The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-08-04
A GOSPEL LIGHTHOUSE.
Novel Steeple Of First Church Of
Coney Island.
TEXTS OF FIRE TO BE FLASHED.


words of snIvatIOn-sudden Warn
ings For Jewellers at Midnight-Re-
marknbIc Career of the Chureb's
Pastor.
High above the congregated wonders
Of Coney Island light strcaned forth
the other night FOR the first time from
Il new revolving lighthouse says the
New York Mail and Express. 1t Is not
n government lighthouse nor new
device Of some cnterprising fakir. lt
is a gospel lighthouse and rises above
the first and only church Of COncy Is
land Even a church develops strange
features when brought In contact Wi
the maryels of Coney Island, and whnt
would doubtless have been n steeple
IN any other community has become Il
lighthouse there where even a church
must be unique If II would win atten-
ton.
With all the varied attractions for
which Concy Island Is noted one would
hardly think Of going there to attend
church. but even this is now possible
through the efforts of Mr. j. j..
Hughes. Coney Islands church IS not
a prosalc. everyday sort Of church,
however and the novel steeple or light
house bids fair 10 become landmark
on the island.
The lighthouse is 60 feet high. sur
mounted 10y hagpole. \ strcamer
bearing lhc words Jesus Saves Will
float from the flagstaff at a height Of
80 feet. The lighthouse proper con-
slsts Of a glass box about ten feet
square. Forty lncandescent electric
lights will blaze inside and small
electric motor will cause the box 10
rotate.
Mr. Hughes plan IS TO fash gospel
messages from the tower In letters y
inches high and - wide. The appara-
tus used will be the same as that used
by business firms for electrical trans
parencies. First the word Jesus ap
pears in letters Of light on black
background. II will disappear, and the
word saves" will be seen. Five sec
onds later this will disappear and both
words will appear together, remaining
ten seconds. Next the lights will move
to another position and the process VIII
be repeated. The words can be chang
cd nightly II desired.
Mr.. Hughes says that the object is
not so much to attract people to the
church rs TO set them to thinking. He
believes tie sudden flashing Of Scrip
tural text In this way on the reyelry
and wlckedness Of midnight may com.
mand the attention Of persons who
have never given n thought to religious
matters.
The church Is located on Seabeach
walk In the very center OF the island,
near the Scabcach pavilion, where the
trolley cars stop. II Is only few steps
from the iron pier. The lighthouse Is
less than 200 feet from the waters
edge, and the electrician who Is in
stalling the apparatus says the mes
sage can be read two miles out ut sea.
The church itself was erected at n
cost Of Sl,40O through the generosity
Of Mrs. COurtlandt De Peyster Field OF
New York. II is 40 by SO feet, with a
balcony. II seats 400 A strange thing
about It is that IL afiilates with no de-
nomination and that no collections are
taken. nor has any one ever been asked
TO give one cent toward its support.
Mr.. Hughes has passed the meridian
Of life and has no money except what
is given I'm voluntary donations. Serv-
ices are held every afternoon and even.
ing. and on Sunday afternoon aud
evening they are held continuously, the
people coming and going as they like.
Mr.. Hughes has had history as re-
markable as that of the church. Grad
uated from the Columbian university
at Washington, he was admitted to the
bar IN the District of Columbia and IN
New York. For 20 years he was a
prominent lawyer In New York city,
with an Office on Broadway. A false
step, the forging Of legal decree, was
responsible for his downfall and a
term Of five years at Sing Sing. 1t
was there that Mr.. Hughes first seri-
ously considered the subject OF re-
ligion. His term was shortened by
good behavior to three years and sew
en- months, and since his discharge, IN
1894, he has been engaged In mission
work. being at one time connected with
the Bowery mission.
Three years ago Mr.. Hughes began
holding services at Coney Island in a
tent. He had some difficulty in secur-
ing land on which to pitch the tent, as
rents were high at the island, and the
man to whom he applied for a place
thought the people who came to Coney
Island for recreation ought not to be
confronted with religion. Later on he
apparently changed his views, giving
the land rent free and supplying chairs
for the tent.
The electrician who put In the two
arc lights also became interested In
the undertaking. On learning that Mr..
Hughes was not backed by any society
he said, "They say corporations have
no souls, but | am going to see IL
can't induce the company to furnish
you with light free" And he did. The
work grew and prospered. services be
ing held through the winter, and last
winter the Sunday school had 40 MEM
bers.
Mr.. Hughes and his family live In
the balcony of the church, and the
latchstring is always out. No appli-
cant for help Is ever turned away.
Seldom fewer than ten eat with him
at every meal. Mr.. Hughes believes
In one table for all, and the poorest
tramp Is invited to eat at the table
with his family. Nor Is this all. Mr..
Hughes has been very successful In
resculng the homeless and friendless
and providing work or homes for them.