The daily gazette., 1883-04-02
TRINITY CHURCH TROUBLES.
Report of the vestry Committee Ex
AnininR Into the Matter.
rauudgy Star. !

OF IF1nlly l0apel on bDe brOopio o1leClnH %
tween the church and the congregation of
Old Swedes' Chur, b has just been issued.
The committee is composed Of Horace Burr,
Samuel w. Murphy, Edward T. Candy,
Walter Cummins and James A. Draper.
The report was presented to the vestry
about two weeks ago, was unanimously
adopted and ordered to be printed. 1t is Inn
portant, as 1t settles the existing trouble be-
tween the two congregations and makes
concession to the Old Swedes people.
| 1t opens with statement that
on Christmas 1880 the congregation of
| Trinity Church left Old Swedes, intending
| to resume service there on Easter Sunday,
| but In the intervening time the windows,
being without shutters, were shattered and
| there was such = state Of dilapidation that
Jne new cnapeI, at the of Fifth aud
| King streets, was permanently occupied as
| place of worship. The document then goes
on To show that In 1886 determined and
successful effort was made by some ladies
to have the old church put In repair, and
after that the Vestry of Trinity Church had
charge of the ancient place of worship, and
that the congregation had the place con-
stantly under its care. There was great
deal Of trouble to keep the services up, and
the money was raised almost wholly by
Trinity congregation.
The report proceeds to say that the ques.
tions involved are difficult TO solve-even
| that Of representation for the Old Church
In the Vestry when viewed closely and con-
| sdered in all its bearings,s is exceedingly per
| picking and fills the mind with feeling of
anxiety that there may be clashing of inter
est and bitter jealousies that may be more
| disastrous to the peace and prosperity of
the parish than anything that can result
from the present state of affairs. These appre-
he sions are not lessened when the great
Misrepresentation that seems to obtain in the
minds of many of the worshippers in the Old
Swedts' Church with regard to the relation
of the congregation to the present organiza-
tion is called to mind. They assume that
because for certain period-with many a
very short one-they have met for religious
services in the Old Church building (Which
belongs to every member of Trinity church, +,
| and under the fostering care Of the parent
| have attained to u condition of partial self
| support, they are the original church and
have the exclusive right to, and ownership
| OF the venerated old Parish Church, and Of
| the cemetery where repose the ashes OF
those who have given literally of their
means and care and efforts to save from
destruction the Hallowed Pile around
which the affections of generations have
clustered, and have by repeated and con
! tinuous efforts provided means of religious
| instruction for the children of the surround
| ing inhabitants, and for a considerable part
| OF the time during half century, have sus-
tained minister of their cher
ished faith to break the bread
of life to those otherwise destitute,
that the legitimate descendants and repre-
| sentatives of the original church who have
with each recurring Trinity Sunday yearued
for the old place, and taken their way with
buoyant step anu joyful heart to celebrate
the anniversary IF its conservation, are
aliens and strangers at their own altar.
That the Whole revenue derived from the
property OF the parish belongs exclusively
TO them, and charges the Vestry, in the
| public prints, of misappropliating funds
| rightfully theirs to the use of the other con.
| gregation, whilst in truth they have this
| year expended more to sustain the services
at the Old Church than the entire net in
come from all property belonging to the
parish.
These claims, the report declares, after
arguing the case at great length cannot hold
good.
The report goes on to give few addi-
tionl words with regard 10 the income
from the church property. These facts
show the income derived from the proper
ties owned by the church. 1t then goes on
to say If there was any ground for the
| notion that the congregation wurshiping at
congregation, still the ofb-repeated asser-
tion, with regard to the income OF the par
ish, and its unfair and improper appropria-
tioD by tue VestrY are, to put iG mildly based
upon Ignorance of the real facts of the case.
The report then recommends:
Ftra-As regards the property of the par.
ish Qt belonging equally to all members OF
the same, and its care and administration
having been by both civil and ecclesiastical
n nla nd tn , Fb,h ho,, - II.
are responsible for the proper disposition OF
its revenues) we do not believe that any
change should be recommended.
| SecOnd-As regards any alteration, res
torations, or additions to the buildings, and
fixtures, etc, to the places of worship
Nothing can be done without the consent
OF the Vestry. An altar in the Old Churcl
can be erected to the memory of but one
man the Goldman, Christ Jesus, and moi
to the memory of a respected member AL
funds shall remain In the custody, as here
tofore, of the Vestry, and no delegated au.
thority would be advisable.
The committee recommends that the elec.
ton Tor Nestrymen shall take place on the
first Monday OF March each year, and tha
section 20 Of the ordinance be amended 81
as to allow the adult members of the con
gregaJon of Old Swedes' Church to yo.,
, who shall have paid annually by subscrip
LiOn lOI tut support OI religious services IN
, said congregation sum not less than eigh
dollars, and shall not have been in arrear
for the same on the twenty-fifth day of De
cember next preceding said elections.
The wardens shall furnish to the treasurer
T of Trinity Church the names of all renter
or occupants OF sittings, as above describet
in the new church building now occupied OF
Adams street, or which shall be erected a
| the corner of Delaware avenue and Adam
a street, and Of all contributors as above de
scribed, to the support of the services in tn
Old Trinity Church, at the corner of Seyent
and Church streets, aud the treasurer sbal
r furnish TO the judge of election a certifie
list of all persons qualified to vote, at leas
g one week before the time of holding tn
election, which list shall be placed in som
conspicuous place In both churches for II
specti0n, that any errors may be pointe
: out and corrected.
e Of the members composing theVestry ,tw
n wardens and six Vestrymen shall be electe
from the members of the New Church cor
gregation, and three Vestrymen shall b
q elected from the members OF the Old Churc
e congregation.
+. A nominating election shall he held b
, each congregation on the Monday precedin
the day of election at which the Ne,
Church congregation shall select candidate
for senior and junior wardens, aud the nun
Z Der of Vestrymen to which they are enttle
ut the ensuing election, and the Old Churc
congregation shall select candidates for tl
u number of vestrymen to which they shall
4 entitled
8 The notice for the nominating electio