The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-26
SM0qHBRING SCANDAL
Charges Against Rev. 8. D.
Decker of Newark nthe
Methodist Conference.
4 STAR CHAMBER COMMITTEE
Accusations Then Withdrawn
and the Minister Prompt-
Y " Resigns.
Mr.. sgERLrNe,s LITTLR SCRAP
Church Politics Takes Up No Small
Share Of the s~ession-sta-
tistics and Prayer.
Mr.. sgERLlNe's LITTLR SCRAP

:
NEWARK, March 26, 1Ss6.--The rever-
end brethren composing the NeTark
Methodist Conference, which began its.
annual weeks work yesterday m st.
Paurs- Church here, had plenty of time
yesterday afternoon to get together in
twos and threes and blocks of five TO gos-s
sip, and a nice clash" as 9 Scotchwoman;
would say, they raised in the anterooms.
True, there was q statistical session in
progress; but just as soon as each broth
er had handed in his printed slip show
ing the amount of his collections for min-
isterial support. educational and mission
purposes, not forgetting the easff-with II,
he skipped into the anterooms to hear
and tell new things. as did the Athenians
of old when st. Pau dropped in their
midst.
The gossip in these rooms was not con-
fined to religious subjects. If any unso-
phisticated being thinks that dickers and
deals, moves and countermoyes, plots
counterplots are attributes of a political
convention only he is AVA of. Methodist
parsons can give, political bosses cards
and spades and Peatsi them at their own
game. An instance of this was seen last
year in Tottsnytlie.e and renewed yester-i
day in a fight tee8rsyeHt = certain Wor-
my gentleman LE0m-IedcQllS II NiiS1FT
urership Of the Conference Beard sof
Stewards. OF course it was q Jersey City
affair and Mr.. Samuel Sterling, of He'd
ding Church. and Mr.. H A. Chamber
lain, of Tr5nSty, were the principals.
It is an old quarrel has some inter-
est attached to it. Many years ago Mr..
Sterling was the most prominent man in
Trinity; Church which he represented
year by year not only as a delegate. hut
held high oaces In the gift of the con-
vention, and. fulfilled the duties of these
positions with honor to himself and the
church at large. U~nfortunateiy. troubles
erose in Trinity Church. which ~cu9minated
in Mr.. Sterling asking for bis Nletter, y
4. e. permission to .resign from church
membership in that place. and Joining.
thes congregation ct Hedd{pE Church
whore As Is today. His enenies In Trim
fcrclns sE him 1 oa. Of s' shis Church. but raised
ihis ss-y NJ. sss ssilss had Tssssssss
delegate from Heading Church. coaid ne
be elected to = position In the conference
of which he was not a member
Illuminated over that question: and finally
held tina he could not, and sas "a result
MT: Sterling was not pa rs s Gf ate y rds
last year. In the meantime some OF ms
friends IN the church. and he has a great
e ea@0s Ss6om th aest pleased Sas s'e provfded the
course, member Of the Methodist
laue Church hn governing MINI Il that. and they cosz
tended that as Mr.. Sterling & been q
faithful servant in days OF old ne should
reap the reward Of such services ana pc
AS soon as Mr.. Chamberlain. 10y stew;
ard from Trinity, n his friends. heard
for the treasurership at the electforEer
oficefs at the meeting Of The stewards
r. no,}yt estsrday "a aff dsa : i,t 5Ies so, hMt'i iosl
bying. The election was held behind
closed doors. In the chapel beyond sat
rent On the xridiron. Presently Mf. Cham
berlain came out with his face oeeked
-fous friend, ethe Chamberlain-Sterling
tight is at an end The ballots showed &
ste 3 against Sterling ind the HH.,,i paatsi
enc arm e sss5 81 !l;;;3 9ss SO SO j EsatlsPsn Joy
All this 'Mhasss asseratary podds seated
ing the ssA reli s. g .sSslsss sfa sash alais,
up and presented hts collections. Besides
sident Of Drew Theological Senrnary,
jh1s cabinet q few blocks away defiberat-
3nE on grave questions soon E~0scoHeao on
the hoer of the conference.
At half-past. three o'clock the statisfi-
cal session came to an end, and many g
sigh Of relief went up az the seeretary
shut up his book with a. gathered
up the money and marched on leaXfng
the field to the Conference Life 1nsur-
anee Meeting.
Late In the afternoon the Life AssBr-
ance Association elected these Officers Tor
aseT:-Rev. l.. r. Dunn. sPresident Rev.
9. r. Bryan, Wce-President. 3 Il
Morrow, Secretary and Treasury; Direc<
kors, Rev. j. 3. Faulks. e. 8 WQodruM.
Joshua Mead, r. B. Collins, Charles
Mason. L. r. Dunn, G. r EckMan.
ID. VAN and A. B. Lockwood An adj
1ournment was then taken until eight
O'clock, when the church was crowded
fa hear the annua meeting Of the Cen
ftenary Fund ard Preachers ~ Society
AS President of this society, H4ysxBauiel
Halleren. Of Jersey City. said Ia his open,
.dng address that the society desired to
raise 500, 600 for the endoWmen4s3und. Up
10 the present 81, 81 so Of that SUM had
Treasurer. read his acc1unts re-
<eetpts, etc.,and Rev. G. w. Miller. D.B..
Of New York, made ar excellent address
% me need Of establishing such n fund.
T0DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.