The Jersey City news., 1905-11-29
REvIvAL.ISTS IN
CITY SALOONS
Vessels Place at Grove.
Street and Newark Ave
nue. Crowded Last Night
at a Prayer Service.
WILLIAM ASCHER EXPORTS
HIS WIFE AT THE ORGAN SEC
oSDED HIS EFFORTS WITH
HARMONIOUS APPEALS 10 A
BETTER LIFE.


The novel sight of a revival Of religion
In progress in a saloon in this city was
witnessed last night IN =. r. Vessels
spiendidly equipped cafe. onlsthe SOUTH
east corner of Grove street and Newark
avenue. On the southwest corner is To-
Gated the cafe of former Police Commits
sioner james Kelly. and on the southeast
corner is the cafe of Freeholder Alex
Clements, the Democratic leader of the
First Ward. Vessels cafe. where the
meeting was held, is on the corner of the
greatest shopping block in This city.
Curiosity was rampant and patrons of
the adjacent saloons, business men and
several women. also attracted by the
curiosity, made up an audience that
packed the saloon with people, the ma
jority standing. There were at least one
hundred men there that listened to the
words of Evangelist William Aseher, one
Of the Rev. William Chapman's band
that are conducting religious revival all
over the State. after having met with
great success in many other States of the
Union.
Evangelist Ascher was accompanied
by his wife, who presided at portable
organ, presented to her BIZ the saloon
keepers of Minneapolis She sang
number of songs, including ''The Kings
sssiness.'
When the Rev. Ascher walked into
the saloon his saIutation was:
How are you fellows?''
He was instantly recognized. and a
dozen OF more men who were drinking
at the bar discussing the prospective
prayer meeting" took off their hats.
The saloon began to rapidly fill up, until
it could hold no greater audience. The
Japanese bamboo portieres that parti-
ally screen the sitting room were furled
and the entire space was converted into
an auditorium. Business over the bar
was suspended and Bar Tenders John
Ernst, Albert Bisehof and William
Kroebel, who had Gonnea immaculate
white coats and aprons, roIded their
arms and meekly and attentiyely follow
ed The words of the evangeust. rropri-
etor Vessels. the noted hat and trunk
maker, with barred head ana wearing a
heavy overcoat, stood in the crowd that
faced the evangelist and his wne No
ficing the fact that several women, who
had been attracted by the unusual pro-
ceedings, were well up in front in the
audience, Rev. Ascher plainly told them
that they were not wanted there. He
said he had come to have a s'heart to
heart" talk with men, and that his wife
was there merely to conduct the musical
part Of the programme. The women in
the audience left and the men applaud
d
Mr.. Vessels had given permission for
fhe holding of the meeting, and the evan
gelist climbed up on a box behind the
aunch counter, alongside Of which. Mrs.
ttAsher's greatly priced organ hadE been
t1lacpd He Said -
Fellows, we have never received any
} insults in a place like this This is no
crusade against the saloon. We don't
knock the business. In nearly every
place like this We have been in men take
off their hats. / like to see this.o
He then announced that Mrs. Ascher
would sing @The Kings Business and
asked that all present butt i'm on the
chorus.
We are here as ambassadors of the
King and we bring you an important
message and ultimatum.'
Quite a number made an attempt to
Joihs ia the chorus of the hymn, which
Mrs Ascher~Nas 50 beautifully singing,
accompanying herself on the organ. It
would have been d great chorus had the
audience been familiar with the words
and music. Even the lips of the stole
John Ernst behind the bar were seen 10
uaoYe. blt HE tongue elava * ~ - {
Of his mouth-because he was not ia
miliar with the hymn.
The singing Of the hymn and the or
gan accompaniment had attracted many
m91f people from the street and they
Rsd the street entrances.
Yes e up here. fellows said the
ga
tsshH