The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-14
A STRANGER IN THE pew
A Hoboken Church Revolt
ing Against a Pas
tors Marriage.
DIVORCED FROM A SECOND WIFE
And Now He Has Made Trouble By
Taking a Third Wife to
His Bosom.

that there is fresh trouble in the German
Lutheran Church, on Hudson street, Ho-
boken, owing to the mania of the pastor,
lures. At the next meeting of the church
trustees it is possible that the pastors
resignation will be asked for.
The relations between the pastor and
his congregation have been strained for
some time, and it only required new
breeze to fan the spark of revolt into
flames
Mr.. Erich has been pastor for seve
years. He succeeded the Rev. Mr. Hafer-
man who was dismissed for hugging and
time of Mr.. Hafermsn's dismissal it was
stated that Mr.. Haferman had only re-
Gently arrived from Germany and that he
did not have an unholy motive when he
embraced the servant girl, but was simp-
ly carrying out the custom in the old
PASTORS mind was slightly deranged.
The custom of the old country did not
prove popular with the congregation,
however, and as consequence the pastor
was dismissed forthwith.
Mr.. Erich came to the church from
small town in the upper part of New York
State. He was a widower with six chill
dren. There are only three children
(boys) living at the parsonage, however.
Both of his daughters are married, and he
has besides Il son out west.
A SECOND MARRIAGE.
The new pastor soon became very popu-
lar, and was idolized by his congregation.
He was man of about fifty years of age
and very fine presence. A short time after
assuming charge of his new flock, the
congregation noticed that the new pastor
paid marked attention to Mrs. Bottle,
buxom young widow of about thirty-dve
years of age.
Mrs. Botte was the widow of former
prominent resident of Hoboken, who had
been pillar of the church. Since her
husbands death she had devoted all her
time to church work, and was prominent
in every movement started by it.
If Mr.. Erich was the most beloved male
in the church, so was Mrs. Botte adj
smitted as being the leader of the female
portion of the congregation. Aftefa short
courtship the reverend pastor and Mrs.
Botte were married. The marriag6S1yas
celebrated with great pomp and cc%eSe
mony, and the newly married couple wv 81
the recipients of many good wishes from
the members of the congregation. The
bride was duly installed as mistress of the
parsonage at No. IL Eighth street, and for
awhile everything went smoothly as the
traditional marriage bells.
But then came a change 1t began TO
ried couple did not agree and that several
violent quarrels had taken place. 1t was
noticed that the wife did not sit in the
family pew. This and several other nJuIe
incidents set the gossiping tongues wag-
ging and caused no end of talk in the
congregation.
MRS. EIRIcH's FLIGHT.
The congregation seemed to take sides
with the bride, as she had been known to
them for years, and they were disposed TO
believe that it was the pastor who wa a t
fault
One morning. about three months after
the marriage, the PASTORS wife disap-
peared, leaving q letter in which She
stated that she did not believe herself fit
ted for the station to which her marriage
had exalted her, and announced that she
would never return.
The news of her disappearance spread
rapidly and created considerable excite
ment The Rev. Mr.. Erich stated that
he had written to his wife in Brooklyn
importuning her to come home but that
she refused. For three years this state OF
affairs existed, when the pastor secured
divorce on the grounds OF desertion. Tne
petition and subsequent granting OF the
divorce did not raise Mr.. Erich in the
eyes OF his congregation, and at that time
the subject of asking for his resignation
was under discussion.
A STRANGE LADY IN THE PEW.
Two weeks ago the congregation mo-
ticed handsome woman of about forty
years of agesoccupying the pastors family
pew. Inquiries developed the fact that
their reverend pastor had taken another
bride, and that the woman occupying the
pew had become his wife.
The marriage had been performed very
quietly and not even the PASTORS most
intimate friends knew of it. When it be-
came known, therefore, the feeling
against him was redoubled. and as con-
sequence it is very probable that he Will
be asked to resign.
The Rev. Mr. Erich was found at the
parsonage, No. IL Eighth street, yester-
day morning. He had just recovered
from an attack of influenza.
"Have you been married recently, Mr.
Eirich?" / asked.
"Yes, was married two weeks ago to
Mrs. Won Stavenow, a Troy lady, and she
is now a member of the congregation.
Have you been asked to resign, pas
tor?n / asked
"No, l have not. understood in a let
ter received from Mr4 Moller, one of the
trustees of the church. that there is some
disaffection in the congregation over my
recent marriage For further particulars
would refer you to Mr.. Moller."
A TRUSTEES TALK.
Mr.. Moller is q member or the well
known real estate firm of Budenbender q
Moller, on Washington street, Hoboken.
eyes - he said, there is some talk
among the members of the congregation
against the late marriage OF the pastor,
and although nothing has been done as
vet. there will De some further develop
ment. AS far as the marriage is con-
cerned I could not say whether any mar
riage had been performed or not. The
trustees have not ct been notified. be-
lieve that the pastor is married, how
eyern
Another member of the congregation
informed me that the action of the pastor
in marrying again had scandalized the
church and that at the next meeting OF
the Board of Trustees his resignation WILL
be asked for.
The different members of the congre-
CATION are doing their utmost to prevent
the matter becoming rublic.
Hudson Circuit Court.
calendar. Wednesday, January Is, 1890 SUI
nreme aud Circuit Court cases. Nos Z, q III
ii 10 ~ rs. n, 80, 81, 80
BY order of the Court,
DENNIS M'LAUGHLIN. Clerk
warmer Tomorrow.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IA, 1890 Weather
indications for twenty-four hours lot
eastern New York, New Jersey and East
ern Pennsylvania:-Col fair today
fotsIxF