The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-02-10
DR.. M'MINN'S TERMS |
Made Known To and Ac-
cepted By His Congre.
cation Last Night.
NEW DEACONS AND TRUSTEES
The Church Association to Be Re-
Incorporated The Pastors
Appeal for Harmony.

Summit Avenue Baptist Church was held
last night, and the Rev Dr. McMinn, pastor
of the church, read letter to the members
present. in which he stated the grounds upon
which he would remain as pastor of the
church The meeting opened with prayer,
followed by songs and testimonies, and the
religious services ended with the receiving
into the church two new members, one on
probation and one by letter.
Mr. McMinn then said that as the meeting
was of a private character he was compelled
to request all outsiders to withdraw, if the
members wished it, but if not he had no OBJ
lection to them staying. No objection was
raised, and reporters and all other outsiders
were allowed to remain.
The business part of the meeting then
opened, and although it commenced very
tamely, there was much excitement before it
ended. Moderator McMinn was compelled
to call order number of times.
THE FIRST SHOT.
The pastor, in addressing the congrega-
ton, said among other things:-T have
been told that there were number of peo-
pile approached by some of the deacons, who
tried to influence them to keep from joining
the church while was pastor, and to wait
until after this trouble was over and new
pastor was in my place. was sincere when
/ sent in my resignation and would have
resigned accordingly, but SO many came to
me and said that the majority was on my
side, and that there would be split in
the church if l left, that
after the overwhelmingly large
majority received at the last meeting, when
the vote was cast upon accepting my resig-
nation, have decided to stay upon certain
conditions. My wife and l, previous to the
meeting, counted upon at least thirty-five
who would vote against me, but when only
thirty-one out of 143 showed themselves
against me, consulted my fellow minister's
and they advised me to remain, providing
the following changes can be brought about.
But. brethren and sisters, if my staying is
going to be obnoxious, / will go. Now, am
willing to forgive anything and everything,
and take by the hand anybody who will
offer me his, and say he will forgive me
for anything have done. / think we ought
to get down very low upon our knees and
ask our Makers forgiveness for being so un-
christianlike. The changes l will make will
be for the best interest of the church. Some
think minister is only hireling, but my
dear people, a minister must have an inward
calling before he can do justice to himself or
the church."
THE PASTORS PROPOSITIONS.
The pastor then read the changes he de-
sired, each proposition being voted ON sepa-
rately. The first proposition was as fol-
lows
1.-THE reincorporation of the church. The
old act under which this church was incor-
porated was not in harmony with Baptist
principles. In 1875 new law was passed
recognizing the principles of Baptist
Churches, and that is the one want our
church Incorporated under"
The congregation concurred in Pastor Nc
MINIS proposition, only one opposing it,
Brother Nelson.
The second proposition was
ga new management of the finances of the
church, and new superintendent ap-
pointed"
This was carried without any opposition.
The third proposition
Reconstruction of the Board of Deacons."
This is what caused all the excitement in
the meeting. When Mr.. McMinn announced
the new board, he said:-"The deacons
have made great mistake in regard to their
as they are supposed to do, they have under
taken at times to advise him, and this they
have had no right to do"
This change was carried by large major
ity.
Then came the fourth proposition
s'That the discipline of the church be en-
forced in the future 1t has been neglected
in the past"
This was carried without any opposition.
The fifth proposition was unanimously
adopted
"That the pastor have a right to hold ex-
ira meetings and have the assistance of evan
gelists or fellow-ministers without going
through lot of red tape business"
The last proposition was:-
'That the church building be used at any
time for such entertainments, sociables, etc.,
that will be good for the church, spiritually,
socially religiously and financially, by any
society in the church without having to
ia fhor,c xUifb fta
of the officials"
Only three persons objected to this-Mr.
Rochat's son, Mr.. Nelson and another
brother
NEW DEAcoNs AND TRUSTEES.
After all the new changes had been voted
upon and received, Mr. McMinn announced
the new Board of Deacons. They ares
Messrs. Buckley. Phillips, Richardson, Ward,
Holbrook, Lowe and Jenny. Brother Nc
Masters objected to being removed before
his time expired unless the church could
bring charges against him of being guilty of
overstepping the bounds. The pastor said
he had not been guilty of anything to war
rant his dismissal from the board but he
was not in sympathy with the pastor, and,
according to the laws of the church,
deacon must be in sympathy and work har-
moniously with the pastor McMasters said
he was, but did not agree with the pastor
in every thing he did, SO could not conscien-
debate ensued, which was ended by Mr.. Nc
Masters leaving the church.
Mr. McPeek then wanted charges pre-
ferred against him before he would get out
of the board, his action causing another de-
bate, which was ended by Mr.. Richardson
asking if the list was to be acted upon i'm
mediately. He was told that it was not.
The Rev Dr. McMinn then named the
new trustees as folIows:-Messrs. Nelson,
Gemberling, Cough, Bridgort, Dealing,
Davis and June.
MR. Nelson said he would not get out of the
old board, and requested that his name be
taken off the new one as he would not serve
The new Superintendent of Finance
named was Mr.. Theodore Lemmerz; the new
treasurer, Mr.. Thomas Jenny; the clerk of
the church, Mr. H. G. Corriell; Sunday
school Superintendent, Mr.. G. M. McPeek.
A committee of ten was also appointed,
consisting of Messrs Fl. Braun, F. Falken-
berg, William Hunter, w Cochran and f.
Eden, Miss Margaret Rinehard and Mrs c.
Rinehard, Mrs. Buckley, Mrs. Gemberllng
and Mrs Rochat
AN APPEAL FOR HARMONY.
After naming the list the pastor an
nounced that if any of those named were not
willing to serve and enter into the work har-
moniously he desired them to let him know
at once, in order to enable him to name
others The pastor concluded by saying -
My dear people, the good name of this
church is at stake We have made laugh
ing stock of ourselves for the community
over the trouble in the church yet there Is
not another church of any denomination in
the city that ] would exchange for this one"
The conos1-aoa 5i<,,, will rr1aat m Eysidav