The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-12-13
BERGEN BAPTIST ROW.
Class No. 1 in Open Revolt
Against Official Opposi-
tion to Its Fair.
RESERVATIONS THREATENED
Proposal to Devote the Funds
Realized to a Sleigh Ride
Instead of the Church.
RESERVATIONS THREATENED

Much surprise was caused among the
members of Glass No. l, or the Bible
class, of the Bergen Baptist Church, when
they read in THE News" of Saturday
about the trouble between the class and
the officials of the church in regard to the
fair which the class held in Arcanum Hall,
Jackson and Clinton avenues, last week.
The members of the class had never in
tended that it should become public, but
now that it has they say they are glad
of it, as it will let the people know just
how shamefully they have been treated by
the officials. Nor is this the end of it.,
for several members have threatened to
leave the Sunday school and join some
other one. The cause of the trouble be-
tween the officials of the church and the
class was published in 'SThe News" of
Saturday, but some additional facts have
leaked out.
1t seems that short time ago it was
decided to enlarge the Sunday school
room, which is in the chapel on Clinton
avenue. For this quite a large sum of
money was required. Glass No. / was
asked for SIS to help pay the expense. A
collection was taken up among the seven
ty members of the class and $40 was real
lied. To make up the $25 the class de-
cided to hold a fair The officials were
asked for the use of the chapel for the
fair, but they would not let the class have
it. In fact right from the start the Off
cials frowned on the idea of holding a
fair, for one had never been held in con-
nection with that church before. This
refusal right at the start somewhat dis
concerted some of the members and some
We're for giving up. the idea altogether.
Finally it was decided to hire d hall in
which to hold the fair and Afcanum Hall
was taken for one week, from December
to Ii, for $21. The fair was held and it
proved to be very successful, for over $500
was realized, from which the expenses are
to be deducted, which Will leave about
$3.50 profit
Everything would have passed off
quietly last week, and nothing would have
been said about the officials action in
denying the class the use of the hail.
but one of the officials of the church when
asked if he was going to the fair said
do you think I would be seen at a
fair squandering my money and especially
as it is being held in hail.
He further said that those connected
with the fair were no Christians and that
they should be ashamed of themselves,
because they held the fair on prayer
meeting night and on the night of the
meeting of the Christian Endeavor
Society,". This made the members of the
class very angry and many uncomplimen-
and some even went as far as to say
they hated him. One of the members in
speaking about the affair said -
Several Of the members of the class
are going to leave because we have not
been treated rightly by the church. The
least they might have done was to come
to the fair. The pastor was never present
once and we received no encourag cement
whatever from the officials. It's the same
way in everything our class undertakes;
we are sure to meet with strong opposi-
ton. Even when we were about to give
that performance of the "Mock Trial.
some time ago, the officials were opposed
to it being given in the chapel. All our
tickets and circulars had been printed
announcing the performance in the
chapel and when we were told that we
could not hold it there we were all
terribly disappointed. We had to hire a
hall at a big expense to give our per-
Torrance. Those of the members of the
class who do stay have made up their
minds never to take part in anything
given by the church again, for our class
above all others has been opposed in
everything
The members of the class are un-
decided as to whether they will turn over
the profits of the fair to the church or
not Some are opposed to such dis
posal of the funds and say they ought to
use it to go on a sleigh ride this winter.
One of the officials when asked this
morning about the trouble between the
class and the officials refused to say any
thing about it until he had conferred with
the other officials. In fact just at pres
ent none of the officials will talk