New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-18


LIKE Goals OF FIRE UPON THE HEADS
OF THE CONGREGATION.
The Rev. Montgomery Hunt Throop. Of Jer-
sey City. will not be generally blamed for en-
teraning the desire that st. Matthew's Church
should pay him the S56S % it owes him. Per-
haps even the members Of st. Matthew'S do
not bsm him. His desire is quite comprehen-
sbe to them. but. they say. there is no money
with which to pay him. Therefore. as told In
yesterdays Tribune, the Rev. Mr.. Throop has
sued his parlshioners for the sum Of S2O,OOO.
OF this sum S56S 81 is for back salary. and
SO 49, % Is for damages for and tear
to feelings worry, loss OF sleep and so Mr.
Throop says, the breaking Of n life contract
To put it in another way. the Rev. Mr.. Throop
Is suing for a divorce from the church wit9
alimony The church. or part of II, at least.
does not object to the divorce. bur it draws
the line at alimony. just as it has already drawn
it at salary.
St. Matthew's Protestant Episcopal Church
which stands in Sussex-st.. near the river. was
at one time one of the most influential religious
bodies in Jersey City. But Cor several years
it has been running down, until. Mr. Throop
saws. at the time he became its rector. more
than two years ago, its creditors numbered
thirtv-two and its debts amounted to S2.Oo0
While there were thirty-two creditors two years
and a half ago there were only ten worshppers
in ST. Matthew'S Church last Sunday. Whether
any Of these worshippers were creditors or not
does not appear.
To a Tribune reporter yesterday afternoon
Mr. Throop said that the situation OF 81. Mat
thews Church was hopeless. THE locality Is
being filled up Ivy people who do not speak
the English language" he said There are
Poles Scandnavians and few Gernans anu
those who do speak English are Roman Catho-
lies"
II was evident that in the mind of the rector
II was impossible for good Episcopalians 10
worship In the midst of such heather. during
my short rectorship" he said, "lio famileS
have moved further away from the church
do any members of st. Matthews Church
own property near the church building IN
quired the reporter
The Rev. Mr.. Throop looked thoughtfully out
of the window into the landscape of the area
way and rubbed his shaver chin meditatively
for a moment II believe they do he SAID at
length
1T would injure the value of that properly Il
St Matthew's Church were to seek another ioca-
tion wouldn't it?" ventured the reporter.
81 should think 1t would" said Mr. Throop
can be maintained there except by cohs'u"'''
eating I'D the property Of the church
The Rev Mr. Throop furthermore said thal
whom he became rector of the church IN feDru-
arv 1894 at a salary of 81, 900 year, which, De
- known was only half Of what he had received
at his last rectorship in Chicago, IL was ul,ue
stood that he to be preleIreu cieN' ~
From subsequent occurrences the NV. AZ, ~,
Tbroon douhtless thinks that his parish under
stood that the terms of their agreement nea.i.
that they were to prefer to owe MIN ia.nci ' no..
ANYBODY else At any rate AFTER me ms t IVA
months he says his parish began anu ''"''''O
to owe him with great regularity; .o.o,,ort
Then MIR. Throop went on to make statement
that tends to put the church ne t,neye ears"
he said st Matthews Church mas ,oo steau nay
fallen of in revenue at the rate OF sooo go
until the first year OF my as penhemera
gained 800 l knew my success was epiie.i,ea"
ana told Bishop Starkey So but at MS urging
consented to remain 49,, f,or tho ma =
About the middle OF last May Az eao ,'I MA
rishioners had been for more than year P,ac
ticailv reducing their rector's salary by laiiihs
to nav it, they asked him to accept re1uct' Oh
Of salary or resign. ne ~ the standing com
mittee of the diocese to decide whether ne
sbould resign or accept a reduction OF salai Vi
whether the church should remove TO pldce
,.hora success was possible. This, however, was
NOT done and the rector next appointed an nouI
for a conference with the members OF the 'es.S
| ",vhereupon" says Mr.. Throop, app!leu " III,
49,, e. have my pastoral relations severed
and damages awarded me for failure to Keep
The Rev Mr. Throop says he doesn't want the
money he asks for. In case it Is awarded MN III
he win heap il and several bushels OF Goals or
| e. o,' tho heads OF the church What he wants
to do is to prove that vestrymen cant vlolate
| ,b.tr nhlications TO their rector with impunlty.
| 10 ho y,ins his suit he will give to the vestry
| so 131 G5 to help them pay him the SooS 80
| salary they owe nm. ..,o, ,,,ho
| desire r. get rid OF the Rev Mr. Throop.
| mir Throop is pigheaded." he said to the re-
ortar yesterday He thinks he is abused. but
we don't agree with him. We have made appn-
| cation for his removal. but the Bishop IS away
and can't act on the matter for month. sup
| nose Mr.. Throop will continue to preach until ne
| is removed. don't see how the Bishop can ran
| n remove a man who has brought suit against
| his church We've no money we can pay MN
| With The only way Is to mortgage the cnurch.
| Nr Throop knows that. so 1 suppose he Will con-
| tinue TO breach to empty seats until the bishop
| removes him. Go and see MIN. lie " u" ''u
| all about It,. 80 49,. +, .,..,s,,,,,
| What the Bishop will do is what Is exercising
| both the vestrymen and the Rev Mr.. Ihroop
|