The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-19
The RECTOR QUITS
Grace P: E. Church. Green
Vile, Will Lose Mr..
Chalmers D. Chap
man.
BISHOP STARKEY Will DISMISS HIM
Final Chapter in the History of a
Long and Disastrous Feud Be-
tween Rector and Vestry.
BISHOP STARKEY Will DISMISS HIN

Rev. Chalmers d.. Chapman, rector of
Grace Protestant Episcopal Church,
Greenvlle. has decided to leave the
parish over which he has presided many
Years and take a small rectorate in
North Carolina. Bishop Thomas M.
Starkey of Newark, has accepted his
resignation, and in the language of the
church win dismiss him to the diocese
of North Carolina, into which he will
be received on August 1.
The news of Rector Chapman's decision
to leave the parish caused no end Of ex-
citement among Greenville people yes
terday and a great amount of guessing
was indulged in as to THE cause.
Some insisted that the church had
dwindled to such a low state in funds
and attendance that 1t was simply star
walton to stay there; while others ait
tributed 1T tC the ilIhealth of Mrs.
Chapman. There is a great deal of truth
in both surmises. Mrs. Chapman has
been sick for some time and her ply
sscian advised her to seek a more con-
genial climate. She is afflicted with
lung trouble and the dry, balmy air OF
the little parish among the hills of North
Carolina, to which her husband Is going
will. 1T is said, restore her strength.
AS for the financial condition of the
church It is very deeply embarrassed
and has been since the disruption which
took place five years or more ago.
Prior to that period Rector Chapman's
church was on the. high road to pros.
perity. influential men like Messrs. F
R. Lockwood. ]. J.. Detwiller, Reuber
Simpson, John Mitchell, James Mitchell
Adam Reid and Frederick r. Morse tool
a very active interest in it's affairs ans
dug their hands into their pockets liber.
ally when money was needed. Mr.. Lock.
wood furnished the church, Mr.. bet,
wlller gave It a new organ, and thu
Others ~fsupplied one thing and anokhel
Until THESE gentlemen ma put the churcl
ON a sound financial basis, and Grace
Church. Greenville, could hold up it.
head with pride in the Diocesan Confer
ence as ITO the discharge of it's obliga.
tions.
About this time 1T was found necessar,
to mak "a change. Rector Chapman
n result of an unfortunate complaint
made 1t very difficult for some to un.
derstand what he said. In the kindest
and gentlest and. most delicate manner
t4R0 fN0bh Sd66OSlGd ~ VII SIldUflldI
that the welfare of the little parish de.
manded a change. They would pay hin
a years salary in advance If he woule
resign and this sum would enable hin
another charge; but the rector replied
after Marshal Mcmahon, 'J'y suis; J'y
reste.' This was the birth of two partie.
in the church--the rector against the
vestry.
When the election OF wardens ant
vestry took place shortly afterwards
Rector Chapman, 1t is said, initiated the
politicians and put a rival ticket in The
held, On the might of the balloting
over which by right OF rectorship hi
presided, his ruling was so partial ani
Enthusiastically against the vestry tina
the greatest excitement prevailed.
When one gentleman who had giver
years and dollars to training the choil
presented himself to vote, the rector re
fused to ALLOW him to cast his ballot OF
the ground that "he didn't know whethel
the voter had contributed to the church
or not" Everybody was astounded AM
the voter walking up the aisle to tn,
rector sternly said
DO You mean TO say that I hav,
contributed to your funds?"
Ill don't KNOW can't say" STAN
mered the rector, burning a deep Grim
SOM
You are a. consummate hypocrite ans
a liar was the voters crushing reply
as he strobe out of the church FOLLOWED
Dy all une best known people I'M TIL,
parrish, who were amazed at the rector
conduct.
This scene produced a tremendous eff
feet on the parish. Next Sunday tn,
seats occupied for years by prominen
people We're empty and they have re
manned so to the present time. BishoI
Starkey was appealed to because Recto,
Chapman refused to accept the votes O
contributors to the church, known IL
him as his opponents, but the Bishol
tried ito make peace between the people
So indignant were the seceders that the,
renowned the church and have since at
tended St. Johns in Bayonne and tn
Church of fthe Holy Cross on Arlington
avenue.
From that time to the present tn.
church has steadily diminished in mum
bers and is in arrears to diocesan funds
Whoever the new man will be he will
have an uphill task before him. H
must try to bring together the scattered
flock and apply himself to THE re-estab
hshment of the church's finances.
Rector Chapman has not yet publicl,
announced hds departure, but Mrs. Chap
man has told many of the ladies in tn
church that they will leave Greenvill
by the middle of July. There is a It,
letn sion an Tho xNnnr re bla aa4u1,xv