The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-05-28

in this new venture is marred by the
departure of my friend, its hon4Ted or, ree- nsi
cipate the happiest results for the
church.
I'm the early spring of the year the
ship. The new st. Johns is quite large
and picturesque building, and although
heavy debt has been incurred In us erec-
wise management there should be a
ST. MARKS soIgEee GHHRGAi a1,SpF REpBsE1 CITY
There have been two consecratlons OF
churches this year. The first was at
Mt. Arlington. on Lake q, Hopssteonng; at n 80
Church, Jersey City, was consecrated by
me, the Bishop. CT Delaware preaching
the sermon. Fourteen years ago the
vices in hired building which had been
at one time occupied by the former St
Marks Church, in Jersey City, but which
passed into the possession or occupancy
of a Reformed Episcopal congregation,
which in turn passed into. decay. AFTER
known as ST. Marks. was built and
occupied. rectory and parish build
ing, both adjoining the church, We're also
erable, or manageable, debt. was INCURRED
in securing all these. l should like to
tell of the kindly and generous layman,
who by his gift of $l5,000 made the con-
secration possible. 1t is his delfcacy,
not mine, which forbids
ST. JOHNS, JERSEY CITY, EN-
.'To this record | must add the enlarge.
ment of St. Johns Church, Jersey City
Heights, which first .effecting change
hold its real estate in fee simple, has
added largely by lengthening its nave,
not only to the capacity of the buildtng htit e
its beauty also. The additional length
securing a harmony of interior proper
Which vVfis now el justifles what it must be sup
posed was the original design OF the arch
tect
James Church, Upper Montclair; Grace
Church, Town of Union, all of which
were missions two, or three years ago,
Grace Church, Union Hill, under its
first rector, already numbers more. than
two hundred and twenty communicants
and is possessed of a rectory adjoining
the Church itself.
The attractive stone church at Upper
Montclair is more than filed and must
rector is about to. leave for. Europe 70
take up a charge in one of the cities OF
- CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS.
The two hospitals of the diocese are
doing well. st. Barnahas in Newark
ter through accumulated indebtednes IS
causing sudden and sharp anxiety to its
many friends. Nearly $4,000 We're given ei
must acknowledge once more a debt OF
gratitude to DIR. Archibald Mercer, by
lars was raised at. critical time; also
to the late Mr.. John Ballantine for his
generous and timely gift Of s $9 @ @Ooo and and
tributed the president of the ladies Guild
= JERsEY CITY INsTITUT5oNs.
Christ Hospital in Jersey. City, as
am Informed by those directly concerned
in its management, has suffered from no
TPends stand by rs oppay
st. Katharine's Home in Jersey City
continues quietly to do its work 50 like
that of the dear master who came to call
not the righteous but sinners to repent
ance. Three of the poor girls, almost chill
dren, were. confirmed by me this. present
now that frequent enquiries made by me
of those who following up the career
Of Sd the wra abs to er 5SppR RH be had a
gret my ministrations to the benefciar-
es OF S fhe IN tnS Sstv a
feeling of thankfulness that opportunity
had been. afforded me in "a life SO re-
M his home n Jersey cEfy 70
9 'e|'-' CHURCH GROWnd.
The close of the fifteenth year of my
episcopate invites one or two reflections
which I trust may not be deemed map
propriate. Looking back over this stretch
growth there is very much to inspire
courage and to be grateful for In these
fifteen years the number of our clergy
has increased from seventy six to one
hundred and eleven; of actually existing
parishes and missions from siXty-four to
ninety,-two. The parochial eontr;hutions
have been more than doubled. Sixteen
of our church buildings have been en-
larged, beautfied and otherwise improv-
ed. Twenty-nine new churches have been
erected and of these twenty are occu-
pied by newly gathered congregations.
Meanwhile during the decade and half
the increase of Communicates has been
from less than eight to more than
Statistics like these are. of course
simple facts and cannot be eontrayenedi :
Dental value from their relation to
others. Out of such relations frequently
arise questions of much interest and such
an one l have now to propose to you.
WHOSE FAULT is THIS?
Is our diocese spiritually stronger from
its material increase in these years and
does the measure and proportion Of the
one indicate those of the other? If this
be answered affimat.vely why does the
cause Of missions here at at home egeit
1900 commandments Of today do little
within for the cause of church extension
than did the less than 5000 :, Of Off fifteen
people are selfish, taken up with their
own local interests without solieitude
for others who are placed religiously
A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
T. who knew you brethren, would repel
and resent such an imputation If made
by one who not knowing affected to
Judge you. Is it then that the work is
not well planned, wse1y ly,, organized do or
of the problem itself negative the
thought. Our zeal is doing the work
which is set us to do The question
which I have profounded then is one
which concerns US nearly and it is
worthy of your profound consideration
here and at home. l, who am in closer
relations with the clergy than is possible
with many bishops, whose jurisdictions
cover far larger areas of territory, can
testify to the spirit of self-Sacrifice and
zeal which is characteristic of Their life
and work, ard / have faith in our people
also and to both 1 present the case for
serious consideration.
CONVENTION NUTS TO CRACK.
There will come before you at this
convention a review of the canon which
sets forth the qualification of voters and
of parish officers. Let me as one who
has had practical and sometimes painful
experience of certain antiquities in the
requirements which I think are the only
ones which need to be made clear and
definite. One is involved in the question
of what constitutes "a worshipper" in
the sense intended by the canon. The
other and still more difficult question is
especially in churches which are partly
free and which in part have rented
pews. Do plate collections alone satisfy
the requirement? If SO, how can a. re-
qurement be properly imposed, the non
fulfillment of which involves penalties
of necessity impossible?'
he ad