The Monitor-register., 1897-10-01
West Jersey Presbytery.

III bhe 1 feSUybeflau OnuTCD'aJ
Rev. James Cockius, the Moderator,
preached, and at the conclusion of his
discourse Rev. W. W. Casselberry, of
Haddonfield, was elected Moderator of
Presbytery.
At the session on Wednesday morning,
Rev. s. W. Beach, D. D., Treasurer of
the Presbytery, presented his report,
showing several Of the churches deficient
in the payment of the annual assessment.
The Treasurer said the churches were
manifesting too much Indifference to the
expenses necessary for the perform ance
of the work. The report caused an ami
mated discussion, in which the clergy
wore divided. 'Tf churches fail to pay
the assessment then others can take the
same course" said DR.. Spooner, sand we
would soon have a depleted treasury"
"Some say they will pay when able,"
i~nterposed Moderator Casselberry.
(which is equivalent to their note"
reloined Stated Clerk Beadle.
Rev. r. M. Toms inquired as to the
position of a church refusing to pay the
assessment, and was informed by Mr..
Beadle that it was in good and regular
standing in it's own estimation.
DIR. Spooner, of Camden, said it was a
dDlC AaOt uhRO AhtS VIVA
| the small assessments. "Whatever may
be the teehnicality," continued DR..
| Spooner, there is manifest injustice. but
| whether we can legislste in favor of one
| church aud against others is a question,
aud | think not Presbyterial law. This
| question will involve us in trouble and
u-npleasantness ere long"
DR.. Mundy, of Atlantic City, said:
"The attitude of Presbytery is that a
| church can be eDjoined and commanded
to pay. Presbytery can advise and grow
eloquent, and her eyes sparkle with fire,
but we don't propose to support any other
church until we can raise a roof over our
W heads. We have enough to look
after,at home in the erection of our Q
edifice."
Rev. Frederick R. Brace, Treasurer of
Synodical Home Missions, made an elo-
quent and forcible appeal on behalf of
that great branch of beBeficent work. He
deprecated the fact that churches showed
a disposition to evade the apporJionment.
He said every man was bound to assume
his own burden. SIT is a moral and
ecclesiastical obligation. There is no
value to such arguments as advanced TO-
day, and l view it as a moral delinquency
| on the part of a church when it fails to
pay its apportionment.'
DR.. Mundy interrupted the proceedings
by declaring that DR.. Brace was going a
step too far when he charged a church
with "moral delinquency" DR.. Muudy
was declared out of order by Moderator
Casselberry and appealed to the house,
but the Moderator was sustained in his
ruling.
The committee to audit the Treasurer's
account reported the receipts to be $728,-
so; disbursements, $4,000.
The discussion on the grant to certain
mission churches by the P~resbytery drew
forth a prolonged and interesting ex
change of views DR.. Mundy objected
to the committees report suggesting
5000 to Ocean City. He thought it should
be $500. DR.. Brace said he kne it was
a strategic point aud if DIR. Mundy would
guarantee the full quota from his church
next year the committee would endorse
$500.
DIR. Beach presented the following
resolution, which is self explanatory:
Whereas, IDasmuch as the missionary
field in the Presbytery of West Jersey
has extended during the past year to such
extent that the appointments hitherto
received from Synod's fund is insufficient |
to meet the necessity of our present
needs, Resolved, That we earnestly
request the Committee of Synod to add
500 to the amount given this Presbytery,
making it $4,000. The resolution was
adopted and an appeal was made for the
delinquency appearing in the report, of
$50, which was radily subscribed 'to
save the honor of the P~resbytery before
SyDod's Committee"
A. the opening of the afternoon session
Phitp Sidersky, a mission worker among
tn Jews. made an address OF the con. |
diuIon of the Jews in New Jersey. A
special committee was appointed to take
up the work among the colonies, which
have a population of 1900 Jews.
Tue report of the special committee
on the Italian work at Hammonton /
showed the liquidation of all Indebtedness
on the edifics and a balance in the
tire" Jury, which will &c to the improve
ment of the church.
Rev. A. W. Spooner, Chairman of the
Committee on Young Peoples work, re-
ported that 5000 had been raised for
mission work, within the bounds of
Presbytery.
Rev. Thomas Thompson submitted a
comprehensive report on the Estate of
Religion" The churches have all
hourished, the Sabbath schools have
been in excellent working condition,
there being an increase in membership of
1878 during the year.
Although no marked revival of religion
was experienced by the Presbytery, yet
many of the churches report large aoces
sions to their membership. There is a
gain in membership of 429. For Congre-
gational expenses the Presbytery
contributed an increase over last year..
DIR. Beach presented a report on home
missions, showing a gain in the gifts to
churches, $3.50; Sunday school, $110;
Young Peoples Society of Christian
Eudeavor, $144. During the year twenty
churches failed to contribute to the
fund.
The standing Committee on Foreign
Missions submitted a most interesting
report. The committee received from all
sources $3462. OF a church membership
of 7471 an average of 35 cents per
member was given to the foreign fields.
A committee was appointed to arrange
for a suitable celebration of the 2505h |
anniversary of the Westminster Stand
ard.
Rev. Alfred Medd requested a dissolu-
ton of the pastoral relations existing |
between himself and the Atco Presby-
terian Church of the purpose of taking a |
post. graduate course in college. His
request was granted and the pulpit
declared vacant after the second Sunday |
in October.
Rev. A. II. Brown spoke on Sabbath
observance, and deprecated the Sunday
excursion, bicycle runs and kindred evils.
A resolution c%ondemnig Sunday bicy-
cling, introduced by DR.. Spooner, as a
serious phase in Sabbath Dissertation, was
adopted.
At this juncture Presbytery adjourned
to meet in the Second Church, Camden, |
in January.