The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-11-22
WICKED Mr.. Chew.
His Assault on Mrs. Arm
strong Convulses the
MataWan Church.

MATAwAN. Nov. %, 1se0.-The hamlet
of Cliffwood is greatly excited over the
charges made by Mrs. Alonzo Armstrong
against the Rev. Robert Chew, pastor OF
the Methodist Episcopal Churches at
Cliffwood and Jacksonville. rhe Rev.
James Moore Of Asbury Park, the presid-
ing elder of the New Brunswick district
of the New Jersey Annual Conference.
went to Cliffwood yesterday morning and
presided at very excited meeting OF the
official board of the church.
The members OF the church, both male
and female. forsook their usual duties
and hocked to the church In crowds.
DIR. Moore refused to allow any one to
enter the church building, with the ex-
ception of Mr.. Chew, Mrs. Armstrong
and her mother, and the trustees and
Jacksonville church.
DR.. Moore called the meeting to order
at ten O'Clock.
The church edifice is an old one and
there are wide cracks between the
weatherboards on the sides. The excited
villagers glued their ears to these open
ings aud one inquisitiye farmer went
home and returned with piece of wire,
with which he bored hole through the
plaster in order to hear better
DIR. Moore read to the accused minister
the charges made by Mrs. Armstrong.
who claims that Mr.. Chew attempted to
assault her. There were also number
OF minor charges made against Mr..
Chew's administration of church affairs.
Mr.. Chew demanded time in which to
secure the presence OF material witnesses
whom he claimed were in Philadelphia
and New York. Some of the trustees in
sisted upon an immediate trial, and Mr..
Chew announced that he was willing to
resign from the pulpit Of the Clihwood
church and let the case be dropped This
caused considerable excitement.
One trustee jumped to his feet and be-
gan bitter harangue against the pastor,
and wound up By claiming that Mr.. Chew
had purchased lot OF chickens from one
of this flock and had never paid for them.
As soon as he resumed his seat Mr.. Chew
acknowledged that he had bought the
chickens; said tie reason he had not paid
for them was because they had been sold
to him under Misrepresentation, and not
one Of them had laid an egg since he be-
came their owner. Mr.. Chew then
charged the trustee with having borrowed
his umbrella and never having re-
turned 1t.
Al very exciting wrangle ensued, in
which all present, with the exception of
DR.. Moore and Mrs. Armstrong. took
part. DIR. Moore, after trying in vain 10
quiet matters, announced that he would
adjourn the case until next week, when
Mr.. Chew would be given formal trial.
Mr.. Chew is suspended until the END Of
the trial.
Mrs. Armstrong sisted this afternoon
that she would push her charges to the
ruiI extent OF the Church oue sa1u tnat
Chew called upon her and tried to induce
her to not press the charges against MIN,
as it would ruin her. as his word, he be-
ing the minister, would have the prefer
ence.
MIR. Chew says he can prove his inno-
cence, and that the charges are merely
the outcome of a deliberate scheme to
drive him from the pulpit and ruin him.
Heretofore Mr.. Chew has stood well in
the community, and has been popular
with the mem bers Of both Of his fiocks.