The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-11-23
TABERNACLE NO, z,
Mr.. Scudder Annexes the
South Bergen
Church.
OUT or THE REFORMED COMMUNION
Many of the Members Will
Join the Congregational
Church.
$4,000 ALREADY RAISED.
Meetings Will Be Held Tonight
and Wednesday to Decide
On Details.
$4,000 ALREADY RAISED

At the morning and evening services
in the Tabernacle, yesterday, the Rev,
John l.. Scudder read two calls, one for
meeting of the Tabernacle Society, the
other for a meeting of the Tabernacle
Church, to be held this evening in the
lecture room of the church, ITO consider
the proposed consolidation of the Tab
ernacle and the South Bergen Reformed
Church" The Rev. w. D. Grant, pastor
of the South Bergen Reformed Church,
was in Asbury Park yesterday, preach
Ing for the Rev. Frank Mingins, who ex-
changed with him. At the conclusion of
the mornings service Mr.. Mingins read
the resignation of Mr.. Grant as pastor
of the church and call for meeting
of the church, to be held next Wednes-
day night, to consider the resignation
and also the proposed consolidation with
the Tabernacle. Both the resignation and
the call surprised almost the entire con-
gregation.
MIR. Grants resignation reads thus
To the Consistory and Members of the
South Bergen Reformed Church. Jer-
peace:-
Dear Brethren-Since I accepted your
call, now nearly eight years ago, TO serve
you in the gospel of Christ, l have never
had reason TO suspect that 1 have made
mistake in doing so. The providence
OF God then made 1t clear to me that
i should come at your call. The prcVi-
dence of God now makes it just as clear
that should return your call and with
Il offer my resignation as your pastor
This course has been made the more
clear in view of changes which may
take place in your church organization
IN the near future, and which, were
there no other reasons, would necessi-
tate this action on my part. 1t is my
earnest wish and hope that the Con-
sistory unite with me in my request to
the South Chassis Of Bergen for the dis
solution of the pastoral relation, to take
effect December l, 1896
Most sincerely yours,
WILLIAM D. GRANT.
:, VIXEN the resignation had been read
ar. George M. Craig, a member of
the church, ascended the platform
and made frank statement of the con-
dition of the South Bergen Reformed
Church. His statement still further sur
prised the congregation. The minister
and Consistory of Reformed Church
have the right and generally use the
right of transacting all business of the
church without telling the congregation
anything about their actions. Mr. Craig
told dSthem what few of them knew that
year and a half ago the church building
had been sold at Sheriff's sale and had
been bought by Mr.. Craig. The church
has owed money for many things and
notes have been renewed again and again.
A few months ago the creditors refused
to again renew the notes and demanded
their money. On Saturday next, Novem-
Der 2S, 5000 falls due; on Monday, Novem-
ber go another $500 is due Neither sum
ho aat
Mr. Craig told the congregation, the
church must be sold out and closed. He
said there was an alternative. 1t was
probable that the church might be con-
solidated with the Tabernacle. The Tab
ernacle win give $1,000 and withSit will
wipe out the blanket mortgage owned by
David Henry. The Bee Hive Bank. owns
further mortgage of SIS, ,Os0 at per cent.
The Consistory of the Reformed Church
had been asked four months ago for
help and had refused It. Mr.. Craig seem
ed very nervous while making these state
ments and before he had concluded he
broke down completely and cried At
this point the members of the congrega-
tion gathered about him and all declared
the best possible solution Of the prob
lem would be to unite with the Taber-
nacle.
One weeg ago, on Sunday afternoon,
November Is, a committee from the CON
sistory of the South Bergen Reformed
Church called on Mr. Scudder at his
home, No. Sos York street The COM
mittee was Mr. George NJ. Craig, Mr..
Hoagland and Mr. Charles Crosby They
told Mr. Scudder of the condition of the
church and asked if he would help them.
cot fJ,a
Grant intended going to Europe and only
waited till some decision could be reached
about the future of the church. Mr..
Grant was ready to resign at any mo-
ment and he approved of the step taken
by the consistory in offering to make the
church a Congregational Church and con-
solidate with the Tabernacle.
Mr.. Scudder told the committee he
could do nothing without the consent of
his church, but that he approved of the
proposed consolidation. After discussion
of the question three things were de-
cided unoficially: First. that the South.
Bergen Reformed Church deed the church
to the Tabernacle. second, that the mem
bers of the church become members of
the Tabernacle Church, and third. that
both churches be given representation on
This committee returned to the con-
sistory with the conditions under which
Mr. scudder would consent to lay the
matter before the Tabernacle trustees
and the consistory was unanimous in ac-
$cepting the conditions. The same COM
+ dittee was appointed by the consistory
to meet with the trustees Of the Taber-
/ naeie to consider further the advisabiIity.
Z Of the proposed consolidation.
& Mr.. Scudder sent for the Rev. L. H.
Cobb. D. D., secretary Of the congre-
gational Building Society. and took him
Monday afternoon. to the South Bergen
Reformed Church to inspect the prop
srty. Dr. Cobb was told the story of the
Dvertures made by the consistory OF the
church and at the request OF Mr.. scudder
allied meeting Of the Executive Com
ittee for Thursday afternoon. The
xscufiye Committee, Dr. Ward OF the
ndependent, ar, Wilcox, Mr.; Halsey
b