New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-23
,RoUsED OVER RITUALISM.
.,,-aiE IN ST. MARKS CHURCH. ORANGE
OF THE vEsTRYMEN RESIGNS AND THE
coxGRFG ALTON EXCITED.

81
CONGREGATION EXCITED.
e trouble in ST. Marks Church. in Orange
which hes already led TO the resignsVoi
= n the vestrymen. who has been connected WIN
A,reh IN that capacity for number OF years aiu
y .-,used intense feeling among the members Oh tne
" ..,,on. st. Marks is the Oldest Of the three
e.orsI churches IN Orange, and for fifty years mas
" ,sgarded as one of the most prominent IN 'he
go diocese Il occupies handsome stone strucV
Landing almost on the border line between
w and West Orange and its congregation meiuoes
- a one most influential families in that town.
trrner rector the Rev. Bishop FalRner' hso occu-
.nst Mace for a number OF years. but last June
F-s,untarily resigned his pastorate for the reason
= .ome Of his congregation were not In sympathy
- Avn After some hesitation his resignation WAS
..ss nv t.le vestry and suitable successor was
s. .,r The choice fell upon the Rev. F. B!
o..,,r Of Delhi y. Y, and Charles A Lighthlpe' one
80 ve.,rymen, was chosen to give notice to him
q his selection -. -, .,,. o,,,,.on
"a, he last fifty years the sentiment OF the ehurch
- strongly in favor Of Low Church forms Of
40 and anything savOring Of ritualism has been
--.-,r.lv opposed. In the discussion among the
s,rvmsn preceding the selection Of Mr.. Rea7or. 1t
" ,ho-ourhly understood that the vacancy should be
-, ~ clergyman Of Low Church tendencies, or that
!. ~ most a moderate High Churchman should be
'sa-as Mr. ughthipe Low Chnrchmsn and
- traouently said that he would his influence
.S,,n. the introduction Of any high church forms
aio the service.
last sunday was the first Of Mr.. Reazors paStorate.
"A ,hs members of St. Marks were many Of them
80 into CONSERVATION by the innovations which
!. introduced An early morning service was held at
o,elock al which lighted candles were placed on the
~. tSe rector wore special veStmcnts, and other
tins were introduced which shocked the con-
,.svaave notions OF q large proportion OF
ne congregation. At the regular morning service
,ha .sme state OF things continued, and when the
choir boys entered, preceded by boy bearing the
nrocs~onal cross the surprise and disapprobaton Of
he ooogegAaea were apparent
Te,s ysrY question of the professional cross had
.r,. bore oven rise to some acrimonious discussion
n The church. II had been suggested by some Of
n. usnbes but Dr. Falkner had frOwned upon it, TO
ne ashcnon Of large majority Of his parishioners.
Ta cross which was carried at last Sundays service
had never been accepted any meeting Of the vestry
In c no professional had ever belonged to the
church At the conclusion Of the services the action
Of the new rector severely commented upon by
nsny members Of the church, and speculation was
RE IS to its effect.
The following day Francis c. Cantine, who has for
many years been vesryman Of the church. has had
class IN the Sunday school and has been active I'm
too as a vestryman, and in a letter TO the rector
severed his connection with the church. Mr. Cantine
b Q WE'LL known lawyer in this city. and is a leading
citizen of Orange II is not unlikely that others Of
the officers and members OF the church will follow his
example III case Mr.. Reazor persists in his present
course
A Tribune reporter called upon ore Of the vestry-
uer yesterday and asked for his version of the affair
This gentleman who did not wish his name to be used
sad TAT he deprecated any publicity in the matter
but it had become known he willing to give The
Tribune the tue state OF affairs He then cOrrobOrated
the facts given above and said that he hoped the
matter would be adjusted without further difficulty
although he admitted that there was a strong Low
Church feeling in the congregation. lie was not at
this time disposed to hold Mr. Reazor responsible for
the occurrence as lie may have misunderstood the
sentiment OF the church NAV have been i'll advised
at the same time he was Of the opinion That unless
Mr. Rearor had reea9r for the tlme-honored customs
Of the church, further trouble would follow. He was
disposed TO blame severely Mr.. ughthipe for not rep
reSentng the true state Of affairs to the rector or else
Church pyocDvities. Mr. Lighthipe when reminded Of
his promise that he would oppose the Introduction of
any suoh forms into the service simply said that ne had
Another. member. Of the church was emphatic, IN
Ms dISspprcVa OF the new rector's Innovations
ana pieOctd fnTther and more serious trouble
he said that at least three of the vestry men
had attended services al Mr. Reazors church In Delhi
and must have known Of his High Church tendencies.
He minated that In keeping this fact from the vestry
these gentlemen had acted disnGenuOusly and he did
not hesitate 10 characterize their action In strong terms
large majority OF the congregation he said were un-
atersbly opposed 10 the Introduction Of any High
Church fo:ms into The service, and regarded them
the entering wedge OF Ritualism.
~. Reazor Is between thirty-fve and forty years
~ He has wife and family is a good preacher. and
the present unfortunate complications can be ar
aDsd, will undoubtedly make popular and efficient
rector.