The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-18
OBJECTED TO TONY MILLER'S.
THE REV. 1R. DENNfsToN,S FLOCK
AT ODDS ABOUT HIS LODGINGS.
Some Thoueht ne Should Not Live at .
Hotel, and SO the vestry Removed Him
Aafetition In HIS Favor Signed by Many

Some Thought re should Not Live at =
Hotel, and SO the vestry Removed Him
A.fetition In His Favor Signed by Many
Tony Miller's famous hotel at Borden avenue
and Front street Long Island City. is made to
figure conspicuously in q controversy which is
agitating the members OF st. Johns Episcopal
Church in that place. The rector OF the
church is the Rev. J. A. Denniston.
He is bachelor. and has been living at the
hotel over since his arrival In Long Island City
about three years ago.
Certain members Of the church never took
kindly to the idea OF their pastor living in a
hotel. II is said that the female portion OF the
congregation were strongly opposed to 1t.
Frequent hints were given him to change his
lodgings but they were apparently UNDECIDED
Finally the vestry took up the question and
appointed committee to ascertain the senti-
mont OF the congregation in regard to their
pastors boarding place and other minor mat
ters. This was away back in February.
When the committee got ready to report the
vestry concluded to permit the question to
lie over until after Easter. when new vestry
would be elected.
All the church officials were reelected. and
the discussion was taken up at the point at
which 1t had been broken of.
j. Harvey Smedley. cashier Of the Long Island
dealer is Junior warden. The vestrymen arc
". L; woodill, Alfred Turner, ST. Ira g. OAR
The committee appointed in February made
asr 1;Ip to the vestrs two weeks age II was
which. It is said. all the vestrymen present
conquered; Dispensing with the services OF tho
the present month
restp nd he rns serves on the
objection to Mr.. Dennisons boarding at hotel
Sny G get Ta Of h The
patrick. William Ovens. Morris Ferris, and W. II.
petition. which was circulated among the
CONGREGATION for signature. praying fol. re-
ss fs w Rnd Mr.
sented to the vestry a few nights ago with Ill
confidence in themselves and reiteratinc
would have to GO. Mr. be H friends
say they will appeal to Bishop Littlejohn to
tho 81 wardsn said yesterday
treat every one fairly in the matter and par;
I %sls with their pastors boarding place;
ss sa'a % not no that Paff there s0F was
anything Objectionable about the hotel itself.
but that they thought it would be much better
for him to find other lodgings. Thus. when
Mr.. Denniston was out. callers were compelled
to leave messages for him. either at the cigar
counter or the bar
The ono hundred and eleven signatures to
the petition. he said, the vestry analysed as
inside the church more than twice in three
years: not .one-third OF the whole list were
members Of the church: not Eve Of them had
contributed to the fund for removing the
church.
In his defence the Rev. Denniston says that
since his connection with st. Johns Church
parish. and that the present trouble has been
caused by, members OF the vestry. on whose
account other pastors were forced to leave.
The church has no rectory. and he had diffi-
Guilty in finding a lodging place. Objections
were raised by one member or another to every
place he suggested until finally in sheer des-
peration he was driven to take up quarters in
the hotel.
He says he was paid only SIS week for his
services. and that the objection to his boarding
at hotel Is only a preteXt to get rid of him in
defiance Of the sentiment Of other members Of
the congregation.