The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-01-23
PASTOR RUSSELL REPLIES
He Declares the Published
Reports of the Trouble
In His Church Untrue.

No sermon that Past or Russell Of the
James M. E. Church ever preached drew
forth as large an audience as that which
completely filed the church last
night. Pastor Russell did not call
it a sermon, but said 1t
was a confidential talk, and
he entitled it Facts concerning the cello
ton for Trustee, and some Of the import
ant reasons for u change in the Board.
While the pastor was speaking murmers
out the church and at one time it
looked as if there would be an outburst
OF some kind. There is not the slightest
doubt but what the pastors remarks Will
be brought before the conference by
Treasurer Lowndes and his friends.
Among other things the pastor said:
"In Justice to the church and congrega-
ton Of which l am the pastor, duly ap-
pointed by the authorities OF the General
Methodist Episcopal Church. and by the
Bishop selected to preside over the New
arg Conference, of which / am a member,
l would say:-First. that many OF the
published reports are not correct, and al
though they may contain some truths,
they are stated in such a manner as not
TO convey the facts-facts which people
ought to know before they can decide on
the right or wrong Of the matter;
secondly. I haYe been solicited to give a
statement in order that the people may
understand the situation aud know what
called forth some of the rumors and also
called for the changes in the Board OF
Trustees, the stewards n the class
leaders; thirdly, the pastor of a Methodist
church is placed In charge Of the entire
amendments and Is directed by the
Discipline to enforce vigorously the rules
of the Church.. that is, TO appoint all the
class leaders, and to change them when
he deems it necessary.
1.-THE pastor is also the President OF the
leaders and stewards meeting, and pre-
sides over the official board, composed OF
all members of the quarterly conference,
%cludi all trustees and superintend-
ents OF the Methodist Church; fourthly,
the pastor is amenable to the Presiding
Elder and the annual conference Tor his
administration of the affairs OF his
church and the enforcement or the rules
of the Discipline.
ssThs fact that led to the changes and
the contemplated changes in the trustees
and stewards of this church Is that the
pastoral authority has been ignored and
the rules of the Discipline violated.
There has also been conduct unbecoming
the official members of the church. This
condition of things existed when l was
appointed pastor. and years before, as
other pastors, x-officials and members
can and are willing to testify.
HE BEGAN A REFORM.
"Believing That such fragrant violation
of the Discipline, such questionable con-
duct III the existence Of rumurs reflect
ing upon the moral character of one of
the class leaders and chief officers of the
church could not contribute to the well
fare of any Christian church, I COM
menced q reform, first, by reading the
rules of the church concerning the duties
of the pastor, the officers and members,
and second, by changing one of the class
leaders who twice at an official meeting
Offered his cIass-booK IL any other leader
could be found who could 10 better. Such
a leader was found, the class is prosper
ing, the church increasing, the Sunday
School 1ourishing and crowded to its
utmost capacity and with two large Bible
classes Of young men and women that
are a credit to the church and school.
I'm view of these facts and the near ap-
proach of the annual conference which
appoints the pastor. the members of this
CONGREGATION who favor the continuance
of the present pastor and who far out
number his opponents, felt the necessity
of certain changes.
IAN election of trustees was asked for.
Petitions to that effect were sent to the
President of the official board. Secretary
LoWndes objected on the ground hat the
1d6b0I W6o AVv "a S10
board, although the petitions were not
directed to the pastor, but TO the Presi-
dent of the board. The pastor, who Is the
President of the board, said that IL the
board did not receive the petltions and
act on them he would call q meeting OF
the church members to decide the matter
and appoint q time for the meeting. The
trustees said that If the people wanted an
election they should have it, and the
necessary notice was posted. 1t was not
lone in accordance with the law, how
ever, which says the notice shall be
posted in open sight. II was placed in
the hall and When the doors ofthe church
were closed 1t was not in Wight. But
notice of the election was given from the
pulpit, together with a statement as to
the qualifications OF voters under the
law, as interpreted by competent lawyers.
REQUIREMENTS oF H LAW.
"The law requires hat voters shall
attend the church and contribute regu-
larly to its support. It does not say how
much. They must also be twenty-one
years Of age, but they may be male or
female.
when the election was held the pastor
said it would be necessary to choose a
permanent chairman; but Mr.. Lowndes
read the law, ignoring the pastor and the
official board. Order was called for. but
Mr.. Lowndes again read the law. When
told that he would be arrested he snbsid-
ed. The pastor was then elected chair
man.. Mr.. Lowndes was then permitted
to read the law, and the election was
held.
s'.Some put their tickets in the basket
used for q ballot box, and some threw
them down beside the basket. Others
were placed in the hands of the tellers.
Sometimes two ballots were voted at once.
There is a difference of opinion as TO the
legalityof the proceeding, and the election
has not yet been decided. The presiding