The sun., 1894-10-10
THE STRIKE OF A PRIEST.
TRUSTEE ToLPE WOULDN'T PAY
FoR soLEMN HIGH MASS.


Father Peter Schooner. I.siis. Flock Did
Not Celebrate with the Usual Enthusi-
ss- On Nondsy-The Priest and Choir
Were Ready, but voipe, who Owed for
other Masses, Refused 70 Put Up sis.
The inhabitants Of the italian colony in Jersey
City are much interested in difficulty which
occurred on Monday between the Rev. Peter
Schooner, rector Of the Holy Rosary Church. in
Sixth street, and Simon Voipe. Chairman OF the
Board Of Trustees. Vope keeps a saloon at 3S2
First street Having plenty Of leisure on
his hands, he dcvotes considerable attention to
the affairs Of the church; In fact, he seems to
have more power than the rector.
The Italians OF Jersey City are noted for the
enthusiastic way they celebrate church festi-
walls. On such occasions they have parade in
the morning OF the Italian civic and military or
CARNATIONS. headed by band, and In the even
ing they have another parade, winding up with
n display of fireworks. Monday was tho feast Of
the Holy Rosary, and arrangements had been
made for an unusually elaborate celebration, he
cause the church is named IN honor OF the Holy
Rosary. Trustee Volpe engaged band, and
bought lot Of skyrockcts, culored lights, and
other fireworks for use in the evening
Father Schooner engaged two priests to assist
him in celebrating solemn high mass and the
organst and choir had made extra preparations
for the musical part of the service. At 1890
A. NJ. the church was crowded. The parade OF
italian societies, headed by volpe and the band
OF music, marched into the church. There was
delay In beginning the services, at which
everybody wondered. Nolpc started for the
priests house to inquire the cause OF II. lilo
went through a covered passage which connects
the church and the reCtory.
lie met Father Schooner standing near the
double door leading into the church, out OF
sight of the congregation. a moment later the
congregation heard loud and angry voices
Father Schooner was insisting that the expenses
OF the services should be paid or they would not
20 on. NOlpe demonstrated with him, without
effect Nolpe then became indignant. and used
language which Father Schooner describes as
worse than blasphemous. Many people in the
church heard the language. Father Schooner
remained firm In his resolution.
The organ had begun to play and everything
was ready for tho services to begin. Father
Schooner stepped over to the door where he could
S o. seen lrIm thf oTSah a2i ana % gave signal to
This added to the excitement which had been
aroused by the alteration between the rector
anxlousy awaited further developments. The
rector and the trustee talked for few minutes,
frame OF mind. To the surprise and disappont-
ment Of the congregation a low mass was sub
stNuted Tor ths solemn nigh mass whiCh had
been announced,
volpc controlled thr band of music and the
parade. and the paraders marched around the
was lacking in enthusiasm. There was u visible
depression among the paraders
Father Schooner said last night that tho
change in the programme was the result Of
del iberate strike ON his part. He and Trustee
tine. THe Gi trouble @ G started F J last july S % the
priest said The trustees had not paid my
salary; IN fact was getting & scarcely enough TO
was due on II mortgage held by the Hudson
County National Bank. and we had in. the
pew, rents and collections. OF this amount
Sl26 was required for interest. and the trustees
mnde no effort 10 pay me any salary.
Il wrote to Nicar.General O'Connor. He an
swcrcd that the trustees were obliged to pay my
salary and that they =, ought at least e give me
willing to do that he said he would cosr up the
church. He also wrote TO Simon Nolpe that IL
the congregation couldn't, or wouldn't. contrib
would have to be closed. Voipe never came me to
me, to talk about the matter; He called on Sat.
urday, TO arrange about celebrating the feast OF
the Holy Rosary. He then spoke about my
salary, and said he would contribute him.
sclf and get others to contribute. After
that he spoke about the feast day. Ho already
owed S me Tor two te9st n days: one w1s IN octo-
Anthony on June -. He paid me Ss on account
When he spoke of the Holy Rosary feast I
October feast, the balance due for the feast of
~. AHlIoly, ana cash III ADVANCE Tor tne 1tOly
Rosary feast; otherwise we won't have any
feast He promised To pay me on Sunday, but
he didn't. He had fooled me twice before. and
made W, my mind that he wouldn't fool me
again. Thinking that he would come on Mon
day, made all the arrangements for the celc-
hration, engaged two priests and the choir, and
had everything ready.
"Hh didn't come 70 see me at all but marched
up To the church at .e head Of the parade with
brass band. When he found that the services
were not to 20 ON he was very angry, and came
IN to me. | said, 'Nolpe. please have the
kindness to pay Inc what you owe. He wanted
To pay me for yesterdays services, but {
wouldn't start unless lac paid me In full. | told
him IL he could hire brass bands and buy fire
works he ought To have money for the church.
He became very angry, and used words In
Italian that were hlasphemous, The people in
the church heard him. Afterward he became
repentRnt, and came to with some
friends. He paid me the balance for the festival
OF ~. Anthony, and promised that he would
come to the church in the evening and make u
public apo Ogy, but he didn't come. | went yes
terday 70 have him arrested but Justice Macs
refused 10 issue a warrant"
The expenses for the celebration of a festival
In Father SchOener's church amount 10 SlS. IL
Is said that Nolpe paid s242 for the band and
the fireworks. The collection at the service on
Monday netted 03 cents,