New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-29
A PEOPLES PALACE.
Being Built IN Connection zCith a
JERSEY City Congregational Church.

The largest CONGREGATIONAL church OF New-Jersey
has begun the erection Of a peoples palace In
which there will be rooms for dancing and caro-
games as well as for church meetings and sun
day school The cornerstone of the structure was
laid yesterday on Jersey City Heights
In the words of the pastor. the Rev John L.
Scudder, 1.-THE Peoples Palace VIII sanctiy All
legitimate arnusements and not let the devil have
a monopoly of them. It will keep boys OH lhe
streets. young out of saloons and young wom-
en- out of dance halls" Accordingly beneath the
roof of this building. there Will be bowling alleys
pool and billiard tables, rifle ranges, theatre.
ballroom. armory, gymnasium. together win
accommodations for many more amusements' ana
on the roof there will be a garden for summer
recreations.
Ten years ago Mr.. Scudder persuaded the mem
bers of his church TO put in tenpin alleys so that
the youth Of the congregation might go 10 the
church for this amusement instead of to beer halls
The tenpin alleys, however, caused a great rumpus
among certain other clergymen, but. nevertheless
the alleys stayed. Some time later Mr.. Scudder In
troduced a swimming pool, and among those VINO
became interested in the practical Christianity OF
the First Congregational Church.. as the pastor Is
wont to express it. was Joseph Miloank' OF TINS
city.
On happening to meet Mr.. scudder day, he
said:
Well I hear that you have added swimming
pool to your church; what will you do next?"
I'VE haven't money for anything else just yet
was llle nut liliIlk lIldI you lawn q
swimming pool for a church
Mr.. Milbank looked so surprised that the min
lister Immediately added:
You a Baptist, and therefore believe in
immersion"
The two men have been close friends ever since
that time, and although Mr.. Milbank is Baptist
and Mr. Scudder a Congregationalist. Mr.. Milbank
has furnished the money for the Peoples Palace
Situated at BeTgen-ave. and Forrest-St., Jersey
City the Peoples Palace will be easy of access to
the large population which finds employment in
neighboring mills and factories According to the
hopes and prayers of it's originator it will perform
a work such is suggested in Sir Walter Besant's
book, "Au Sorts and Conditions of Men" and be-
uplifting power in the community by
providing for the social well as the religious
needs of the people. Here the mechanic may go
and read the papers magazines, or have smoke
game of pool, without that ever pressing in
yitaton to take drink Here the factory hand
may take his best girl to a dancing party or
theatrical performance without mingling with the
depraved element which frequents the cheap music
hall.
Some idea of the size of the building. which
stands on plot III feet long and g feet wide, is
furnished by the auditorium. which will occupy
the third floor and which will seat floor and
in gallery from twelve hundred to thirteen hundred
The hall will be the largest on Jersey City
Heights. and it will be used at different times
a theatre ballroom and a Sunday school room.
The floor is to be finished in hard maple and pol
ished for dancing; yet it may be quickly covered
with detachable flooring. to which may be fast
ened seats for audience. For the purpose of
producing theatrical performances, one end Of the
hall will contain stage sixty feet wide and
twenty-sx feet Deep which is to be equipped with
footghts. headlights, bunchIghts of gas and cleo
tricity controlled by switchboards and gas tables
The proscenium arch and the main drop curtain
will be thirty feet wide, and In the rear there will
be a property and dressing rooms. On Sun
days the main Sabbath school of the church will
hold its meetings here.
Above the auditorium on the fourth and top floors
will be situated gymnasium, which is also to
be used on certain occasions as armory. Among
other innovations Mr.. Scudder has established
cadet corps composed of 175 boys. and in this
they will be drilled In the OF wva
A large adjacent room Is to be devoted 10 the
quarternasters department, and will be fitted up
with gun racks. drums cannon and other military
para phernalia- The arMory floor will be of hard
maple and the walls will be lined with maple
sheathing.
When used a gymnasium the hall will pro-
vide for indoor tennis, basketball and handball II
will also be equipped with all ne modern physical
development appliances, and be in charge OF an
experienced teacher of athletics. There will be a
gallery for spectators around its walls, lib feet
long and so feet wide which will be supported
without a column to interfere with those on the
floor. The gymnasium will be the largest and most
thoroughly equipped of any in the State OF New
Jersey, with the exception of that Princeton
The entire basement will be devoted to popular
amusements. 1t will contain six regulation bowl