The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-27
ELDERS AT WAR.
Trouble in South Bergen
Reformed Church Over
Finances.
ELDER BERGEN WANTS MEDICATION
Lively Meeting Of the Consistory
and an Appeal to Be Made
to the Chassis.
BERGEN WANTS MEDICATION

The congregation of the South Bergen
Reformed Church is divided, and unless
there is a material change in the condi-
ton of things Pastor William +. Grant
and the Consistory will find it a hercu-l
lean task to wipe out the heavy debt
by which the church is now encountered.
The trouble IN the congregation began
when the handsome new edifice was
completed, and the bills for work on the
same began to pour in on the Building
Committee and the Consistory. 1t is COM
mon gossip in the district in which the
church is located hat when the new
church was decided upon and the con-
tract awarded, the not over bright a
cial outlook dismayed a number of mem
bers of the congregation who OPP
posed the erection of the new
church; but Pastor Grant, it is.
said, declared that the new edifice
would be erected on faith. he believing
hat the new quarters, together with the
growth of the district. would increase
the membership to UGH an extent that
all financial obligations would be easily
met.
BUILDING COMMENCED.
When the congregation finally decid-
ed to erect the new edifice the Consists
DRY took charge of the matter and a
Building Committee, with Elder Bergen
as Chairman, was appointed. Mr.. Ber-
gen has a reputation as a careful BUSH
ness man, and in appointing him chair
mar the Consistory thought at the time
that it had placed the right man in
the right place. He devoted all his spare
time to the work assigned him, and all
bills which came to him were carefully
examined. His careful methods delayed
the payment of the bills, and at first
he was commended by his colleagues
on the committee and the congregation
for his p~ainstaking methods.
GOSSIPS BUSY.
After the church was completed, how
ever, some one-no one seems to know
just who-put in circulation a rumor
that Elder Bergen was Illegally delay.
ing the ym of the bills. 1t was
not long before these rumors reached the
ears Of the elder. His first step was TO
but this body met the demand with the
doubtful Christian act Of removing him
from the Building Committee. There
threatened to make things warm for
certain people at the first possible oppor-
tunity; Il He made good his threat h atat aD
April 8.
ing become known that Elder Bergen
would be on hand. Pastor w. D. Grant
called the meeting to order and offered
called for nominations For chairman and
Elder Crosby was dominated Other
promptly declared Nj. Crosby elected.
Crosby took a seat on the platform,
and the pastor took the seat next to
him.
The financial statement of the church
was called for ana read. Tnen hiidef
Bergen arose and said he had a state
ment to make. The elder was greeted
with a storm of Kisses, and as he pro-
ceeded to make his statement his voice
Elder Long, who is also Superintend-
emf of the Sunday School, jumped up
from his seat and demanded that Elder
Bergen be given a hearing. Pastor
Grant, it is alleged. thereupon nudged
Elder Long was promptly declared 'out
of order" Elder Bergen again arose
and for the second time attempted to
greeted with a storm of misses. Pastor
Grant rushe excitedly out of the church
and returned in a few moments with q
Clothes. whether It was because Of the
presence of the policemen or the dis
gust of Elder Bergen is not known, but
the ~squabbling ceased and the meet
ing was adjourned.
MR.. BERGEN INDIGNANT.
Elder Bergen declares that he will
and it is said that the matter will be
brought up at the next meeting of the
South Bergen Chassis of the Reformed
Church. Elder Long, who worked with
Elder Bergen on the Building Commit
tee. declares that the latter has been
wronged, and that he (Mr. Bergen) can
every cent received by the committee
was applied. He further declares that
the charges made against Elder Bergen
are absolutely without foundation. It
is said that the church borrowed $751; G3
from a local banking institution to CONF
plete the new edihce. and that it car
ries a floating debt of $1,000 besides.