The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-07-17
BISHOP
FORBIDS
PARTIES
Night Trolley Rides, With
Dances, Lead to ImmO-
rality.
CLUB CANCELS TICKETS
Bishsp O'Connor's Decision Ai-
fects st. Michael's Y. M.
Others Take Advantage
Of the Resulting
Situation.
CLUB CANCELS TICKETS

Night trolley-Tide parties that have dam
cling as an additional attraction for young
people were severely criticized and con-
demned by the Right Rev John ]. O'Con-
nor, d. D., bishop OF the Roman Catholic
diocese Of Newark, in a letter written to
committee of the ST. Michaers Young
Mems Catholic Association that had sought
his opinion before holding trolley ride
tomorrow night. The letter was read at
special meeting Of tho committee Of ar
rangements.
In the letter the bishop expressed his
strongest dlsapprobation of trolley parties
at night or late in the evening, and which
include as a feature Of the program
dance to be held In public park or other
place of amusement. He said he consid-
cred trolley outings of this kind as no
less Objectionable and no less dangerous
to morals than night picnics, which are
condemned and forbidden by the church.
The members of the committee, after the
letter was read, Immediately and unani-
nously decided to cancel the arrange
ments whlclfr had been made for the
ride and TO revoke the tickets which had
been printed and issued for the proposed
event They realized that there was dan
ger to young men and women. as the
bishop stated in dances held in public
parks late at night in places outside the
city
few days ago the members Of the
| committee learned with surprise that
| half dozen young men VINO
| called themselves the Luctor a.
| G.. nm organization which had no
| previous existence, had planned to
hold trolley party for their private ben
eft and had issued a circular inviting
| the public to participate. Offering TO give
| their tickets ir exchange for those wnicn
| had been issued by the st. Michaers Z.
NJ. c. A.
| A special meeting Of the board OF di-
| rectors of the association was held last
night In the associations rooms, at Ha
| ReIleyille avenue, and the matter was
| fully discussed Members used strong
| Language In denouncing those persons VINO
| dragged the name of the association into
| the proposed outing by offering TO ex-
change their tickets for the tickets wnlch
| had been issued for the abandoned CUT
Ing. The board OF directors adopted reso-
| luton that the public be notfned tnat tne
| st Michaeps Y NJ G. A. has no con-
| nect,on with, the proposed trolley trip.
which Is TO be to Scheutzen Park FRIDAY
nisht The association will not countenance
| anv form of amusement that Is disapproveu
| bv the bishop of the diocese.
After night trolley parties became popu-
| lar n few years ago many societies con-
| nected with Catholic churches IN 1Se"aiA n
and other cities and towns had their out
| ings. But the parties went out for a rae
only. had no dances in parks or at mans
and returned to the city by midnight. ana
| therefore no objection was made py tne
pastors or the bishop of the diocese but
| this season q dance at some park AZ
distance from Newark was introduced as
an attractive feature for young peopie
and to sell tickets. .p.+
| When Bishop O'Connor heard una.
| Catholic clubs and associations proposed
10 hold trolley parties with dances ne
decided to take prompt and decided action,
Hence his letter to St. Michaels Z. M y
A.. which happens TO be the first Catnohc
society TO arrange for such an outing
The letter OF the bishop will stop
| Catholic societies not only in Newark out
in every city and town in the dlocese,
| from holding night trolley parties Win
dances hereafter.
| Night plcnlcs In pleasure parks ana
moonlight excursions on the water were
| forbidden by the Catholic Church years
| ago, and no Catholic society has held one
| since they were placed under the ban
The letter of Bishop o'Connor Is NOTICE
| TO all clubs and societies and Catholic In
| dividuals in the diocese.