The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-16
ONE DOLLAR A Year.
Mr.. Chapman's VeStry Will
Freeze Him Out with
that Liberal Salary.


There are interesting times ahead for
Rector Chapman of the Grace Protestant
Episcopal Church, OF Greenville.
The vestrvmen who. several weeks ago
asked Mr.. Chapman to resign. say that If
they are reelected at the annual meeting
on Tuesday, March 81, they will reduce
Mr.. Chapman's salary from 81 200 to 81,
and thus force him to resign.
The readers of THE JERSEY CITY NEWS
will remember that Rector Chapman was
asked TO resign some months ago on ac-
count of his throat trouble, which
affected his hearing and speech so much
that the communicates were unable to
understand his sermons. Mr.. Chapman
refused to give up his pastorate, however,
and the vestrymen appealed to Bishop
Starkey at his home in Orange. The
Bishop refused to listen and sent them
home. This made them more determined
than ever, and If they are reelected they
are determined TO get square. The Bishop
will then have no say in the matter. as
the vestrymen have the privilege Of fixing
their rector's salary.
THEY HAVE THE MONEY.
The present vestry is composed OF the
wealthy men of tue church. each one OF
whom has promised to subscribe a hand
some sum TO the new church building
fund. In addition, they now pay the
larger part of the expenses Of the church.
The communicates have pondered over
these facts aud the majority have de-
clared their intention of voting for con-
unuance Of the present management.
On the other hand, Rector Chapman viii
make a fight for his pastorate and will
place an opposition ticket in the field
Whom he will place on the ticket IS a
matter OF conjecture.
There are not many members of the
church adhering to him who would be at
all likely to hold the oliiceof vestry man, as
all the wealthy and popular men are on
the side Of the present vestry and opposed
to the pastor There is a strong probabil-
ity, therefore. tnat Rector Chapman will
have to resign.
WHAT A vEsTRYMAN SAYS.
One of the vestrymen was seen by a
JERSEY CITY NEWS reporter yesterday and
was asked if it was true that the vestry
had decided, If they were reelected. that
they would reduce Mr.. Cnapman's salary
to ST.
"Yes, The replied. 1--WE have found that
the congregation want Mr.. Chapman to
go,and as Bishop Starkley refuses to listen
to Us we will have to take tAis course, the
only one lett open for u.s."
us 1t true that Rector Chapman will
place an opposition ticket in the field p
asked.
II don't know, positively, but l have
heard from good authority that he would
do So"
"How does the congregation feel on this
matter ?"
81 haven't the slightest doubt but that
we will be reelected. / have made
canvass among the communicates and
every Que l visited said that he would
vote for onr ticket. If they don't, why
then they Will find it hard work to ges
along. The present Board of Vestrymea
now pays q large part Of the expenses.
and then again ii our ticket is defeated,
they lose the money which we promised
to subscribe TO the new building fund"
THE RECTOR RETICENT.
Rector Chapman was also seen by the
reporter, but he refused to speak on the
matter, further than to say that he would
do all that lay in his power to keep his
pastorate. Rector Chapman has held the.
Office Of Rector of Grace Church for the
past thirteen years, and during that time
the membership has been increased from
five to nearly three hundred. The
church Is also considered 1.-THE fashion
able church of Greenville," and up to the
last few months the congregation. rector
and vestry worked as one man.