Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1855-01-06
From the Nswark Mercury, Dec. 10.
Church Difficulties in New Jersey.
A Lutheran Church with a Catholic Priestl

We learn that difficulties ol q very serious
character have arisen in the German Lnthe.
ran Church Of this city, which promise to
attract large share Of the public attention.
The circumstances as near as we can Dascer'
tain are as follows: Some eleven years since
the church in question, which belongs to the
Synod Of New York, employed minister Of
recognized ability in their denomination, to
preside over the spiritual interests Of the
congregation, stipulating in the agreemen,
that he should occupy the pulpit for term
Of fifteen. years. The person employed toos
possession Of his post, and for a. time every
thing went well the church thriving as ra'
pidly and substantially as could be desired.
Some eighteen months since. however, thro
the influence Of bro,ler-n.law, "a Roman
Catholic the officiating minister was indu.
ced 10 desert the Lutheran faith and embrace
that Of Calholcsm-and from that time are
dated The troubles Of the church. Or course
the priest did not a, frs, exhibit any aoaie.
ment OF zeal in the service Of his congrcga.
ton. This would haye been to excite their
suspicious. and placethem upon their guard,
and this was not the policy for him TO pur.
sue, Instead Of making overt demonstra.
tions in favor Of Catholicism, he moved
stea,hily and with Jesuitical cunning, III.
Producing into the worship Of his people
none but the most4,rivial Innovations. He
first movement out Of the established order
Of things was the introduction Of candles
into the service. Entertaining no suspicious
Of foul play, this innovation excited little or
no comment among the congregation, nor
did the second, which was the introduction
ofwafers. Presently, however. seduced out
Of his caution, probably by the Indifference
Of his charge, the priest struck out old and
dear formulas Of the Lutheran faith, intro.
ducing in their stead the mos, offensive Ga
tholic forms. This fragrant breach Of disci'
pine OF once aroused the congregation, and
excited the greatest alarm. By this time,
however, the priest had acquired decided
advantage, and was not 10 be driven, either
by threats or persu aston, from his position.
His schemes discovered, he at once threw Of
all disguise, and boldly set himselfin oppo.
silion 10 his people, claiming the right in
all things 10 control lie church discipline as
best pleased himself. In this spirit he inst:-
tu,ed regulations directly conflicting with
the established worship, such as requiring
worshippers TO observe the Catholic poslnre
during prayer, ETC., and il any refused to
observe this form, choosing to adhere to the
Lutheran. the priest called in the aid Of the
police, and hal the offender at once placed
under arrest. By this absolute exercise of
authority, some five or six of the members
were in time nlimilated, and went over on
the side Of the priest. Thus strengthened,
he grew still more tyrannicaI, and Instituted
sill more imperious regulations, and among
them the confessional, SO that the majoity
OF the congregation finding it impossible to
maintain peace, came out in open revolt
The war henccforh, on the priest'spart, was
unrelsnting. Not satisfied with previous as.
sumptons, he now took upon himself abso-
Lutte executive power, displacing all officers
unfavomble 10 his schemes aud substituting
satellites in their place, When the time ur-
rived ior The election Of trustees he placed
u paddock on the door Of the church and re-
fused entrance 10 the dissenlers, dining the
same thing also on the nis ht assigned for The
sale Of pews. Thus denied all ACCESS to aud
participation in the government Of their
church, the trustees, some month since. ap.
piled to the Chancellor for redress, but tha,
officer refused 10 entertain their cause, on
the ground that The congregation aud officers
Of the church had right, without any order
Of his, to folce the church, and assume their
legitimate position. Not wishing however,
TO incrcusr the difficulty by resort TO abso-
Lutte measures The 'is>enteIs have at length
applied 10 III" Mayor lnr assistance, calling
in the aid OF cmiucn, counsel, This is the
position the u!!air occupies at presrNt; Ihe
Ultimate issue we cannut, o. course, now
predict.
The case is Que OF peculiar agsrasntion,
and excites considerable attention among our
citizens. The dissenters, some lorty.iivc in
number, have for some pas, worshpred sO'
paEale and apart from tho old congregation,
but are determined, il possible, to obtain
their rights therein, md intheir efforts TO
this end, they will undoubtedly have the
sympalhiCs of all who prefer Protestanllsm
TO Catholicism, and freedom Of conscience 10
spiritualbonlasr
| --s--s+h-S--
Dr.. HAwE's CRuRcn.-Dr. Hawe's
church, Hartford, Conn, is n remarkable