The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-12-21
PARK CHURCH CRITICS.
Are They Responsible for
Pastor Suydam's De-
parture?
THE RESIGNATION IS FINAL.
II the Church Wants the Pastor
to Remain 1t Must Call
Him Again.
FHE RESIGNATION IS FINAL.

The one topic of discussion among the
people of the Park Reformed Church is
the resignation of Rev. DR.. suyda1n from
the pastorate The resignation is not to
take effect till tie end OF February, and
the most ardent Of mis- supporters hope
that something may in the meantime
turn mp that will compel him to stay.
But, " said member of the Consist
DRY last night, the thing is beyond recall
now. Rev. Or. Suydam resigned. and
persisted in resigning, even after the con
gregation had solicited him TO reconsider.
and his resignation has been accepted
If he is to continue IN the services of the
Park Church he must be called again,
just as though he had never been in its
pulpitn
The threat of some OF DR.. Suydam's
most ardent admirers to bring the matter
to the notice of the Chassis WAS regarded
by the interviewed gentleman as an idle
one.
HE cannot ask the Chassis to review a
resignation he himself wrote" was the
churchman's argument, land the resig-
nation has been unanimously accepted.
Both sides are satisfied, and who Is there
left to make an appeal TO the Ciassisss'
DID MILLS START IT.
The answer made to that was that
while MIR. Suydanl's resignation was on
its face voluntary, It was the outgrowtil
OF an under current of criticism that did
not please him. The people Of tine church
had been stirred to comparisons
by the success of Evangelist
Mills, who worked in this vine
yard las spring. in filing the church.
and after Mills had gone, one of the
church people says. people began TO won
der why something of the same enthusi-
asm could not be evoked in the fold.
Perhaps younger man would be an at
traction. This suppressed. hardly whis-
pered, discomfort found vent in the senti-
ment that the pastor should live among
his people at least. and that Pastor Suy-
dam, If he stopped, should be asked 10
remove his home from New York 20 this
city.
1T was with the purpose of trying the
strength OF this not favorable feeling
amoung mis- flock that Mr.. Suydam sub
mitted his resignation" was the way one
OF the church members put it last night,
land when he offered 1t it was probably
with the anticipation that il would not be
accepted. 1t was not accepted; it was not
declined. But conditions We're immedi-
ately attached to Mr.. Suydann's with
draWal of it. It would be accepted. he
was assured, If he did not consent in the
first place to remove to Jersey City, and
in the second to accept q re-
duced salary. Mr.. Suydafn met the
salary question by refusal to accept 4
reduction, but an Offer to contribute so
per month himself to its payment. But
he was firm on tue home question. The
health OF MS wife is such as to make it
impossible for MIN to live IN this city and
ne refused 20 leave New YORK. The ac-
ceptance Of the resignation was the re-
suit
Now you can see, = the church mem
Der went on, that the resignation was
not the voluntary act which the con-
sistory declares it TO have beens but that
it was in measure forced by the circum-
stances, and it is in that view that those
who talk of bringing the matter to the
notice Of the Chassis hold it to be sub
ject for appeal.
THE SUCCESSION
There was some talk in the church that
the Rev. Mr.. Halliday, who officiated in
the pulpit during DR.. Suydam's recent
absence on a vacation, is among the likely
candidates for the succession; but the
church people say that he has a handsome
charge in Brooklyn, ana that he is out of
the question. The consistory is canvass
ing several names, but no member of it
has any idea who the next pastor of the
church will be.