New-York tribune., 1904-10-02
PART RI
TEN PAGES.
A PALACE OF PLEASURE FORMS PART OF A CHURCH.
WHERE DANCING, CARD PLAYING, BILLIARDS AND
THEATRICAL PERFORMANC Noes ARE PROVTDED FOR

A Jersey city church has undertaken TO nght
,se devil Vich some Of his own weapons. On last
,Yo,=sv Il opened a palace Of pleasure so the
nbic might obtain recreation there instead OF at
oloors and dance halls. There people nav dance
,.r cards billiards and pool and take part in as
-,su as witness. theatrical performances. There
he BOYS may box and wrestle and the men may
smoke
TIE People's Palace. as f. is known from the IN
..-s,riol over its entrance. was created by the
Rev Dr. John I. Scudder pastor Of the First
-rrgre-arionaI Church OF Jersey City. and Joseph
Nrbank citizen Of New-York. Mr.. Scudder fur
7lsbes TIL ideas 1Ir AJiIbank the money. As Mr.
Sc1dder said. al the time the cornerstone OF the
building was laid: THE Peoples Palace viii sane
-itv eli legitimate arnusemrurS and vii, not let
ne devil have a monopoly OF them. II will keep
boys OF the streets. young men out Of saloons and
Young women OIL Of dance halls"
Both SIR. scudder and Mr.. AliIbank believe in
practical Christianity and the way they were
hrought together illustrates what practical Chris
-ariry" IS About ten wears ago the pastor OF
the First Congregational Church Of Jersey City
Induced Us members 10 Luila tenpia alleys il its
asseuleur. so that the boys OF the neighborhood
might have have their fun" there instead OF az
beer halls The teEpins made a great ruEnpus
among some ether clergyulen. AMI they also At
--acted the attention of AIr. oIlbank The clergy
men openly criticised such an amusement n a
church and said il would send more boys 70
me beer halls AIr. Milbank watched and waited.
lie said nothing
The tenpins stayed. and the congregation ana
especially the Sunday school. increased until the
First Congregational became the largest church oS
mat Denomination IN Jersey City. Furthermore.
one innovation led 10 another one day Mr.. scud-
der discovered that some Of the boys in their de-
sire 20 learn 70 swim went down 70 the water
fFnn- where they were compelled 70 mingle with
the low characters always 10 be found there. He
tnme6isteIy decided that the church should have
4 swimming tank OF its own, and succeeded II
having one built. NJ Nllba1k heard of the tank.
and or meeting the pastor. he said:
We'll I understand thar vou have ADDED a swim
ming pool 10 your church,
Exactly. Cleanliness IS next 10 godIiness' the
clergyman replied.
Well vel and what VIII you 90 next"
We would build pleasure palace for our people
4 we could. We would begin tomorrow Il We had
-hs money Al any rate. you ought 10 believe in a
church swimming pool.
'EOws -harT" asked Af-- Nibank.
Because you are a Baptist said Dr.. Scadder.
The rwo men have been close friends ever since
snd they have worked together n planning and
building O house OF amusement IS Il they were oS
one and the same creed Il Is tor this reason per
haps that the Peoples Palace is wholly uadenoul-
national.
That The people appreciated what Dr.. Scudder and
Atr. Nlbank have done Is shown IN many striking
ways. Even before the Peoples Palace was opened
membership. More young women wanted to join
the dancing classes tha1 there room for. They
we're not Only residents Ot Jersey City. but OF