Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-23
.BUNGALEERS' FOE
RET|RES TO n. Y.
Minister, in Washington's Old
Pew, BewaiIs Washington
Crossings Immodesty
PRAYS FOR RESORT TOWN

New York, Aug. 23.-The few de-
vout members of the slender congre-
cation who stayed to prayer after eve
ming services had concluded In old Sc.
Paul's Church at Vesey street and
Broadway last night were startled to
perceive man in ministerial garb.
carrying an umbrella and suitcase.
hasten up the center aisle. straw hat in
hand, and enter the pew in which
George Washington was wont to sit and
kneel.
The clergyman mopped his brow. then
knelt devoutly and began TO pray aloud.
Several women and men In other pews
looked up. In alarm. then listened to the
low toned prayer.
20 Heavenly Father - exclaimed the
kneeling minister, "be my guide and
assistance in this hour of stress. Tell
me IL It be true that have made in
famous the crossing over the Delaware
which our great patriot, the Father of
His Country, made famous. Te1l me
and inspire me in the work, IL it Is my
duty to condemn those who offend the
fair name of womanhood and make IL q
byword by their actions Mt the place
which Thou has intrustcd to my care
as one of Thy servants"
The remainder of the clergyman's S
prayer was uttered in silence. Pres
emily he arose and left the church, bow
ing his head as he stopped beneath the
crossed flags that decorated the apcient
pew.
Tells Reason for Visit TO st. Paul's
A reporter who had witnessed the in
cident asked the clergyman what was
the occasion of his Wit to st. Paul's.
Pausing again to cool his forehead with
a large handkerchief, he replied:
II thought l had escaped newspaper
men. but they seem to follow me, even
into church. Since you have found me,
/ will tell you who l am. That may
explain the rest. My name is Fredcr-
ick Kopfman. / am the pastor Of the
Titusville Methodist Church. at Titus
vile, near Trenton, \. j.. and | am
now on my way to my sisters home in
Brooklyn. having been advised by my
physician to take rest. The people Of
Titusville have almost broken down my
health by their attitude toward my at
tempt to reform the immoral conditions
that infest the summer bathing colony
at Washington Crossing on the Della
ware"
The clergyman went on to tell how
he had been almost mobbed by Tren-
ton citizens Saturday night when he
arrived there from New York on his
way to his church at Titusville. He
had sought police protection, he ex-
plained, and was then turned over to
safely to the church for his Sunday
sermon and back again.
He delivered his sermon, and by all
accounts the Titusvillo Methodist con-
gregation and some of the Washing
ton Crossing colonists who were on
hand to hear it, ''got an earful.'. The
clergyman denounced conditions in far
clearer and more explicit terms than he
used week ago In his complaint to the
village trustees and to the 1opewell
township committee.
The minister stood at the chancel
rail OF his little church and showed
by actual measurement how much or
little some of the girls who frequent
the beach at Washington's Crossing
wear. And he tod how he had OBJ
served men at night sneaking from
bungalow to bungalow, evidently bent
on no moral purpose. and avoiding the
lights that might betray their identities.
The worst of it all is, in the min
ister's opinion. that most Of these young
girls belong to good families, are well
educated and brought up. and have
social standing Their example is u
great danger to the community of re-
spectacle and self respecting working
girls Of Titusville and Trenton who so
to the Washington Crossing Beach for
pleasure and innocent amusement Nand
not to be shown. the minister says,
chow for the devil can so when he has
n woman in tow