New-York tribune., 1896-05-31
TREATMENT OF THEIR MINISTER

...~ cr,rRcu BECAUSE OF ITS ARBITRARY
-." TREATMENT OF THEIR MINISTER
Asbury Park, May 80 CspeciaD.-The suppor,e' "
the Rev Howard T. Widdemer, the feSenr' "
posed pastor of the First Presbyterian Churcn.
whose troubles with the Monmouth I'e'.
have been published in The Tribune from ""'
to time. met in Library Hall last evening anu w
clded on the immediate organization OF co"si.ea
tonal Church In Asbury Park About one nu"-.e.
neople were present and the unan!nlty OF purpos'
was so noticeable that discussion was Hh''eu N''
absolute requirement of the business on hana-
At the opening Of the meeting. Mt Wiuoe"ie g
n,alned the government and tenets OF the None''e'
tonal Church He said that in faith worship a".
doctrine Congregationalism was almost uena.a,
with Presbyterianism: in the matter OF ecces'As'..'
direction however the Congregations! CHu'0a ""
government OF the people. for the people a"N " -.
people Each church regulates IT'S own a'iam',
out reference 10 any other church MT "'1'< 49,,
sad that as he had already presided over TWO 0ON.
gregational churches. he was eligible " ''N'
their pastor. il the people so deslred' , 49,,
Captain Jonathan Mnot. ho,ekeeper' saa uas
the entire congregation. without single o'se"'.
vo,ce had decided that organization was enneH.'
nronar AZ this time Some time was spent T" Wv
revolters in discussing whether they snouia Uee''
consregationalists or Independent Presoy'e's
Mr. Widdemer said that Independent fres0! -
ism was a mlsnomer. for there was 10 SUI" o,
as indenendent Presbyteriansm; they coud DC 49,. So
Congregationaiists. and Oe just as happ''
seemed TO be the prevailing s'ntmeh" o, q
Let's have a Congregational church; "e'e .e,,od
-ororog,,ional minister" Captain Mnot reh'a ~
The Captains suggestion was receN' o,o !,
nlause and. the question being put 10 - 80,
was determined TO organize as Congfesao ~, -
church ON motion OF Assistant Posth@s'e'
To Row a committee OF five. consisting o' ueO. 80,
A. smock Daniel Michigan. Captain MsnTs MsannTnsonted 10
A. Patterson and w r lie LenGes nGGs' willing 10 become
Identified with the new church ~ laa bv a canvass
list OF seventy-five names was secute that ffty
OF the church. and the commute e fsw days
Those who took part In the insgsi mem church. They
members OF the First SyrsbTtery in depOsns
Mr. Widdemer from the pastorate OF thei nsys we re.
acted arbitrarily and unjustly, ana . has lasted
mained loyal to him in the isht, s,'@v Of The men,
brs 5er oyer % n, Sarh sought to have M rs
nstated but the Presbytery ignored m ,e oceu;y the
and refused ed to allow M 6e then prsSasss
upon Mr. Widdemer TO preach every ~, salary for
Opera House. and they have p;ui N, Ns,srvices have
nearly year: These Independent
Finding that they coud not have the pastor
desired. the congregation OF the ecdsd TO sell ths
valuable church property N rS TPresbytery
is new and cost over $4,000 Ihe re icopr Q,
thancery for a restraining order. The case
At last nights melting It was stated sa eorpors.s
ownership OF the church. toward tnee,pSuted tne The
which many OF the d!ssenters had co nower to take
th nroperty away was from the q the s
Presbyterian Church. II the churcn, The equivalent
directed by the Gongregat9h OH st belong to tho
Presbyterian Church.