The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-26
CHURCH GAG LAW.
Trouble in Greenville Re-
formed Church Over the
Publication of a
Lively Row.

There is a lively row in progress In The
G~reenviIle Reformed Church, which
may result in the expulsion OF several
members. The trouble began immedi'
ately after the annual meeting OF the
Sunday school, a little over a month ago.
The excited dispute which occurred al
this meeting was fully reported in THE
JERSEY CITY NEWS. and the publicity
thus given it has angered tne
members of the Consistory ano
at the e meeting an enot'
will be made to ascertain VINO gave Ine
story to the reporters. AS but few mem
bers kept the story of the row TO them.
selves, it is likely that a large NUMBER o.
offenders" will be brought before tne
1t is also rnmored that Mr.. Homer
Brooke, who figured prominently ~ .ne
row, will have to give on account OF nlLn-
self. 1t is said that the members VINO
are found guilty will be expelled from
the church. The Consistory meet.
ing will be held some time
nayt week. The meetings are
nsnallv held in the chapel. u it is hkeiy
that this next meeting will be held at tne
residence of one of the OF tne
Consistory. The meeting Will oe secret
and no one butrthe members OF tue ooa
sistory and Pastor Bruce will De al
mitted.
MANY ARE INDIGNANT.
The matter has caused quite q SUI
among the members of the congregation
and mnch speculation is being INDUCED
in as to what will be the outcome OF Inc
meeting, One member VINO does Doe
wish to have mis- name men r
toned. when interviewed, sa1d:-"I
think it is unjust for the
Consistory to hold the members who gave
the facts responsible for the publicity
hat wa given TO the row. mere was
tronble at the meeting and l think that
those who caused the roubte are the
ones who should be held ~responsipie.
Each member of the church mas a rlght
TO give out facts about our iheecing, pi1 r.
vided of course, that they are true, III
any are eXpeileu Iheie "Ai oo
interesting times"
OPPOSITION TO Mr.. BRUCE.
Among other rumors tha1 are pelns
circulated among the bers Is one
that an effort will soon be made 10 nave
Pastor Bruce removed. IL IS clalmea
that since Mr.. Bruce assumed chargs o.
Increased sufficiently. Other mem
hers charge that Mr.. Bruce has not
visited them. us a pastor snonid 90.
One Of these members. Mr.. Homer
Brooke. said that since Mr.. Bruce pe-
came pastor. he has not even made one
pastoral visit to him. Mr.. BROOKE mas
been a member of the church ever since
it was organized in 1874. and be says ne
cannot understand why he Is sIightea ny
Pastor Bruce.
The matter Of removing Mr.. Bruce has
been discussed considerably of late. The
members are about evenly divided on Inc
question. Some argue that, had 1t not
been for Mr.. Bruce, the handsome new
edjfice. which the church at present
occupies, would never have been
erected, while others say that the church
was built mainly through the efforts OF
the rich men of the congregation Large
sums OF money were contributed by
Messrs. S. L. Harvey and D. w: Oliver
Mira. Becker, and the late >
B.. Vreeland. Notwithstanding that
the church is a beautiful editice, IL is sell
dom filed. There are seats for eight
hundred people, but the average attend,
ance is but two hundred. The total
church membership is about three nun
dred and fifty. Even though the mem
bers have been discussing the matter of
removing Mr.. Bruce among themselves
they have kept very quiet and few facts
have leaked out.
That the members are dissatisfied with
the present state of affairs is a fact that
cannot be denied. The members are
anxiously awaiting Developments.