The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-01-11
BISHOP STEPS In.
Rev. Montgomery Hunt
Throop Deposed From
the Rectorate of st.
Matthews Church.
HISTORY OF THE TROUBLE
Young Men and Trustees Of the
Church Successful in Their
Warfare-Mr. Throop
Won't Talk.

After two years of bitter strife the
trustees of St. Matthew's Episcopal
Church have succeeded in having the
Rev. Montgomery Hunt Throop deposed
from the pastorate. His removal was or
dered on Saturday by the Right Rev.
Bishop Thomas A. Starkey. 1t takes ef-
feet on February 6 next.
Pastor Throop declines to discuss his
removal or the troubles which have agi-
tated the church further than to say that
ne regrets that peace did not reign in the
church while he was in charge Until
sucn time as a new church is found for
MIN he viii endeavor to earn living by
giving lectures and stereopticon views.
st. Matthews is the oldest Episcopal
church in the city, and at one time
boasted of large, wealthy and exclusive
congregation. The church began to run
behind when few years ago many of the
city's oldest families began to move awav
or up on the Hill where they identified
themselves with other churches. The
congregation became gradually smaller.
and the receipts lessened. Expenses
We're curtailed, but It seemed IMPOSSIBLE
to make both ends meet.
The Rev. Montgomery Hunt Throou
was recommended as an enterprising
hustllng pastor. He was engaged and
at once began the fight. For a time it
looked as though the church would be
prosperous again. Young men were at
lracted to the church and they worked
IKE beavers So did the pastor. Every
thing went along smoothly until the
Brotherhood of st. Andrew was or
ganized.
IL mad been In existence only a short
uinne when Pastor Throop was informed
uhe boys were given to skylarl1ing in the
aaureh during service, and that some had
even gone 50 far as to smoke cigarettes
IN the choir stall during service. The pas-
Tor demonstrated with the boys. some
threatened 10 chastise the iraforner. Wars
OF words followed and ON one OF two oc-
caslons it is said the boys addressed the
pastor in a ddsrespectful manner. The
trouble increased and the Brodherhood of
st. Andrew was disrupted The parish
IIolserS were divided in their support of the
boys and pastor
Rector Throop finally discovered that
Snarles Franz, who was Treasurer of the
sunday school and Librarian, was The
ptlnclpal distuTber. Franz's parents also,
et was asserted, We're handling the pastor
W1thGut gloves. The result of this. per-
Sollal warfare was a demand upon Franz
Tor the surrender of all his books and ac-
GDtH0 WaHctSN0I uIlDIlGy was Que 1l6
church. Franz refused to obey the order.
lie was deposed, but he declined to re-
mann away from the church, surrender
his books, or make amy accounting of the
runcS IN his possession. Risky Statements
Were made about money matters and the
trouble became SO hot that Pastor ThrOop
went into court and through that channel
recovered the church books and records
from Franz.
By this time the whole church was dis
rupted and Pastor Throop was compelled
70 preach to empty pews. There was no
income and the pastor was in sore straits.
70 support his wife and family Pastor
Throop began to give public lectures and
Stereopticon views. He was getting along
nicely when the disturbing element OF ths
church charged that the pastor was ne>
glecting his Duties IN his own interests
The trustees would not pay Mr. Throop.
He held out as long as possible, and one
day last week sued the trustees for the
amount of his salary. He recovered a
Judgment of $3.50, but the Judgment has
not been satisfied as yet. The trustees
say that as soon as Mr.. Throop retires
they will have no trouble In building up
the old congregation and placing the fa-
nous old church on paying foundation
again.