The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-10-11
CHASSIS TROUBLE.
Evangelical Church Threat
ems to Secede Unless
Given Assistance.
MR.. GRANT WANTS HELP
South Bergen Unable to Bear It's
Burden Alone.

The South Chassis of Bergen Of the
Dutch Reformed Church had its semi-
annual meeting Tuesday in the Bergen
Point Reformed Church. The proceed
ings of the Chassis are usually public, but
on Tuesday matter came up which,
after some discussion, the reverend gem
tlemen concluded to consider in priv
ate.
A secret session was therefore held;
the matter was discussed and referred
to a special committee 1t was nothing
more or less than a threatened schism.
The church that threatened to secede
is the German Evangelical of Monmouth
street. There were no delegates from
the church at the Chassis meeting, and
the pastor, Rev. Feicke. was made con-
spicuous by his absence. Although the
ter which has caused the biggest stir
there has been for years in the Chassis.
THE LETTER.
The epistle was as carefully coucaed
as if it were a legal document, but the
substance, in plain English. was that If
the Chassis did not give the church the
financial help it has asked for several
times, it would resign from the Chassis.
a year ago when the Monmouth Street
Church asked of the Chassis. financial
aid to the amount of 5000 a year. Three
hundred of this they wanted towards
the ministers salary and the rest for i'm
terest on the church debt. Bne mat
ter was thoroughly discussed and thS
Chassis decided that as in the congrega-
ton of that church there were several
wealthy men it could get along Without
the aid asked fer, and that as the ron-
h.. IN ions
is limited, other more deserving church,
es should have it. They decided that
$3.50 was all the Monmouth Street Church
was entitled to- The members claimed
that the church could not get along
without the aid asked for. The Chassis
in reply said that 1t considered 1t a re-
Election on the members whe can atora
to and won't help the chusch II it can
not to meet its expenses. The Rev. Mr..
Feicke and his congregation have not
felt coed over the matter ever since.
and on Tuesday they full vent to
their indignation in a manner not to be
mistaken.
The letter said that while the Chassis
claims that the church had several rich
members who ought to assume the debt
those men were powerless. The next
portion of the letter said that while
had considerable money. they also had
| large families to support, and therefore
had to limit their donations TO the
church that they might not do their fam
lilies an injustice Members, they also
claimed, were doing all they could. They
claimed that they have been Stfamefully
treated and wound UP by threatening to
get out of the Chassis If they did not get
what they asked for. As said beEere the
letter was referred to a comn1ttRe, and
no definite action has as yet been taken
in the matter. The letter is in the hands
of the Rev. Ralph Wick of the Wayne
Street Reformed Church. A "ReWs re-
porter called to secure a copy CT it hut
Mr.. Wick was not at home.
The Rev. DR.. Brett, when interviewed
on the subject aid:-A''We EsWe been in
the habit of helping the German Church
but they asked fer so much thar we had
to stop. 1t doesn't seem fair that they
should get so much as they ask for
when there are wealthy naen among
them who could easily assuIae the re-
sponSibility and there are ether poorer
ano more deserving churches. The ClaS-
sis will pay no attentieu: TO thez letter.
MR.. GRANT WANTS HEbP-
Rev. w. D. Grant asked for a. loan OF
5000 in Behalf of the South Bergen Rer
formed Church. He said the church finds
it necessary to raise &, 600 more, az7d does
not feel that it can assume the interest
Rev w. P Bruce thought it an inposi-
| that has just built a church costing S4u,Og0
to ask the other churches, meSt of Eh1ch
I occupy much humber structures and sSttll
| find it hard work to get along. to assume
any of their debts.
DR.. Grant replied that he thought the
argument a, fair one, and asked that he
| he allowed to withdraw his application
This the Chassis would not allow, and.
after discussing the subject fufthef, ana
finding that DIR. Grant has made many
! church, they decided TO assume the IN,
terest. Dr. Grant declares that he VIII
withdraw his application anyway, ana
| will not accept the money.