The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-06
rnE REr. mr.. BrDUELL,s cHuRcn.
TITS Trustees Ask for Hts Rcsixnntiot,. hut Ills
Congregation Refuse to Accept II.

After the Rev. Mr.. Glendenning was
expelled from tho pastorate OF the West
minister Presbyterian Church in Jersey City.
on account OF his connection with the Miss
Pomeroy affair the Rev. o. Is. Bdwell took
charge OF the congregation. The Rev. Mr.. Bid
VOL found the church almost wreck. II mum
bcred but forty members. The new clergyman,
by hard work, increased tho membership to
one hundred and fifty. He thought that, hav-
ing raised the society out of tho slough Of de-
spondency. all would be smooth sailing In
this hope he was disappointed.
Some OF the members of tho Board OF Trus-
tees conspired to Dust the Roy. Mr.. Bidwell and
put another clergyman in his place. One Of
the trustees said;
We don't want TO hear Brother Bldwel
preach always. We want change"
At meeting OF the board it was resolved to
request the pastor to hand in written rcslgna-
ton the paper to remain imperative until next
November. The action Of the board was in.
tended 70 be kept for the present profound
secret. The Rev. Mr.. BidwCll WAS to have his
summer vacation, and from the clcrgymen who
preached during his absence ono was to b. Sc
iccrted to take the pulpit rermannet,y IN we M
trustees to henr and choose their man. and mt the
same time give to the Rev. Mr. Bldwell an OPP
portunity to get n position elsewhere.
The Rev. Mr.. Bidwcll. showing that although
the trust sea were against him, the members OF
tnr society were IN the minority MS friHnOS. con-
cludcd that. instead " handing his resignation
to the trustees he would lay 1t before the entire
congregation. The trustees did not like this.
hut consented To have congregational meeting.
The members Oi tho church gathered On masse
on Monday evening. Dr.. French occupied tho
chair. and he offered prayer for divine Wis
dom in the guidance ~ tho meeting. At the
close OF tho prayer DR.. French said
" hold in my hnnd communication from
our pastor. tho Rev. Mr.. Bidwell. in which he
offers the resignation Of his pulpit"
On motion, the resignation WIS tabloid until
the action of the Session and the Board OF Trus-
tees could be explained Elder Howell SAID that
the borrd had requested tho Rev. Mr.. Bidwell
TO resign.
brother Campbell excitcdly jumped to his feet
and said that the trustees had no right to make
the demand 10 resign that they had made upon
the pastor. II was properly for the conGrcgn-
ton to say whether n Clergyman should resign
nouncing whit he termed unlawful action. He
said it was not right for the church to say to tho
Rrv. Mr. Bidwell
" We will look for another pastor. and when
We lind him you can 80 out OF the hnck door.
Brother Campbell offered resolutions that the
resignation should not be accepted; thnt the
Rev. MIR. Bidwell be asked to remain. and that
ha have tho undivided support Of the whole
congregation. There was a brief discussion.
and the resolutions were adopted without n dis
senting voice. although there were several OF
the congregation who declined To vote. This
the church masters OF the situation. There was
applause. in which the trustees did not Ioin
Mr. Bldwrll said that rs the congregation had
stood by him and refused to accept his resigna-
ton. he considered the matter had boon I'D
Justed, and there need be no further trouble
said that he now hoped for peace and harmony
in the future,