New-York tribune., 1896-01-10
A PATRIOTIC PASTOR.
THE ARMENIAN QUESTION DIVIDES
HACKENsACK CHURCH MEETING

lHE MINISTER REFLECTED on ENGLAND AND 4
i'i"iisH MEMBER DEFENDED HER IN
FRAYER-sEvERAI. TILTs AND MIS-
UNDERSTANDING FOLLOW
hacKensack. Jan. ,Specan-The week Of PRAYER
""s s'lctv observed in Hackensack all the
churches holding special services that are largalv
a''e''ued ov people who display much fervor in
maintaining an interest in the topics set down for
each evening The subject for snecal nr,vars ,oa,
evening was The Nations of the Earth" and tb,.
ihcidehtaiy led to an unusual and unlocked for re-
srIt III the First Reformed Church congregation
Inc meeting was held IN the large lecture-room
"nch was fiied with worshppers who paid close
attention 10 the opening remarks OF H. W ColIing
WOOD the leader Of the evening Mr. Colnrwooa
is fluent and pleasing taker and when he ga,
Gown me people felt that the hour would be one of
spiritual profit
Ihis was all changed by the time they were dis
missed at the close Of the evening owing to what
Is said TO have been a misnerpret aton Of remarks
by {. IL. Harris, Newly broker Nr Harris
was TO lead the meeting tonight when the subject
was 10 be Foreign Missions" In making an
nouncement OF this fact Mr.. Harris said he wished
the meeting would be. as much as possible a
prayer meeting.
The Rev. Herman Vandcrwart the pastor. re
marked that "our meetings are always prayer
meetings" and after further comment by Mr.
Harris the pastor repeated the remark. Mr.. Harris
explained that he had attended a meeting of the
boaru OF Missions. and the request made by
the Hoard that the Thursday evening meetings
shouId be devoted more particularly 10 prayer Ihe
tteV Mt. anderwart took exception to the reera-
ton by Mr.: Harris. which he looked upon as per
sonal to himself Both gentlemen had been
phatlc in incir statements, but when the preacher
made this declaration Mr. Harris was clearly sur
prised He declared that he had no intention OF e.
Meeting upon the pastor and meant no offence. bu,
as the matter had assumed such a shape he would
decline to preside al the Thursday evening meet
ing. The Rev. Mr.. NanderWart thereupon
nounced thai he would lead.
The position assumed by the preacher is sup
posed 10 have been in measure influenced by the
preceding exercises which related TO the Armenian
question. The Rev. Mr.. NanGerwart IL a man of
positive convictions. OF which is that England
is actuated by cowardice in not interfering 10 stop
derwart arragned England warmly this score
William Furby, who is Englshman. followed
the pIeache! in prayer that was vigorous de-
fence of the policy Of his mother country. dwelling
especially upon that nations protection of Ameri-
can missionaries in all parts OF the world ana !or
its defence Of Christianity at all times.
Not satisfied with their treatment of the subject
In prayer the pastor and M Nurhy continued IN
subsequent remarks. the patriotic preacher d.
nouncng England. and the son Of Britain cort' nd
ing that the duty of the United States Government
70 step in was greater than that Of England lie
insisted that he true 10 his adopted country,
but ir this he felt that Engani was right
This long discussion. which was foreign to the
purpose of the meeting. is supposed to nave .el 10
the remark by Mr.. Harris about connn.ng thls
evenings exercises TO prayer. and agiiat!ng thc
minister. who accepted it reflection upon him
for mis- tilt with Mr. Furby.