New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-15
COMPLAINING OF A PASTOR.
PREACHING AND CONDUCT OF Mr.. LENTz.
ExJUDGE ANGEL AND ELDER FOX CONDEMN
BOTH IN THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

FOR PEACE.
The Presbytery of New York in November received
memorial from members Of the First Church oil Nor
rsna recting the fact tina. there was dissenslon III
the church and asking for the appointment OF com
mitee Of conference Dr. John I;liss. tie moderator
OF Presbytcry. appointed chairman of this com
mittee Dr. Edward L. Clark II the Church OF the Pur
tans In Harlem. Yesterday the committee made Its
report, which was as follows:
There Is decided opposition on tse part Of some
CATION are SATISFIED with his preaching and his conduct
OF affairs. Your committee nope that through mutual
vention of The Presbytery. Inasmuch the meeting
at which elders elected was called TO consider the
questions of rotary eldeshp, il Is recommended that
The Pesbytey should order new election In the usual
method, namely, by stating the fun purpose oil such
meeting on two preceding sabbaths
This seemingly pacific report was the occasion OF
two or three speeches far from. pacific. NJ. E. Fox,
elder Ia the church, objected strongly to the report
because he said that the pastor the Rev. J. f. Lentz
did not desire harmony there had been no disposition
on his part to seek reconciliation. Mr.. Lentz did not
reply to his elders init natioIs and PERMISSION was
given to Judge Angel member OF the church, TO
speak. Mr. Angel Of the signcro OF the me
moa and he proceeded to explain his reasons ior 40
ing so. The church. he said, had been Organizer
twenty six years and until the present pastora1e oeea
there had never been faction now there were TWO
parties and the church Ia danger OF demoniZauoh
strife and dissenson said, had taken the place OF
the harmony that formerly prevailed ne oo'hPAaN"
OF the character OF Mr.. LenLs preaching, saying that
the people got good deal OF Darwlnism and Huxieys
but very little spiritual food. He criticised the acuon
Of tile pastor in building up within the church party
consisting largely of people, whose conduct was
compelling the older members leave the church the
business meetings he declared packed IN tie inter
est Of the pastor and against the other members lie was
called to order he began TO read paper going INTO
details regarding the work and conduct of the preacher
his last words being :" this young UNRELIABLE
Mr.. Lentz rose to reply, but he not permitted
to speak at length rs order of the day was called
for. lie answered the charge that he had gone down
town TO collect money for his salary by explaining
Chat be had gone TO get money to pay an assessment
the property for sewerage, debt contracted Deioe
he became pastor. DR.. Briggs rose In behalf OF Mr.
Lentz declaring that he should be heard In the in
terest of fair play, but after several motions and
amendments had been made, the report OF the com
mittee was adopted. Mr. Lentz seemed satisfied win
this action and Mr.. Angel said that 1t would be used
as weapon in the pastors hands against the third OF
the congregation who did not agree with him.
Dr. II. b. Elliot, DR.. c. A. Sioddad and ROBBERS
Beggs the committee appointed TO answer the protest
offered by Dr. van DYKE In the Of Professor
Briggs. which printed in The Tribune YESTERDAY
pages of foolscap the effect that there were not
Sufficient grounds for either Item Of the protest.
Tic shilo Church (colored) was dissolved after the
resignation of its pastor, DR.. W. L. Carr, mad Dee
accepted and new church ordered to be organized
near Eighhave. and Onehundred and thirty sevehthst