New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-18
NOT A HAPPY CHURCH FAMILY.
TROUBLES IN Az EAST ORANGE CONGREGATION
WHICH ARE GROWING MORE CRAVE

TROUBLES IN Az EAST ORANGE CON'kE"A lAON
WHICH ARE GROWING MORE GRAVE.
II has been an open secret for some time that there
was dissatisfaction IN the East orange ~ ."
First Reformed Church, Of which inc NOV
George : Bishop Is rhe pastor. Inc uou0'
eliminated on Wednesday evening at lhe ""'''
election of members of the conSiStOY, wnel v"o %
the elders of the church who had been idcnuheu WIN
n since IFS organization. nineteen years ago. dechhcn
roremp,ory reelection by the condstory. This iact
coun,ad with the further that their names were
dropped without EXPRESSION OF appreciation vi Oe
service has caused great deal OF COMMENT i"o
First Reformed Church was an oushoot OF the brioA
Presbyterian Church, and at the time OF the separation
Dr bishop was pastor of the Brick Church. large
number OF the members of the church followed hiu
and among them the two elders, John l.. Merrill ana
David bingham both Of whom have served oontlnu
ously ever since, and the latter of whom has been
he superintendent Of the sunday school Dr Blshop Is
a strong Calvinis The new church WIS estaohsheu
rs a free one DR. Bishop refusing salary ana boxes
for the voluntary offerings of the congregation were
ploccd nj the church doors These offerings were ex
pended by DR.. bishop as In his Judgment was peSV
Ills wife is wealthy, having S25O'oOo In her own
right. -,
From the first there have been two parties In the
church. one which believed In the methods OF Dr
gshop and the other which desired 10 have reneu pe"S
and the church run on a business basis. Aoonb TWO
OF TIE women OF tlo 'DHSI'b"''" Wv"
one Of the patrOncsscs OF the Orange Athlcuc
Cub hall The following sunday Dr. Bishop preache'i
u uowerfnl sermon. dcnOuncng ball aud oaiiSoe'S'
In uumeasured terms. Immediately after THIS the
woman in question left the church and has not since
bccn I'm IT, Another cause uf offence WIS pointed
and severe attack Episcopalians from the pulpit
and this was followed by other attacks ON rtch men
The most pointed Of these about three weeks ago
when the preacher asserted In eject that no rfch men
In tbe church Tho refusal OF the TWO
elders to Serve followed. It IS charged by the OPP
poncnt, OF Dr. Bishop that incorrect reports OF the
condition 81 the church made e the Chassis ana
that instead Of there being $50 members a. reported
there nre really only abuut $50 1t IS alleged that
name. Of members are never dropped from the roll
evcn after people have long left the town
David bingham when seen by a Tribune reporter
said that the most charitable construction 10 be placed
ON the course of Dr. bishop was tlmt ne was un
balanced. When asked II he proposal TO i'iVc tle
church. he said that he did not. at least Tor the
present. Arthur ID. Chambers. former deacon OF 'ne
church. who resigned six weeks ago. was also SEEN
He sad that $4,000 had been subscribed Tor an en-
arrcmeut ~ the church some years ago, ana That Dr
H,hOp had presented plans that did not meet me hp
prevail Of "A single member ~ the conslstory lie hau
rolled them mp and since then nothing hdd been zone
although the money WAS Wing I'm the bank. lie a'-
serted that tho difficulty wac that DR.. Bshop wanted
10 yet cOn,,tOry which would b. subservent to MS
ON ,be other hand Dr. Bishops friends number
four INNS Of the membership Of the church. They
assert that the whole trouble + caused by the fact
that the disaiiccied member cannot rule In the church
II furfhc declared that all tho dlsanccen people are
Interested I'm the movement pr the establishment OF
Tho now North >ldc Preby terrain Church and that the
trouble, I'm the First Reformed ChuNh ARE fOmentcd LII
order TO strengthen the latter movement.