The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-04-12
A. 2. A. TACTICS.
Methodist Conference Elk.
cited Over a Rumor Re-
specting Its Book
Concern.
EXCITING SESSION THIS MORNING
Dr.. Eaton Says He Has Not Re-
moved Methodists for Catho-
lics-Churches in Peril.

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News.nJ
NEWARK. April u, 1Ss7.-The A. p.
sent a cold shiver up the back of ever.
Methodist preacher attending this morn
ing's session of the Newark Conference
in Centenary Church, and for some tim,
there wa great excitement. It was al
~occasioned by a circular sent to tn,
brethren by the A.P.FA., declaring tina
the Methodist Book, Concern of Fifth ave
nue., New York City. was ~dischargine
Methodists and s~upplanting them with
Roman Catholics.
Brother" said one grey-haired vet
eran, grasping the hand of another ant
showing him q piece Of paper, on which
were h words, 1Protestants Needn'I
Apply" this cannot be true"
From one to another was whispered
the painful news, and no one paid any
attention to any of the routine business
SO anxious was everybody for the arriva
of the Rev. DR.. Homer Eaton, the agent
OF the great Methodist bookhouse, who
was expected to make his yearly state
ment of the institutions work. VIII he
come and refute these terrible
charges?' asked the brethren, and when
ever the door opened, every eye was df-
Iected TO the new arrival in hopes thai
came at last and walked hastily down the
aisle and took, the seat on the dais as
signed to Him b Bishop Andrews.
DE- Eaton saw at a glance that every
one was expecting statement from him,
and when he was directed by the Bishop
to make his address silence was so pro
found that even n might hear a shadow
fall. In a quiet tone the speaker said
that he had heard of THE circular and
had read its contents. Then raising his
voice almost to a scream, he said
Bishop and brethren of the Newark
Methodist Conference, that statement OF
the A P. A is a barefaced and shame
fui lie. (Hearty cheers relieved the
brethren's pent up feelings.) It is true
that we have a. few Roman Catholics in
q employment and we have dismissed
a few Methodistss but they, were dis
charged because of tncompetency, and
one of them when about to leave us,
Book Concern While, as / say. It IS
T we have a few Roman Catholics in
our employ, we would gladly prefer to
have Methodists who could fill the places
as they do.
1.-THE other day." continued DR.. Eaton,
after We discharged hat incompetent
servant, a Methodist minister came into
our house and excitedly demanded why
would never spend a dollar with US again.
I asked him what was the religion of his
servant girl, and he hesitatingly replied,
With q sickly smile, that she was a
a little more reasonable in future and
still trade with US.
Il refer to the matter" said DR.. Eaton
in conclusion, because / know the false
rumor has beer widely circulated among
Methodtsts that we are favoring Catho-
lies rather than Protestants and Meth
odlsts. am not q Catholic In disguise,
as this A. P. A. hints. II I were to go
into that church I would go in as a
priest; but you see my wife is still alive. ;,
Cheers and laughter.)
h g mHs = yo aib sir'y .b Gsie Son a brother Under under
the AP. A for its dastardly conduct
dna an1rm our confidence in the Metho-
the pastors IN a. chorus, I'VE have
dence in the Book Concern, we have none
u the 1ne A. inc Fl A. No Nom metion Is necessary
business OF the Conference was pro-
ceeded with. for already it is far in ar
rear. Although. the pastors have been
ne business is yet disposed of. In view
u this state of affairs, Rev. DR.. Bos-
Vel this morning moved that to clear
lers, and at least get away by Wednes-
qay, extra business sessions should be
ne,o, It was agreed. and both today and
Bisnop Andrews, when asked by a
News" representative, said he feared his
appointments would not be ready before
iase tomorrow night or Wednesday morn
ing. have a great mass of business
% arrange he said, land we must
work day and night"
SIdlR T6dQ an 6X.
ceedingly gloomy and serious report
about h Paterson district, of which he
y presiding elder. and in these words he
the most d-iscouraging features Of the
work on this district at the present time
Is the great financial depression which.
one end of the district it is the silk and
Industries that are embar-
rassed; at the other end it is the great
crippled, and In the large agrfcultura1 re- RE
zion the business is simply destroved. so
that tale farmer 10 HongsF pioughs and
b crop he LAY gain at the harvest viii
barn,
b conditions" continued DR.. Craig.
nave seriously embarrassed our people
p caused a great ~shrinkage III the
revenues iof the churrhsa5There are in
stances IN. this district where thirty per
rent. Of the pastor 81 salary still remain
unpaid. In1most cases his occurs where
the normal salary Is aexeeedingly meagre
and where even a small deficiency cannot
pc afforded without serious discomfort
q. TIE pastor and his family.
II TneEe aTssa number Of comparatively
financial peril. that their ras verv eE II smca
rs Threatened. Several of these promise
well f9r the future # they can be tided
Darrassments of some are such as TO
awaken, serious apprehension concerning
efSe naa ab Snfe9m me 5 4 fewawiI perish, and
~ 1A( ~ III LOT YeaTS
5e Obliged to struggle under heavy bur
of debt z1gfNrs i.
Notwithstanding this serious state Of
snmss many of the churches have done
saoblys That lin sBoonton, Pastor e. 8.
butcher formerly ofssJersey City, has
more sthans pay its debts. 1T has
200 more than its Expense amounts
q to and added q large number Of pro-
9ationers Market Street Church, Pater-
condition. To review the embarrasse1
state of the remaining churches a com
nfttee was appointed to devise means
{ By consent of the Conferences the
.hurch members at Bloomingdale were
authorized to sell certain church pronerfv
20 build a new parsonage.
fhe report of the B~ordentown Military
institute was read and Professor 4. 81.
LaudolI was reelected as its president.
Today being fixed for the memorial SER
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