The sun., 1878-10-16
THE RET MR. sWIrSER'S TRIaL.
The First Lutheran Church OF Saddle River
aud their urns- Hand.

THE REr mr. sWITSER'S TRIaL.
The First Lutheran Church OF Saddle River
aud their Brass Hand.
What look at IL this. man can bc n
Christian and belong to brass band And II |
they'd only gone on that principle from the |
start. thorcd never have been this trouble in |
Saddle River"
Thus spoke good -naturcd Station Agent Ros- !
well OF Allendale y. j.. as a reporter for THE !
SUN babe him good-by prior To driving of to |
the trial Of the Rev. Mr. Switscr for "unchris- |
iian and dcrogatory conduct" toward members !
" the First Lutheran Church Of Saddle River
and their brass band. The trouble in Saddle
River" is old and complicated. Three years
ago tho present pastor was called to the charge
of the parish at n salary ot 81 900 per year. He
was an active and energetic man. and for n
tme balo fair to become the most popular
clergyman in all the country round. But dissen-
slons broke out llc got into a mild sort Of dis
pute with one Of his most praycrful elders
about IA fence line between thcr property.
Tho area in controversy was triangle upward
OF ono hundred feet long with hasc of seven
teen inches across. sloping thence TO "a point.
Neither the pastor nor his parishioncr cared
about the value OF the piece. What they wanted
WIS clear and legal definition of their rights.
TIL" matter was referred to several church com
mitces and canvassed and recanvasscd. but
without success. Various plans Of compromise
were proposed. hut with like result. The OBJ
stinttc seventeen inches in dispute stuck and
hung until IL hrcaue v"rtahe ilr"hrand in
tho church Finally the Rev. Mr.. Switser ap-
pnaled tu the law and after an exhaustive itiga-
ton. ia which the munt powerful legal talent in
llohokuS. Pdramus. lGmrupo. and ackcnsack
were engaged ON hNth sides. victory declared
Itself in his favor. lie gOt verdict Of ten cents
| damages the cost In tho suit being upward of
! SO. wnrh were duly saddled upon. Mr.. Powell
ltffn fft.t ttla fInf
al lsrni"d themselves from church ana mutual
| rc,riminations followed.
Coutrmpornneous with Mr.. Switser's accept.
| aurr of the cali. the Saddle River Brass Band
| was organized. Ii comprised fourteen young
| men. Hhout half Of whom were members in
good standing " tho Lutheran Church. Being
! all the sons Of wcli-tO-io farmers, and tOlcr-
| ably proficient In brass music. they pecamg the
| lions OF the surrUunding country. They
| ordered uniforms from New YORK tailols which
rlya.led Grafullas aud Giln!ore-. and. having
good instruments anu n plentiMl supply ui
,ory included Graniiathers ClorE,"" Whoa.
srirciions from " La File Ie Madame Anggt.'
| and other airs that they found popular just
before the trial began the junior flat informed
| the reporter that they had received the music
for Nancy Lee from Paterson. but the anx-
ietics Of the trial had prevented their prac-
Tho following is a list Of the mcmters o. the
| hand AMI their instruments. members Of tn"
church being printed in italics.
! I IT,; t,,.,.s,, s....,; r!r,, ,i5;sS, coEne'E
= ""' t t,',.ol ,'sV." rnirt c5rnetR
! ) s..,,.s f,ra .rB 3 Serast SS'49tH
=. = Stfauf solo Alto r Fiat
! &. i-,.l.a. Alto Flat
r o.. l.ssl'J J, sseauG s'' .fTSa rsads Ei ia,
j B,rton Il fistB,-.
T,rwlhscr Second h Flat Rass
pEvS coErs
E's Easlo prS%TA9YffIw 6IaaN iiSn.'a t',sF
Cymhals-J William woodruff
'LNeemmanieatcd for playing a, place Shsrs lager
The uniform Of the organization consists OF
full dress coats OF navy blue. with three rows Of
brass buttons, a crimson band IN each cum and
coat tai and trimmings and facings Of gold
cord The pantaiuons are OF similar material.
with crimson stripes ON caeh side lined with
| gold cord. The hats are OF beaver. with gilded
ornam, nts and red feathers.
