The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-02-06
THE CHURCH ASKS FOR IT
Senator Rice's Bill Con-
cerning Presbyterian
Government.
THE TRUSTEES AND THE PEOPLE.
Reforms That Are Needed in the
Management Of Church
Affairs.
HE TRUSTEES AND THE PEOPLE.
Special to the JERSEY catg Ne,os.


TRENTON, Feb. 5, 1s90.-Senator Rue's
Presbyterian Church was sent back to
the committee this morning for amend
ment. There has long been feel
ing among the Presbyterians of tbs
state that there should be some express
law for the government of their church.
Accordingly the Synod at its last
session instructed Barker, Summere
and A. j. Ritchie, two prominent lawyers,
of Trenton, in connection with John A..
Anderson, of Lambertville. to prepare a
bill for that purpose. Those gentlemen
did SO, and the result was Mr.. Rue's bill.
At the present time the trustees can sell
church property and can place it TO any
one they please and as there is nothing
which provides that a trustee must be a
member of the church, it was thought
that this might give rise to some serious
complica ions.
In fact there was something of this
kind at one time in Somerset county
when the trustees of Presbyterian
Church locked out the pastor and the
Sunday school
1t was to remove all possible chance of
any occurrence of this or q similar nature
arising in the future that this section of
the DILL was proposed
And be it enacted That it shall not be lawful
for the trustees of any snch religious society to
use or permit the church building or lands of
such society 10 be used or occupied for any
meeting q, purpose which the session Of
such society shall prohibit by the votes
of majority of its members, or to let,
convey or dispose of any of the real estate Of
such society, until duly authorized thereto by
the votes of majority of such session; and no
lease, grant or conveyance of such real estate
shall be valid and effectual in law, unless the
session, by vote of majority of its members,
shall have consented to the same
Again there is no law now to compel
the trustees or officers to make reports of
the financial or material condition of the
church. AS the law stands the trustees
have full control over the property and
can sell it or not as they please without
rendering an account to any one.
The officers of some churches do make
reports, but it is voluntary upon their
part, and If they should refuse TO do SO
there is nothing to compel them. In or
der to meet this difficulty this portion OF
the bill was drawn up.
And be it enacted. That the trustees of the
religious societies specified in the first section of
this act shall make annual full reports to the
sessions Of their respective societies, at such
time as each session may appoint. of their re-
ceipts and expenditures, and of their manage
ment or the lands pl operty and funds o the
said society, during the year next preceding the
maklng OF the SAID eport ard shall at the time
of making the said report also deliver there
with TO the session, for in spection, the Look Of
minutes of the proceedings of al trustees.
3. And be II enacted, Thas the treasurer of
every such religious society aforesaid shall
make annual full report to the session OF
such religious society at such time each
session may direct of his receipts. dish urse
ments and management of all such moneys and
assests as shall have come to his hands during
the year next preceding the making of such
report.
The committee met yesterday after
noon after the adjournment OF the Sen
ate. Messrs. Gummere and Ritchie and
the Rev. John Dixon were present.
Senator Miller was also present, and in
the course of the discussion SAID that it
had been his limited experience that the
Presbyterian Church was too much gov
erned. Mr. Gumnlere SAID that the trou-
BILE was that it was not governed enough.
Senator Rue said that protests against
the bill had been received from the Pres
byteries of Morris and Orange and he had
submitted the bill to the ministers and
elders of Trenton and they all approved
of it but the first section, which reads:--
That no person elected in conformity to the
act to which this is supplement to be q trus
tee of any religious society forming q part of
and subordinate to any Presbytery in this State
which is in due connection with the general
sembly of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America, shall enter upon the
discharge of the duties of such office until the
said election shall have been ratified and ap-
proved at meeting of the session of such re
1igious society by the vote of majority of the
members of such session.
The bill will probably be amended by
striking out this clause, and will then, no
lOlllf