The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-03-19
FATHER MORRIS CRITICISED.
Some Of his Congregation Mt Plainneld Think
him n Bnd BoOkkee

committee Of seven members Of st.
Mary's Church. the only Catholic church in
Plainaeld. n. j. lately waited upon Bishop
Wigger at Newark and asked for the removal
OF the Rev John p. Morris. the pastor. Father
Morris visited the Bishop on Wednesday. and
left the books of the church with him.
Father Morris Is a native OF Paterson. where
his father. wealthy man. yet resides. He has
been the pastor OF the church for seven years.
The new church. which has been occupied two
years is ON the corner of Liberty street and
Sixth street: The congregation numbers 500.
The new church has been years in building
and like the cathedral in this CITY it was built
III sections. The foundation was first put
down and paid for, and then the walls were
erected with loans secured by mortgages.
II cost .3O9 sSrcb il nra claimed
Father Morris a one, In the winter Of 1875
over to Father Morris by Mr.. Hamburger tho
treasurer OF the iair; Bish3p Wigger lately
Eanile church debt society. the members Of
sum into the fund. A meeting was held on
CONSERVATION was created when Father Morris
announced that the church was mortGased for
s35 OQO-that is to say $4,000 more than It's sup
A committee called on the priest and said
they desired distinct and particular report of
the condition OF the church. They desired to
know how no had disposed Of the fair money
OF the large yearly income. about $1,000. ana Of
the additional 5000 in mortgages The lnfor-
nation they got failed To satisfy them. and
their next step was to request his removal.
Father Morris said to reporter OF THE Sun
TINT about Seycnty-tYe members Of his conEre-
cation were dissatisfied with his management
and because they could not run things in tho
church to suit themselves. lie did not under
stand that they had accused him Of any dis
honesty, but they had asked him to make "A
complete accounting of all the moneys he had
he had naturally refused to do and had refer
red thcm 10 tho yearly reports Of the church's
condition, which had been regularly made TO
the Bishop. AS to the money from the fair
that had been absorbed in paying the old in
dehtedncss of the church. No other funds had
been raised except for furnishing the parson-
age and the regular expenses OF the church.
OF the mortgages. f25 600 WAS held by the Nh
tual Life lnsurQnce Company and $4,000 by
an individual, Father Norris gave the reporter
to understand thnt the church had cost i35. 900
Richard Perkins said the trouble with Father
Morris is that he was bad hookkeepcr and he
made mistakes. They wanted to put the
finances Of the church in the hands Of II COM
mitleC and he would not allow It,, No charge
ot dishonesty whatever was made. 1t was
simply poor MANAGEMENT.
Another church member So id she was tired Of
raising money for the church. and seeing ii
disappear without knowing what became of it,
Another church member said he would ike 10
know what had become Of all the money bur
he would let the members who had taken the
mntter up fight it out alone.
Other members were confident that Father
Morris was right in everything he had done
and would come out Of this ordeal unscathed