The bands troubles are 80 complicated with
the lawsuit and other controversies that tho
reporter found some difficulty in untwi-tng
IN" tangled sken. By dint Of consulting with
thr"r clrrgymen. the counsel and number ot
IT," leading citiz"ns On both sides. the following
no.nis were elected;
Two vears ago there was sunday school
fori..l in Upper Saddle River at which ths
hand uhtdu"d tho privilege Of selling ginger
1 pop. cigars. root beer. gingerbread. and con-
irctionery IN return for their services As musi-
clans. The sale Of Havauas at three for a
quarter caused grave scandal among the non
smoE ing portion Of the congregation. and IN"
= kev. Mr.. Switsrr felt called upon To mildly re
buka H. This led 10 more trouble which finally
eliminated NJ "A ball given AZ Carmans Hotel
| where Garry Ackerman, the leader and bari
| tone. had tho presumption to stay IN a place
! II is even darkly hinted that the baritone and
the L Hat wsre seen paraklng Of glass oi beer
to order claret punch. 1t Was felt by the ulra,
, Temperance element that this must he npped
/ in the bud at the outset and accordingly
/ | the unfortunate baritone WIS brought Ia "A
, church trial and prompty communicated. As
a there some DIM .ulty in fastening the clarci
punch on the bass drum. ne was left to the re-
/ | morse OF his own conscience
p ne en VIZ ts bgnEs %h oi the Saddle Riyap quarter
+, Of n mile from the hotel and grocery store
. | Fifty farmers teams formed Gordon around
the church and the buNom wives anu rosy
| checked daughters OF the farmers crowded tn
4 pews 10 overhowng. Al marble topped table
10 the left OF the pulpi sat Mr.. Swltscr nodding
I Pleasantly to his friends AS he recognized them
. in the throne. HIS Iudges-a dozen glergymen
/ IN white tics and coats OF clerical cut-sai
around ia the front pcws and on the platform
=, Most of them were from New \ Ork and Newark
! aud a. the mdcrous points Of tho evidence
\ were developed they laughed heartily, The ac,
: ,.nsed pnstor 'nn was amused. and he smiled
aud.bly. In stature ne IS thu and agile mus
, culur and Of dry. nervous temp-f"Meht
Among the ladies OF his congregation he Is
especiaily popular. The morning was con
sumcd IN takinG ts'im3ny confsrhihl9 l9d We ,
i II inches. Peter Powell and John AckermaI
} Detailed the history Of the litigation. Nv.,
! raised breeze by requesting thut the eAuInl
/, nation be restricted on common sense ques
+, '"Thats lust what we re trying to do, brother
/ replied Prosecutor \. {. Campbell OF HaeNen
J Witnesses for the prosecution testified that
a ! NUMBER OF persons had quilted the church oI
7 account Of the litigation and the band troubles
y John AckermAn thought that there were a
a many as forty Of them, all told When W.
n hired swtser' ne was continuing as inc tai
- est and handsomest member Of tho Conferenc
:, suppressed him as follows:
= When you employ IA farm hand you hire
n him. When you procure a gentleman TO act 4
a minister you engage him. just bear the dill
= ference in mind will you" lS-nsAtion.l
i Mr. Ackermnn with double emphasis an
+; some ascerbltyt-Well, l call il hire;n don
. know what you call 1t down your way. Laugh
n TER aud appauseJ o,.
! spoken OF the mem bers that, Quilted the churc
x no war" under Brother Deyo ia former pas
: tori.
a. brother Deyo WAS then summoned and job
- ingly asked whether no had ever been cor
~ vctcd OF horse st-allnRp Loud laughter
y Tho witness snlingly admitted that he ha
ie not. -
Ig Tho nrst bass cornet swore that he had hear
~, the pastor say tnat God wouldn't let m
~ churrh 20 down because "a few hypocrltes ha
l. let IT, . 80 -,
n The third coInet testified that tho paste
- had used the following language In his IN
-, curnri' ~ presence: " have Observed that n
tl.ta aim IN