Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1894-12-13
MIR. HANCOCK SUSTAINED.
Ahe Troubles In the Broadway
Church, Camden.

Church, Camden.
The troubles In the Broadwa y
Methodist Episcopal Church, of Cam.
der, referred to In the PIONEER last
week, has, to very large extent,
quieted down, and matters now, tc
out ward appearances, are going along
with less friction than during the early
days of the week, when the fact of the
movemel by a small faction of the
Quarterly Conference looking toward
a changei in the past crate of the church
was first made known.
AS was stated In the PIONEER st
that time, the movement for change
at the next Conference In March was
backed by about ten of the members
OF the Quarterly Conference, which
has a tt tai membership of about 3S.
Daring the week the church mem.
bership, including the officials of the
church, who were not consulted or In.
vited to participate in the 'Star
Chamber" conference, as they term
the proceedings of the faction who
started the moveme1 against Pastor
Hancock, have not hesitated to
express themselves forcibly on the
mai ter.
This action by the church member
ship and officials has resu ted in a
general rally to sustain Mr.. Hancock,
and assure him OF their sympathy and
desire to have him returned as their
Pastor for another year, and to con-
denim the action which resulted in the
Pastor practically sending In his resig-
nation, to take tffect at the close of
the Confer ence year.
When Mr.. Hancock learned of the
few members In the faction desiring
the change, and that the matter
had nt taken the proper course, he
immedis tely withdrew his resignation
or expressed desire to close bis pastor.
ate at the close of the Conference year
and lett the matter to be Sc tied by
the entire board, instead of the
minority opposition faction.
| Conferences by pal ties of church
members, also by certain of the offi-
cials, were held during the week, and
It was shown In no uncertain tones
that the great bulk of the membership
was in favor of Mr.. Hancock's return,
and tht the large majority of the
Board should exercise their rights In
the Board and put stop to any fur
ther action looking to change.
Early In the we ek 1t was stated that
most of the ten men-of the minority
faction had been convinced that they
had &C ted hastily, and that If they
pursued such course furtherit would
result In contest with such odds
against them the t the church and the
cause of religion wou be the sufferers,
and 1t YVES then announced that the
shoI t-lived movement for pastoral
change had already received such a
de, tn blow that 1t would be dropped
as quietly as it bad been launched on
an unsuspectipg church membership
and pastor.
The Board held me- ting on Friday
night, when the important question
was discussed at length, and some very
plain talk was INDUCED in by the
minority and ms jorty officials. Before
the meeting adjourned, however, 1t
was practically St tiled that the move
ment for new pastor was at an eno'
and, IS one official expressed II, I'VE
are satisfied with the result OF the
meeting, and we mutually agree not
to talk for newspaper publicity, or
even to the membership of the church,
as to how we Settled H."
A well-known minister, and one
standing high in the counsels OF the
New Jersey Conference, In 'peaking OF
the matter. said: There is no dis
guising the fact that the patt week
has been one of the most eventful In
the history of Broadway Church, but
the church will continue with the same
measure of spirirual and financial pros
| p6Tlty III uto
wears. and MIR. Hancock will, In all
probability. be returned TO the copgre-
cation, which 80 largely desires his re-
turn"
An offlcial, In discussing the matter,
said: "There was a movement on foe t
during the week, having for lts 90
ject the circulation of petition Ior
the signatures of church members Ia
vorabie to Mr.. Hsncock's TT turp, but
this was not countenanceo oy Mr..
Hancock, and so was dropped for the
present If such a petition had oeen cen
circuls ted, 1t would have received tue
Signatures of at least 900 of the church
membership"
It was also rumored during the
week that some OF the minor ty fac
ton had their minds on the, Rev )
Leander Sooy, former member OF the
New Jersey Conference, now sta'loneo ~.
1T Des Moines, Iowa. ana tnet Mr,
0oou hod hoat, communicated Win on