Evening journal., 1916-05-06
CITY CHURCHES
Open TOMORROW
lContInued From Page ono

CONTINUED From Page One)
elergymen and laymen representing six
churches, conferred in the offices of the
Health Board at noon today with Dr.
5. G.. Frederick, Leonard l.. Purks and
Frank j.. Reagcr. members of the board.
During the conference the Rev. Luther
NJ. Broadway. pastor of Kingswood NJ.
+. Church, announced that he proposed
to hold services in his church at Fit
teenth and Claymont streets, morning
and evening tomorrow.
The Rev. g. r.. Dawson, of Asbury A.
II. Church, said that trustees of his
church last night gave him power 10 do /
[ whatever he deemed best. Harry Em-
mons, an attorney representing Della 4
ware Avenue Baptist Church, who WAS
az the meeting said that the state
Board of Health had the power 10 close
churches and saloons. but that in his
| opinion the local Board of Health had
| ovcrstcppcd it's authority. Mr.. Emmons
also said that his church is willing tol
abide Toy his actions. and he urged nll
ministers who desired to make fight
/ against the Health Board ON account of
| IFS closing order to meet IN his Office
| by O'Clock this afternoon. At that.
timo they viii decide whether 10 hold
services tomorrow.
Preachers Indignant.
The conference. which began at
| ll.30 o'clock. was not concluded until
1 o'clock At times the arguments he
tween those present waXed warm.
This was especially true when the
Rev Mr.. Dawson, addressing DR. Fred
lerick. said:
Your closing order against the
lchurches is gross insult 10 the Chris
tian citizens OF this city 10 Is a direct
slap in the face and is outcome of your
own lax methods Of quarantine Last
might over the phone. You told me that
instructions had heen given patrolmen
here TO see that congregating was not
allowed In the saloons yet. with the
Rev. j. l.. Johnson of Scott M. r..
/, Church and two laymen. 7 visited sev-
eral sections Of this city and found as
high as eighteen people gathered to-
. gether I'm bar-rooms. After walking
about all the early part Of the even
ing, we met two patrolmen who in
, formed MS that no orders had been is
, sued 10 them This morning ! again
!. asked the police about these instruc-
tions you referred to and they say no
such orders have been issued. You
have placed the ban on the churches
and allowed the saloons TO remain
lopen. which is gross insult TO l00,-
00O residents here because thirty peo-
pie are under quarantine"
Mr.. Emmons. who happened TO en-
ter the Health Board offices at this
time. asked DR.. Frederick where the
board got the authority TO close the
, churches. q question your author
ity," he said, "and 7 have a right to
know where you get IT," The state
/ law was produced and after reading
, il Mr.. EmmOns said: This gives
the State Board OF Health the power
to close churches, but not the city
, board"
] DR.. Frederick said that the State
, Board was with the local Health
! Board and Mr. Emmons asked whai
action had been taken by the state
= Board I'm this matter. II was said
that no action had been taken by
that body.
Addressing DR.. Frederick. Mr. Daw-
SON said that the closing Of the
, churches was taking the constitutional
= rights of the church people from them
DR. Frederick asked Mr. Dawson what
the church people would do In case
{. the disease should spread through the
opening Of the churches. Mr.. Dawson
3 replied I'VE will meet that emer-
4 gency" II developed during the con-
ference that the ministers were all in
favor OF the closing edict. too but
they didn't like any discrimination.
DR.. Frederick explained that there
% was more danger from contracting the
/, disease by remaining in a hall OF
d building for a length OF time with
people who had the germs on theiI
7 clothing than If one passed through
3 the streets or a store with such con-
r. facts.
p At this point OF the conference DR.
Frederick, addressing the clergyman
said. Il am doing the best | can.
am sincere and can give you a defin
- ite answer as 10 when the churche.
e will be open by Wednesday next"
I Mr.. Johnson also spoke of The con
4 ditions found last night by the clergy
, men on their visit to the lower section
o Of the city.
While the conference was on. The
y Rt. Rev. John J. Monaghan, bishop o
S the Roman Catholic Diocese OF vii
r lmngton. called Secretary Bowers OF
], the phone Mr. Bowers announced Z,
L those present that Bishop Monaghan
, had said that the Catholic churches
would be closed tomorrow.
Owing to press OF business Dr
Frederick asked to be excused. sayinl
that nothing could be done toward.
opening the churches tomorrow. Mr.
/, purks also left. the conference con
\ tinuing between Secretary Bowers
|, and the ministers.
Mr. Broadway asked Secretary Bow
ers whether any action had beer
taken on the closing order by IN,
N board since nc Ohe secretary ha,
g issued his notice yesterday morninl
n announcing that the churches coul,
open. Secretary Bowers said that n,
g. meeting had been held. The Rev. J
o Howard Gray. pastor Of Epworth N
Il r. Church, remarked. We'll. then
NJ we are working under the orders is