The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-07-12
NEITHER Will TALK.
The Rev. Mr.. Stoddard
Says There Is No Ill
Feeling on His Part.
THE REV. MR.. HERR GROWS ANGRY
What Was in the Letter That
Started the Bitterness Between
the Two Bergen Clergymen?
Special to the Jersey city Mems.

AsBURY PARK, July 12, 1S89.-AgreeabIy
to instructions visited the Rev. E. L.
Stoddard, the rector of st. Johns Episco-
pal Church on Jersey City Heights, at the
Coleman House here, where he is stop
ping with Mrs. Stoddard, this evening.
found him very reticent as to the details
of the unpleasant scene between himself
and the Rev. Mr.. Herr, of the Bergen
Presbyterian Church, at recent funeral
service on Bergen Hilltop. When I
asked him whether anything had occurred
at that time that justified the Rev. Mr..
Herr in talking to him as he did he would
not answer directly.
"Well,' he said, "that would be telling
you something of matter about which
do not care to talk"
Mr.. sToDDARD HAD No ILL FEELING.
Had any previous disagreement ex-
isted between the Rev. Mr.. Herr and
yOurselff" Mr.. Stoddard was asked.
mo-" he replied II cannot say that any
disagreement existed. | had met Mr..
Herr on but two occasions prior to the
recent incident which THE JERSEY CITY
NEWS mentioned. But few words had
ever passed between u.s."
Then there is no truth In the rumOr
that GOODNESS between Mr.. Herr and
yourself existed prior to that incidentS"
None that am aware of; none, at any
rate, on my part.a
''Does feeling of rivalry exist between
your congregation and that OF Mr. Herr
as to which should be recognized as the
church of the Hill?' was next ventured.
mo; | never saw the slightest evidence
of such feeling"
"Nor II interrupted Mrs. Stoddard,
who sat by listening with interest to the
interview; land you know" continued
that estimable lady pleasantly, "a woman
would naturally know all about anything
of the nature of rivalry in church mat
ters."
A PREVIOUS LETTER.
"Did any correspondence ever pass be-
tween the Rev. Mr.. Herr and yourself?"
was the next question.
'Well, | can't say anything about that,
either" replied Mr.. Stoddard, good hui
moredly. But he added, 1T amounted to
nothing"
The reverend gentleman was pressed
for further explanation, but he
staunchly refused to say anything further
concerning either the correspondence or
the funeral episode.
ASK me something easy-some other
| conundrum," he said, with meaning
smile.
| In reference to the recent unpleasant
encounter, Mr.. Stoddard's manner indi-
Gated that he could say much If he were
not bound to respect others feelings AS
| to the correspondence which passed be-
| tween the two popular and eloquent di-
| vines, it is learned from other sources
that it was of such nature as to necessi-
tate an apology upon the part of the Rev.
Mr.. Herr.
MR.. HERR WON'T TALK.
The Rev. Mr.. Herr returned to his
home for a day or two last evening.
called on him. but found him as uncom-
municatlve as Mr.. Stoddard had been, and
apparently angry. / showed him the
articles in relation to the existing trouble
| between himself and the Rev. Mr.. Stod-
dard. After he had finished reading
asked if l could say anything to the pub
lie for him.
We'll" he replied, 81 am simply
amused"
| then asked him if he would give me q
history of the previous difficulties which
| existed between Mr.. Stoddard and him
self and his answer was rather peculiar.
"Whatever there may be between Mr..
Stoddard and myself is personal, and
should not be published" he said.
"Will you not tell it?"
"There is no use in asking me; 7
will say nothing. No matter what Mr.
Stoddard may say, l will not say word
to any one. You can make him out to be
generous gentleman, or you can make
him anything you please, and at the same
time you can abuse me as much as you
| WISH | will say nothing"
tried to ask another question, but got
cut short.
''I will answer nothing to any one;
there is no use. Good evening""