The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-20
Mr.. TROOPS SIDE
Trouble in ST. Matthew's
Church Explained BY
the Rector.
SAYS ONE FAMILY is TO BLAME
Will Not Go to Law II the Treas
urer Will Hand Over the
School Funds.

congregation of st. Matthew's Protest
ant Episcopal Church would be referred
to by the Rev. Montgomery Hunt Throop
at the services yesterday. AS a result
the attendance was unusually large at
both services. The rector, however, dis
appointed the curious ones. His only
reference to the misunderstanding was at
the morning service. HI said plainly and
feelingly:-
Unpleasant notoriety has been brought
upon our church. I hope people will not
believe all they read in the newspapers"
This remark caused some of the con-
gregatfon to smile. The Rev. Mr.. Throop
is an ex-navspaper reporter.
Last evening he consented to state his
side of the case. So far as he is directly
responsible for any trouble he makes a
general denial. Rather caustically, too,
he handles those concerned in it. He
also embraced Several startling declara-
tions in his statement.
For the past fourteen years. he be-
gan. "St. Matthews Church has been
going down financially. al the rate of
about $500 a year. When 1 TOOK charge
the result of my labors showed itself.
The first year we turned the tables $500
in our favor.
1T is quite true that there has been a
falling off in attendance during the past
fall. There are two reasons for 1t. In
the first place the location of the church
is against us. The neighborhood has de-
populated. The second is the Indifference
of the congregation, the members of
which will not work as they should. 1t
should be remembered that a rector cam
not carry a whole parish on his should
ers.
"As for st. Andrews Brotherhood /
always had am idea it was running itself.
l didn't bother about it, but simply let
the young men run it their own way.
That fact is well understood. Finally
Sheppard Franz drew up the letter to
which 1 took exception and induced many
of the members of the brotherhood to
sign it. If anyone thinks exception SHOULD
not he taken to the letter he is devoid of
the feelings of a gentleman, stupid and
thick headed"
Mr.. Throop was at first inclined not
to say what the letter contained, but
finally said he saw it was a plain state
ment that the church could not prosper
while he CMr. Throop) was its pastor.
IF anyone in my church had a griev-
ance, real or fancied,'' continued Mr..
Throop, Il was at all times willing to
talk over the matter. But in this case /
feel that certain people started out with
the direct intention of raising. a row..
personal reasons caused this trouble
and it is all because / am responsible for
keeping a man off the vestry. This was
VIM. Franz, father of Sheppard Franz, of
| whom / have spoken.
when | took charge of the church Vim.
Franz and his son were active workers.
When the. time arrived for the Easter
election of vestryment the elder Franz
no mo IN n q nd told ~ 4 no- fhn dar-
ling ambition of his life to be on the
vestry. He wanted my help. | consulted
some of the gentlemen of the church
and found that there was serious objec-
lions to his election because of troubles
dating back to the time when. he was
treasurer of a benevolent organization.
1.-THE election for vestrymen arrived and
Franz was a candidate. He had many
supporters. When the first vote was
tai taken ana Tran5 had "a K ap and aSam w, Pagl s 81 fbs
ballots showed that on one Franz had
been voted for for Junior warden as well
as vestryman.. The defective ballot I did
ordered a new ballot. Franz, it appears,
voted for himself the first time and his
that on the second ballot he was mo-
where. Since thai time that family has
worked and intrigued against me"
When asked about the exeommunica-
ton of certain members, Mr.. Throop
IT nave accommodated no one. I
have given the Franz family letters of
transfer to another church. They live
in Cottage street on the Hill In | hold
that they have no right to pass four
churches by in order to make mischief in
the fifth.
1.-THE papers are mistaken about my
having a stormy scene with Sheppard
Franz. I nave not spoken to him since I
removed him from the office of secretary
and treasurer of the Sunday School. I
have written about all I have had to LAY
to him. Counsellor Simpson has also
written to him and made a demand for
the money and property of the Sunday
School. l do not want to go INTO court
surrender of all property in the young
mans possession belonging to the church,
but he has not complied. Certain people
nave rushed headlong into this thing
and I regret that 1t has been given pub
licity.
Whatever sympathy these people gets
from the vestry is from vestrymen who
not contributors to the support of the
church and that is one of the qualifica-
tons for a -vestryman. They are on the
| .vestry by courtesy and because the laws
of the church have not been enforced.
We passed the law and let them go on
by the good nature of the rector and
congregation. Every man who is entitled
to be a vestryman is on the ~rector's side.'
When asked to whom this applied Mr..
Throop refused to state. He said the
| vestrymen would know.
SIN conclusion / wish to state that if
Sheppard Franz had the feelings of a
not attempt to stir up trouble in the
church"
A BOYS BLIGHTED LIFE.