The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-12-28
JERSEY CITY IN IT
Presbyterlans Here Attempt
to Unwind the Widde-
mer Tangle.
AN APPEAL TO ALL THE CHURCHES
Monmouth Presbytery Issues Cita-
tions 10 Defiant Church Mem
bers-Dead Lock.
AN APPEAL TO ALL THE CHURCHES

A few well meaning members Of the
Presbyterian Church in Jersey City
have started a movement to assist Fas-
tor Howard T. WIdderner. who was re-
| Gently deposed by the Monmouth Pres
bYtery from the pastorate of the First
Presbyterian Church in Asbury Park.
Certain charges were made against Mr..
Widdemcr and the congregation took
| sides about them. Those who were
friendly to Mr.. Wiudemer refused to
obey the mandate of the Prcsbytery
relative to the payment of the pastors
! salary and an appeal was made to the
| Court of Chancery for an injunction.
In the meantime the friends of Mr..
Widdemer driven out of the church
hired Educational Hall and latterly the
Opera House in Asbury Park for "un-
UNCONVENTIONAL services" as they were
called. and now Senator Bradley, the
Pooh Bah Of Asbury Park. has offered
to Mr.. Widdemer the use of Library
Hall for these Independent Presbyte-
rian followers of Mr.. Widdemer.
The plan proposed by the Jersey City
sympathizers with the outcasts is TO
| send a sort of religious round robin to
all the churches within the jurisdiction
of the Synod of New Jersey to test the
ODlIllOnS Oh the AitlflDGIS, anu II ~
majority side with Nj. Widdemer. then
The appeal will be made to the Synod
| of the United States TO direct the New
Jersey Synod to ~reinstate the deposed
pastor
we do. not wish to c~riticise the sy-
lod,s action said a prominent olp,p pes-
| speaking to a News reporter yesterday
about the proposed acIlon. rnut we
Road 0nT pn info UaTA roo mICn con-
sidered in the Synod's action, and when
a large number OF Presbyterians go out
pastor it seems to me that minister
cannot be as bad as he is represented.
Anyhow. a little Christian charity. for
displayed here, and our movement can
do no harm but ma result, as we pray
i Will in the return y 1T 20 ad the PresDyte-
Yesterday the committee OF seven. re-
Gently appointed by the Monmouth Pres
bytery. with delegated powers of the
P~resbytery itself. held court in the lee
ture room of the First Presbyterian
Church. Last week citations were served
on about a dozen members of the church.
including the elders. commanding them
to appear and answer to charges which
would be preferred against them. When
the committee assembled in the church
yesterday Stated Clerk Everett read the
list of those subpoenaed. Elders Srnock,
Michigan and Leroy appeared IN answer
to citations.
On motion of the Kew. Or. van Dyhe,
the clerk read the charges and specih-
cations. which set forth that the accused
were guilty of conduct unbecomipg Chris
tians. that through their support of Mr..
Widdemer they had fomented dissensions
in the congregation. and a special charge
was also made against them as elders
that they had broken a solemn promise
harmony and obedience. Elder Smock
interposed written objections that the
committee was prejudiced and that iuris-
diction to begin the present proceedings
rested exclusively with the First Presley
terrain Church. The objections were over
ruled, and it was decided to postpone
the trial until next Monday morning, at
which time certain members of the con-
%gregation other than the elders will also
be compelled to appear for trial.