The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-23
BRETHREN NOT IN UNITY.
WHERE cHURCH MEMBERS IMITAT-
ED THE POLITICIINS.


The War Of tho Inhabitants OF the Palaces
on the North shore Of Long Island sound
The Neck Party versus the uilI Party.
The First Episcopal Church In New
Rochelle l. divided into factions who have been
In controversy for the past three years over tho
management Of It's affairs. The edinoe Is a nne
stone structure In the finest street In the village,
and its members include the most wealthy resi-
dents. For twenty-five years the Rev X. v.
Morgan was the minister, and when he resigned
about two years ago, after having been elected
rector, the Rev. J. H. Watson was called to the
pastoral charge. lie went on six months trial
and was then asked to remain for Ave years. The
offer was not accepted under the terms, as the
minister wished to be elected rector. The quee-
ton was discussed by the members, a majority
Of them feeling that as the church was paying an
annuity OF $500 to the retired rector. the Rev MIR.
Morgan. who lives in Stamford, they could not
afford 10 increase the debt Of the church. Such
was the origin Of the division. Those wealthy
members who dwell In the costly mansions, sur
rounded by beautiful lawns and groves over
looking the sound, on what is called Daven-
ports Mock. were STYLED "the Neck Party"
| Those opulent members who live IN equally
| costly mansions on a. elevation in West New
| Rochelle were styled the llll Party"
The church cdince is situated about halfway
| between both parties, aud each party has dis
| played g. moat ma'tcrly strategy 10 prevent
I conttui of tho house " prayer =. me other
| party. Last spllng, When the question OF elcct-
| Ing the Rev. Mr.. Watson rector was called up in
a business meeting, tho Neck Party" had a
! majority. Mr.. Il. c. Fisher, steam marble cut
ter in this city, senior warden, and the Hon.
| Clarkson ~ Potter was his associate in the Lead
were were equally divided. Mf. Geo. ". baglRds. a
! prosperous ink maker, who was recently elected
| treasurer Of Nestchestcr county; Mr.. jeremiah
Sturscs. large paper dealer; and Mr. George IL.
! Ackcrrnan. Wholesaler Of liquor and at tho
,SsT si Jent1ed Nth tHe Week party Mr w.
J.. Barnett Of the New Haven railroad Mr.. j. +.
Harrison, a lawyer; aud Mr. a. G.. Iicmmn Ing
connected with the " Hi Party"
On vote majority Of the yestrymen were in
| favor Of elccting the Rev. Mr. watson rector
but as the manual Of the church provides that
one Of the wardens shall he with The majority,
| the question was los, Mr.. Fisher and Mr.. Potter
having protested against the majority vote cast
| Up to Tuesday last, the defeat OF the "Hill
| Party" was the subject Of an oft repeated dis
| for practice from The " lin Party, they calling
| him a saucy. impudent puppy" The annual
meeting Of Episcopal ministers, where only
reciors have the privilege Of voting, being near
at hand, the Rev. Mr.. watson was anxious to
| have seat In the meeting and the question OF
slSctiHng hin re9,2r WI IN; ai Ear, raised The
| tensey interested in the probable result Of
the next business meeting in which new
| Party" IL they lost their hold In the
management would be defeated on the vote for
/ rector, and II the Hill party succeeded. tho
Rev. Mr.. Watson would be elected rector, and
the sexton kicked ouD The Rey. Mr: Watson to
gain his point sided with the Hill Party and
tho sexton, to retain his position worked with
ON Tuesday morning the members who do bust
ness Ia this Guy stayed ia New Rochelle and
| discussed the question TO be presented at 10
o'clock. The vcstrynen circulated tickets and
! importuned tardy members. The Rev. Mr.. W at
son worked a.. hard A. amy Of them, and the sex
! ton worked with will.
! The doors OF the house OF worship were
! thrown promptly at the hour. ana tne
members quickly hled the pews ard aisles The
q. Neck Party reuuuinated Mr. Fisher and MIR.
Potter as wardens, and Mcssrs. Dayids Acker-
man. and Sturges as Nestfymen, aud conceded
denomination Of Mcs-rs. Barnett. Harrison. and
| Hemingway ON the same ticket. The " Hill
| Party" nominated Mr. Hcmmineway az senior
warden, and Mr.. Charles NJ. lhur9ton, a capital-
| nominated MIR. Henry Phelps. MIR. l.. NJ. Daven-
port. Il lawyer. and his brother, Mr.. George w.
| Davenport, defeated for the Assembly at tho
| last election.
The electioneering was carried such heat
In the sacred edihce that Mr.. D."'ds felt con-
strained 20 say to Mr.. Alderman rather sharply,
This IL no place to electioneer. Go outside tho
church and do Your electioneering" Mr. Acker-
man soon aftcrward met Mr.. sweet, the sexton,
who was cectioneering for the Neck Party,
and said to him, You better understand what
Mr. sweet responded, understand perfectly
what I'm doing. don't wish you TO NEEDLE
with my business. You've done SO long enough.
Capt j. Luce, OF the Great Western Insurance
Company. said that he would slap the sexton $
face II he didn't shut up, and II is said in ths
| village that the words You're a liar" were APP
piled to one Of the members.
| The election was continued, and two votes
were challenged, said to have been by the Rev.
Mr. Watson, and at II o'clock the polls were
close, The vote was declared " a tie" Amaze
ment was depicted on the countenances Of
many of the members, IA .he relative strength
Of each party was thus shown.
MIR. T. H. Fisher. brother ~ tho candidate
for wardenship, arose and asked that the votes
be counted again, and with slow and careful
handling each ticket was examined and noted.
The Moderator arose and said " MIR. Fisher and
AIR. Potter have each - votes FOR warden, Mr.
| Hrmmngway ~ and Mr.. Ihurston 70
The " lin Party were thus defeated by two
votes on one warden and one vote on the other.
| The old board of vestrymen were reelected,
| and the Rev. MIR. Watson will receive Sl,js1 a
| year while he remains, instead of being elected
| rector, aud Mr.. sweet, the sexton, expects to
| be reappOinted.