The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-12-31
FBICKE IGNORES IT.
Rum Selling Hoboken Pas.
tor Does Not Obey the
Chassis Subpoena.
STATES HIS POSITION
Reformed Ministers Decide to Send
Him Another summons
Charges Stated.

Rev. Julius Feicke of Hoboken, who
thinks it more profitable to sell beer than
to preach the everlasting Gospel, did
not appear at the South Bergen Chassis
yesterday afternoon in response to a
subpoena commanding TO explain his
position before his brethren of the Chassis.
Rev. DR.. Cornelius Brett, Rev. r. K.
Wick, Rev. w. D.. Grant, Rev. w Chsr.
Rev. DR.. Van C1eef, Rev. GOttlieb An
dreae, and others of the Chassis, met in
the parlors of the Wayne Street Church
yesterday afternoon and after waiting an
hour and no Pastor Fiecrse, they decided
to cite him once more to appear. Under
the constitution of the Dutch Reformed
Church an accused minister who fails to
respond at the first summons must be
cited a second time. If he refused to
obey the citation the Chassis may try
him in his absence.
The meeting was private, but at its
ciose Rev. R. K. Wick, the secretary,
cautiously made this statement to the
newspaper men,
The chief business transacted outside
of the discussion of the case was the
ordering of a second served
upon Mr.. Feicke to present himself be-
| fore the Chassis for trial on January ~.
Mr.. Feicke ignored the previous
We want is emphasized that the Reform
ed Church is Jealous not only of the
Church, but of the liberty of its mem
bers, and that, for this reason, all the
proceedings in the case have been marked
by a strict observance of the rules of the
Church. Every opportunity has been
given to the accused clergyman to defend
himself. There are two charges pending
against him. In the first he is accused
of a faithless desertion of the ministry,
of having ~relinquished his sacred eall,
ing without any valid reason. The second
| charge is thai he is engaged in a scan
daloIs traffic. 1t is specified in this
charge that he is operating a saloon at
Fifth and Garden streets, Hoboken; that
he has permitted his wife and minor
children to sell liquor; that he IS him
self selling liquor and has recelVea d
license, and that he kept. open on sun,
day. December 8, in violation OF the CIVIL
sAThe charges were drawn up on Deem
Der 9 by a special committee CONSISTING
of four clergymen and two elders, Prior
to the meeting of December 8 a letter was
received from Mr.. Feicke requesting thaI
his name be dropped. The letter caused
a spirited debate. Some members of the
Chassis were in favor of granting MI.
Feicke's request, but it was proved 70
request, which was taken to be in the
nature eff a resignation, could not be
complied with by the Chassis under the
| constitution of the church. The rules OF
the Chassis do not admit of any memper
retiring voluntarily without cause. a
Reformed clergyman can be remoye9
after trial or his name can be dropped
at his DEATH, but there Is no provision
for retirement such as is proposed by
Mr.. Feicke. The entire Chassis favored
and stin favor a trial. If Mr.. Eelcke per.
sists in his refusal to appear he can pc
expelled" Mr.. Wick said that Mr.. Felck
sent this letter to the Classis on Decem-
Der 49, :,
.sIn response to the placed IN
my hands this day to appear on the zaq
day of December to justify. the step l
| have taken, I would herewith reply thar
Will neither answer this nor a second
which according to the con.
st;tution [ must receive, but without
hesitation l will continue my business,
while l request you to drop my name
from the dist of clergymen elongln 70
the South Chassis of Bergen..I, at the
same time, promise that | will continue
to lead the life of a Christian IN every
way, a life of which no clergyman need
In the meantime Mr.. Feicke continues
dispensing drinks to the thirsty OF Ho-
boken. He is a good natured, pleasant
oughly believes that he is right in his
why the Chassis makes such a fuss
I cannot make OUT he. said YESTERDAY.
any resignation is in their hands; why
don't they accept it and there's an end
not been a success to me-. | am going
to run this business scientifically at
fine time mixing a corpse revlver, IN
a proper fashion and in accordance WIN
the law, and thereby gain what could
not do in the pulpit, a livelihood tor my