New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-15
SECRET CHURCH TRIAL.
MORE ASBURY PARK PRESBYTERIANs
EXAMINED BY THE COMMITTEE.
AMONG THEM ARE TWO TRUSTEES ACCUSED OF
CoNsPIRING TO SELL. THE CHURCH AND Es-

AMONG THEM ARE TWO TRUSTEES ACCUSED OF
CoNsPIRING TO SELL THE CHURCH AND Es-
TABILsH AN INDEPENDENT SOCIETY.
Asbury Park, Feb H-The between the Mon
mouth Presbytery and the First presbyterian
Church, of this place. goes merrily on. Inc COM
mittee appointed by the Presbytery held an all
day session in the lecture-room Of the church to-
day behind closed DOORS and cited more than thirty
recacitrant members of the church TO appear peore
them The original members OF the committee
present were the Rev. B. s. Everett OF Jamesours'
clerk; the Rev. Or. Van Dyke OF Cranoury: the
Rev. Dr. A. H. Dashies, of Lakewood; Ell Baird,
Of Lakewood; James S;een. of Eatontown, and the
Rev Maitland Alexander, of Long Branch. This
body was appointed by the Monmouth Presoytery
with power to try the rebellious members Oh uie
church upon charges growing out OF their support Oh
the recently deposed pastor, the Rev. Howard !,
Widdemer The many hearings that have been heid
since the committee formed ana the oit'ei-
ness with which the war has been waged on poth
sides has made the trial of the witnesses unusually
interesting, and is treated by them as farce Inc
members of the Presbytery, however zane ~
seriously and to insure a fair and thorough triai
the Presbytery. at recent meeting IN south AM
hoy increased the membership OF the committee oy
adding the following, all Of whom We're present d
the session held this afternoon: The Rev. Dr. Cum
nngham Of Point Pleasant; the Rev. Dr. lyacA
Of H,ghtstown and Elder William I. SMACK OF
Hghtstown.
The committee worked to-day behind closeu
doors because as Dr. Young said, tne DOCK Vi
dIsciplne requires that the meetings for CONFER
once shall be held with closed doors prior 10 tne
giving of charges and specifications. ne i,eN
Maitland Alexander, OF Long Branch auieu ma
'.when the time comes, March next the uo"is
will be omen wide enough fol all ,,
out of the thirty odd members OF the chuie "
cited to appear to-day. the committee "ds on.y
able to hear eleven Nine Of these were c0ninui..,
cants and two, Benjamin Albertson ana riifaln
& Julln were trustees OF the churcn, pu' no.
communicates. The charges upon whcn they "eIe
tried were that they had entered into a con-
splracy to sell the church property over me heaus
further that 1t their intention 10 estapnsi
ard T WiGdemer to become the pastor Ine Two
trustees Albertson and Juliff, were the only ones
OF those tried to-day upon wnom Formidable papers
embracing these charges were served
After the hearing the Rev. b. 5. Everett cierk OF
the committee. emerged from the star chamber
md read another long list Of citations 10 those as
scmbcd in the body Of the church requiring theI
10 appear at the church on March 2 Many or those
cited we're women. One of the latter Mrs:
pegan wife of the cashier OF the FIRST National
Bank jumped up and exclaimed: 49,,
30 my, That is not right. Why can't nave
hearing now? This Keeping me in suspense Is all
wrong I've done nothing. I'll go right out, -,
The guilty flee when no man pursueth, Ut Ever
eft replied.