The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-11-28

LET ME GO In PEACE
Pastor Houston Insists Upon
Resigning From the Knox
Presbyterian Church.
STORMY PARISH MEETING
One Member Says the Blind
Preacher Listened too Much to
Gossip-Bad Financial
Showing.
STORMY PARISH MEETING

The family skeleton of the John Knox
Presbyterian Church came forth from its
closet last night and cut up high JlnKs
before the congregation, a committee APP
pointed by the Presbytery to consider
the resignation of the Rev. Thomas
Houston, Pastor of the Church, ana a
number of strangers. All the troubles OF
the congregation for the past hve years
were thoroughly aired and many anus
ing quarrels were brought 10 light. MI.
Houston presented his resignation as
pastor of the John Knox Church at the
last meeting of the Jersey City Presby-
terry. The Revs. Charles Herr, d. ~,
G.. R.. Garretson, David Mitchell and
Elders C. A. De Witt and j. Mckinney
were appointed a committee to confer
with the congregation and ascertain
whether or not there are good grounds
for the acceptance of the resignation.
The meeting occurred last night in the
church. and Mr.. Mitchell acted as CHAR
man. The committee occupied seats fac
ing the congregation.
AS the meeting was a public n many
strangers were present. abide with Me
was sung and the Rev. Charles Herr
OHGf6u prayer. MI. 4llSAlC NANA
where Mr.. Houston was. He was wait
ing in the library, and at DIR. MitchelFs
SUGGESTION he took a seat with the COM
mittee. Mr.. Mitchell stated the dutieY
of the committee, which were to confer
with the congregation as to the canses
of the resignation and then spoke/of his
personal feelings in the matter. He
traced the history of the church which,
= rnnah nfF the SanfHh
Church. and said ne could not under
stand why Mr.. Houston Should wish to
resign.
MR.. HOUSTON'S REASONS.
Mr.. Houston was called upon to state
his reasons for resigning. He said;-
This is an episode which has come into
my experience which 1 never expected.
When 1 vas placed here it was to be a
nositionlf for life or for a couple of years,
If / choose, whether the congregation
wanted me to resign or not. When the
hands of the Presbytery were laid upon
ME and 1 was installed here, th4ugRt
If was TO be a position for life. / am
sorry that I am compelled 10 place my
resignation before you. have no selhsn
gain and everything to lose by III ara
looking sololy to your interests|Sn taxi
ing the step 1 ] have. l have no prospects
and 1 do not leave to accepE a peter
salary. : am simply taking aTleap in the
dark and trusting to God. < am leaving
a church for no church ana a home for
wanderings. Some people INNS / Eve
work. That IS not myfdesire, but it is
my only alternative To break up my
home and tear myself away from the peo-
Die of my first charge is like tearing the
heart out of my body. It cost me a
great effort and a great deal Of prayer
] have n~othingIto gain by it, but I think
you will. Yop will have less expense 10
He explained that the congregation
has been reduced from 800 to 100. and
attributed it to the hard times and to
the backslidings of the people. tie ex-
planned that there are 200 names on the
Church roll. but that it is difficult to get
more h So or 40 of them out at any
one service. Continuing
There are a faithful few" he said,
who are willing to retain me and would
vote for my stay, but they are not able
to meet my salary. l am not prepared
TO stand a reduction and won't stand
it. 1t takes every cent OF my salary
to meet my expenses. Therefore I think
you will accept my resignation"
The Rev. DR.. Herr said a few words
of the matter before the congregation
and then an pen expression of feeling
was called for from members of the con-
BAD FINANCIAL SHOWING.
Mr.. Houston called on Mr.. Alexander
Ross, who, although not a member OF the
CIuICH i us lICdSuI0I
of the condition of the treasury at the
present time. Mr.. Ross stated that there
was only IS in hand; that the average
weekly collections were $18 and the eX-
penditures $31. The church had fallen be-
hind $3.50 in the last six months.
Mr.. Van Hule said
81 nave been so closely connected with
Mr.. Houston that l regret that he must
go. but 1 eandidly think that it is best
for himself and the congregation that
he sewers his connection with the
ChlIrPh -
Mr.. Houston-"what is the reason in
yourmind?"
feeling that a change would be better,
and that perhaps we could get larger
CONGREGATIONS. If a change would bring
about any better result there should be
There was a silence of a few minutes,
and then Mr.. Reeke arose and said he
was in favor Of Mr.; Houston staying
He was followed by Miss Fannie Braden,
who was of the opinion tnat the church
had declined through the gossiping spirit
of members of the congregation. She
charged that members of the congrega-
ton carried tales, about their felioW-mem-
bers, and that in many cases Mr.. Hous-
ton had listened too attenrively to them.
The church, she said, had gained a bad
reputation, and that was the reason there
were so many empty seats. A number of
the church members spoke we'll OF MT.
Houston and desired him to stay. Some
were overcome and wept as they spoke.
Mr.. Nichol thought that the money
could be raised to pay Mr.. Houston's
back salary, and said that If the finances
in the church were all right there would
be plenty of spirituality.
Several member declared that II Mr..
Houston leaves the church they would go
foo. and other asserted that a large
norton of the member would not sup
bort the church SO long as Mr.. Hous-
ton remained.
DR.. Mitchell said at the CONCLUSION OF
the expressions on the part of the con-
eregation that gossiping should be stamp
ed out of the church at once. He con-
eidered that a trivial matter. He thought
that the congregation might be able to
fix up the financial matters SO that Mr.;
Houston could remain. he suggested
that it would be a good plan to drop
the names of those members VINO 90 not
contribute to the support of the church
and attend regularly. Mr.. Houston In
ferrupted him with-"If | talk of drop
ming members I am silenced.
Mr.. Van Hule and the Pastor had a
wordy war over the relation between the
latter and the Board of Sessions, during
the course of which it developed that
there were only two members or the
board, as the third member had to leave
town to escape his creditors.
A trustee moved that the matter OF
the resignation be laid over until January
1. Mr.. Ross thought the matter should
he decided at once, as every week it was
delayed ran the church deeper into
debt.
Mr.. Van Hule. who seemed to be anxi-
Gus to get Mr.. Houston out, moved thai
the resignation be accepted.
A vote resulted in 4 nays n 90 ayes.