired physical condition
that fatal issue was inevitable.
"fhere is one thing that was at least a
contributory cause to this concl usion-tho
cafe attachment to the Jersey City Club
know that am on the solid ground ct
fact in declaring that but for the cafe, and
the habits and associations 1t eDgenuered,
this sad service would not be held to-
night There Is one sacrifice Of young man.
hood ut least In which the cafe has had
soine share. How many more there has
been, how many are now In process Of
making, do no. venture 10 say.
but this l put to you mon: Can you
afford, in duty to your community, In
view OF the obligations Of brotherhood, In
regard for tho happiness Of your homes,
In conscience toward God, to sustain au
institution which Is even In u small meas.
ure responsible for thirp Can you think
1t right und worthy of you to assent to the
continuance OF an agency which helps to
cut off young manhood in its prime, to
blight tinc powers, to wreck promising
careers, to agonlze homes, to break
heartsY
"Here is household darkened under q
pail that will never lift; the sword has
been driven up to the hilt in tho hearts OF
these loved ones. Let the cafe bear its
share Of the responsibility, aud DO held BY
all true mon for what it is "a loathing
and q curse"
These remarks came like a thunderbolt
upon tho audience. The mother and sis
ter of tho dead man, hearing him thus &c.
cused became historical. Tho fellow club
men, Standing in q manner accused OF
their friends death. were du mfounded at
the charge. They left the house in silence
but since then DR.. Hers sermon has been
practically their onlytoplc of conversation
and indignation in Jersey City against
the minister is not expressed in moderate
words.
DR.. Hers opposition to the club was
long known. In the old days the organiza. \
ton was known ms the Jersey Ci'y Attn
letic Club, DIR, Herr and other ministers
were among the members. About five
years ago tho club was ra.organized. The
word athletic was dropped from tho
.,,V o..
was added to the features OF the handsome
clubhouse. That aroused the bittor ire of
Dr. Herr and othor advocated Of total absti
nenCe. The total abstainers left the
club whilo other members joined ID Tho
club las handsome building ut Crescent
avenue and Clinton street. McI!roy who
was forty-one years of aga and who wo X
cd for coal firm at No. Broadway. New
York, spent much of his time there. That
he was Incorporate is a fact that his
frienus have to admit, but that that mis-
fortune should be attributed to the club
fills the monbers with the greatasI indig-
nation.
In the absence of the president another
officer of the club, who is a total abstainer
said: 81 heard tho sermon over McIlroys
body last night, and 1t was tho greatest
outrage ever knew. McIIroy never bs.
came intoxicated in this club, in fact, he
often cumo here to recover from the effects
OF an evening 6p0nt elsewhere. We who
knew him aud liked him did all We could
to save him.
That this club should be blamed for
his habits or his dsa h Is simply Disgrace
full. Dr. Herr only a few years ago drove
the fastest team of horses on tho Boule-
ward, and he was in The clubhouse Oh Lin.
coins birthday to celebrate tho day with
the Lincoln Club, which hired QUE hall for
the occasiOu.'
:. DR.. Herr says Il said what did in or.
der to preach a warning tG others"
Tho matter Is not ended. DR.. Herr has
declared open warfare onthe club AMI the
cubmen have declared warfare on the
IN nj ,tnr