The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-12-14
MARRIED AL Last
The Union of the Taber-
nacle and South Bergen
Reformed Church Ac.
complished Yes
terday.
CROWDS ATTEND THE CEREMONY
Mr.. scudder Wants Work = DR..
Grant Gives Advice to the
Congregation.

ship yesterday morning in the church,
Boyd and Bergen avenue, recently ac-
quired, the two hundred odd persons who
were formerly member of the South Ber-
gen Reformed Church. Long before half
past ten the church proper was filed with
I people. The new member had been told
to occupy the side aisles, while the centre
aisles were reserved for the members of
the Tabernacle. The galleries were soon
filled, and then the partitions between the
Sunday school room were raised. 1t wac
not long after that h petitions
between the room above the Sun
day school room and the church were
raised and that room filled. Several aston
shed people who were asked to go into
the Sunday school room or the galleries
and who said they were from the Taber-
| nacle, and had been told to sit in the CEN
tire aisle" were politely and smilingly
told by the ushers that 'sthe T~abernaclers
had pretty well filed not only the centre
| aisle, but the church, The side aisles
were solidly filed with those who were to
be admitted to membership.
A row of palms was placed IN the front
of the pulpit. Down in front was the
| communion table. which was covered with
a white cloth. On the pulpit were seated
the Rev. John L. scudder. in the centre
chair; ON his left, the Rev. T. f. Jones,
Mr. Charles Crosby, a member of the con-
sistory of the South Bergen Reformed
Church, and Mr.. George H. Ware, clerk
of the Tabernacle Church. On Mr.. Scud-
der's right were DR.. Grant and the Rev.
J. Lester Wells. Seated below the pulpit
on either side the communion table We're
| the deacons of the Tabernacle and the
deacons and elders of the South Bergen
Reformed Church. They were Deacons
Samuel Vance, W. J. Hunt, s.. G.. Negus.
Trent, Bunce, Hungerford and Ingersoll,
of the Tabernacle, and Deacons Craig,
Calvin, Hoagland and Rapp and Elders
Griswold, Crosby, Wynkoop and Kelsey
of the South Bergen Reformed Church.
Immediately after the organ voluntary
Mr.. Scudder rose and asked the congrega-
ton to sing Just as I am without one
plea" He then asked DR.. Grant to lead in
the responsive reading. At this time 1t
in the Tabernacle and the Reformed
Church differed. The T~abernaclers re-
manned standing and the Reformed people
sat. Then everyone sat down., and hnally
everyone rose and joined IN the Tespon.
s;ve reading. Mr.. Jones was asked to
pray. In introducing Mr. Jones, Mr.
Scudder said that Mr.. Jones had come all
the way from Philadelphia to be present
| at the service, and that 1t was largely
owing to his efforts that the grant Of
| $4,000 had been given by the Congrega-
tional Church Building Society. without
this grant, said Mr.. Scudder, W would
not be worshipping here today The Key.
J.. Lester Wells read the Scriptures. He
first requested the congregation to unite
in singing THE Shepherds Psalm"
Among the notices that Mr.. Scudder
] 49, -.--~L tvAzf % J. infarnGf IN fhG
consolidated churches. One was that OF
a reception to be given the three pastors
and the members Of both congregations
tomorrow night by the Ladies Aid So
| ciety Of the HILL church. The other was
Of fhe postponed annual meeting of the
| church to be held Thursday night for the
purpose of electing officers for the coming
year.
After singing a hymn the new members
| were admitted to the fellowship OF the
church. First the names of those VINO
read and they came forward to the Conn
munion table. After they had assenteo
| to the covenant of the church the names
of those who Joined BY, letter from the
read. MIR. Scudder said there was not
room for all to come forward 50 he asked
| them to rise in their places as their names
were called. As the first names Were
scattered here and there about the
church. Then as the roll-can went stead
ily on the numbe OF people stann.ng IA "a
been read there was a solid mass of
| people on either side of the church. ana
two. in the gallery standing. MI Scud-
/ der said when all had risen, "Having
| heretofore made public confession of your
faith in Christ you do now voluntarily
| transfer to this church your relation of
| that YOU win walk in the order and. submit
to the discipline Of this church; that you
win seek its peace and welfare and that
you will treat its members Wltn the Ten
/ derness and fidelity b~efitting the disciples
| of Christ and brethren of the same tres
hold. Do you assent to this command?'
When they had assented he continued,
do a~ffectionately receive you into our
| communion" At these words all
| the people seated in the middle aisle and
most of those in the Sunday school room
| and gallery arose. 1t was an inspiring
sight and one that every person present
felt when all Joined in singing the first
verse of the hymn, "Blest be the tie that
binds our hearts in Christian love-" The
right hand OF fellowship, because Of the
number of members, was omitted. 1t con
sfsts in the pastor shaking hands with
the newly admitted members.
Mr.. Scudder said there was not time
| for him to make an address. What time
there was he wished to divide with DIR.
Grant. He wished, however, to give them
a motto to carry through the year. He
thought it right that the united churches
| should start with a communion service.
1t means unanimity. He hoped would
always be one in Christ and one in pur-
pose. The purpo of the churches
should be to catch others for Christ. He
| often felt that he was honored In being
the chaplain of the Fourth Reg ment, but
he felt more highly honored to be chaplain
of this regiment of 915 members. He
said the question he wished to put to each
and every one was that which Christ put
to Peter, Lowest thou me-" He closed
with an earnest appeal to all to be active
in work and to increase the 915 members
to 1000 this year.
DR.. Grant said he wanted to speak first
to those who had never before joined
a church. He wished to give them as a
matto. II Will keep the Lord God in my
heart.y The congregation he urged to
be careful and watchful that no discord
should enter. The first steps had been
taken in unanimity and harmony. This
harmony should be continued In all the
church life. 1t had In a measure been
| due to himself. DR.. Grant said. that the
step had been accompH shed so harmonic
olsly. Though he had not advised the
consistory one way or the other he might
have made discora had he 50 wished. He
had not said before whether he approved
the step He wished to say that ne was
glad of 1t II his people were happy. He
kf1e5F many were sorry I'd have him 90
ana xeeretted ~ necessttys Ne knew hc
1E%4E