The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-07-10
PUBLIC NUISANCE.
Bergen Mission Tent Makes
Night Hideous for the
Neighborhood.
DR.. OpDYKE COMPLAINS.
But the Police Say They Can
Do Nothing to Help
Matters.

DR.. Levings A. Opdyke, of No. So Clin-
ton avenue, called at the Communipaw
avenue poice station asst night and made
compaint to Sergeant Harrington that
tent meetings of the Bergen Mission,
which are held on the corner of Clinton
and Monticello avenue, annoy him and
other neighbors He wanted to know II
the Mission workers could not be driven
from the corner and compelled to move
their tent. He seemed disappointed when
told that they could not be forced to
vacate the property.
by what right are they here?' asked
the doctor.
''They have the permission Of the owner
to occupy the lot,'' he was told.
But have they permit to erect a ten-
there?"
"Thev do not require a permit. They
can use the lot for any lawful purpose.
They have perfect right to hold rel1g-
lous meetings there
But they are a nuisance persisted
DR.. Opdy1e. Their singing and shouting
disturb me and 1 cannot read or study in
peace evenings. The noise also disturbs
me during my evening office hours. Sum
day night they kept up the racket until
eleven o'clock and disturbed the rest of
the neighbors. I should think they could
at least be compelled to close their meet
ing at 9yor $50 o'clock
DR.. Opdyke admitted that he mad not
been to the superintendent of the mission,
John Courtney, to complain that the late
meetings disturbed him. A year ago, when
complaint was made against the Bergen
Mission, when 1t had its tent at Bergen
and Fairmount avenues, the mission work
ers ascertained just what it was that ar
peared Objectionable and did away with
it,. AL the tent the only musical lnstru-
ment used is small organ. The meetings
are conducted no differently than those
within doors.
''I don't suppose they do any harm
through their meetings. said DR.. Opdyke,
''but it is question if they do any good.
If the people want to worship 1 can't see
why they don't go to church."
Sergeant Harrington FASTENED to the de-
fence of the Mission. "If some of the per-
sons who attend those meetings went into
church and took a seat the other oc-
cupants of the pew would probably move
away. Little consideration is shown the
person wearing ragged clothes in the
average church. If the same person at
tenQS the MISSION ne Is ldken ny llt-dliu
and he gets front seat"
Dr. Opdyke next complained that the
Mission brought crowds around the cor
ner and that the laughing and talking of
those without the tent annoyed him as
much as the singing of those within the
canvas. Sergeant Harrington told him the
police could regulate the conduct of the
outside crowd, but could not interfere with
the meetings. He sent a policeman to
drive away from the corner all persons
who did not care to go inside the tent
Residents in the vicinity of Monticello
and Clinton avenues have come to con-
slider the nightly services of the Bergen
Mission, held under a big canvass tent
IN a lot at that corner a nuisance The
service part of the performance is not
causing the protests. The shouts that
emanate from the over-enthusiastic wor
shippers are responsible for the storm OF
kicks.
This tent has Only been up since Sunday
and services held three days, but that is
long enough to tire the residents of that
neighborhood-
The tent is located in a fine residential
section. Many of the residents have spok-
en- to to the police on that post asking II
the worshippers cannot be stopped from
making noise Those who participate IN
the services often become SO carried away
that their shouts of joy are heard block
away. The noise often continues for an
hour.
Another fault found with the tent is
that young boys and girls gather about
there each night, not to take part, but
to stand about, block the walks and make
eeneral nusapces of themselves.
The tent was located last year on the
old school site at Bergen and Paramount
avenue And there kicks were heard
against the services, but no action was
ever taken, for the Board Of Education,
through it's President, John J. Mulvaney,
issued a permit to the mission workers.
The police cannot take action unless
complaints are made and it is doubtful.
il the services could be stopped unless the A
court decided that they were committing
a nuisance.
Announcements have been made that
the tent will be a fixture in that lot until /
the cool weather arrives. The prospects
for a couple of months more of shouting
ard exhorting are far from pleasant to
the residents.
Superintendent John Courtney is in
charge. Different evangelists will assist
each week.