The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-10-04
JERSEY CITY PRESBYTERY
A Lively Discussion Over
the Subject Of Home Mis-
sions Preeipitated.

The fall meeting of the Presbytery of
Jersey City was opened this morning at
ten o'clock in the Westminster Presby-
terrain Church, Summit and Magnolia
avenues. Some thirty members were
present and as many were absent On the
pulpit platform were several large palms:
After prayer, Rev. Arthur Thompson. OF
the chair, called for nominations for
moderator. The names of Revs. Henry
G. Cronin and G. Evans We're presented
MIR. Cronin was elected, but on coming IN
later he declined to accept The matter
went over until the morning session was
about to close when Mr.. Evans was
elected
The committee of arrangements report-
ed that a recess would be taken from u
to 2 o'clock, and that the hour Of be re-
served for General John Eaton, who will
address the members on Mormon Pro-
paganda and the Mormons Of Utah
Further, that the evening session b6.se-s
sufned at 7.45, when Rev Charles L. Hunt
viii talk on "G0d S Hand on Our GouH-
try. The reports of standing commit
tees on Home Missions followed, and that
of the SynodicaI Committee caused
great deal Of discussion. This report
was read by Rev. F. f. Leayens.
1t showed that the committee had pre-
pared a statement showing the AMOUNT
expected from each church in fhe Jersey,
how much, these churches had paid in.
Many churches were taxed according to
their standing, and the report showed
had paid nothing. This report caused a
decided stir and not a few clergymen e1-
pressed themselves on the subject.
synodical work, said that the work had
greatly fallen off during the past year
and that matters We're going from bad
to worse. He took little slap at the
contribute. and said that it was abso-
lutely essential that all churches should
pay in the amount asked for in order to
maintain the work.
Rev. Charles Herr, of the Emory Street
Presby Church sad:-sI cannot, as
hard as / try he said, get the amount
of money asked for by the Presbytery.
My people Will not support this home
mission work, and / cannot get the
amount asked for. The cold fact is. thai
they prefer to give to foreign missions,
for the reason that the money appro-
priated for home mission work is not
properly spent. They say the Synod
spends far too much money in South
Jersey compared to what It should spend
in the cities. / simply cannot dot IL
gentlemen, and that is the cold, hard
fact.
Rev David MeGie Of Paterson, also
spoke in the same strain He said Il
can do no more than / am now doing for
the Synodical work. because my people do
not believe the money has been properly
spent. We have hundreds of institutions
in Gus city, which are on the verge of
closing because of lack of funds to run
them, and / think that the SynoGical work
should be confined TO the cities until these
institutions are properly provided Tor,
then help out these country towns. We
are taxed too hard by the Jersey City
PresbyteTy and we cannot pay the
amount asked for for Synodical work. We
do our best though"
st this juncture the Rev P. F. Leav-
ers, who was laboring under the impress
sion that the ministers were attacking
the Synodical Committee jumped to his
feet and said:-sIt is the Synod OF New
Jersey that We are talking against,
work thar has gone on for eleven years.
Let these men who made those remarks
alooutAthe Synod go before that Council
and make themselves heard This Is no
members of the Jersey City Presbytery
rise up and take stand against the
Synod of this State. This is no time for
such action. Go before the Supreme
ing taxed too much for Synodical work.
Mr.. Mc6iie replied in a rather sarcastic
tone, saying that he hoped the brethren
knew that the discussion was not brought
up until the deficiencies OF certain
churches We're alluded 10 IN the report on
home missions, and that he did not pro-
pose to go before sthe Giants and take
a stand in the matter Other members
remarked that it was impossible for their
churches. to pay in the sum asked for by
the Presbytern for the reason that their
congregations did not think the money
appropriated had been wisely expended.
Mr. Herr then spoke again. He said
i he WHOLE QueSllDH Ol cAIlOQlCdA WI IL
would, indeed be Interesting if investi-
gated. The Jersey City Presbytery Is
taxed too much for this work, and has to
strain each year in order to try and raise
the necessary funds. Other Presbyteries
do it with ease, and | believe that the ap-
portionments should be more carefully
equalized. Eleven years ago, our Presby-
terry gave $3 C3o annually, and now it gives
about 81 ,2e0 This shows plainly that our
Presbytery is taxed two hard for Synodi-
cal purposes.
Rev. DR. Sharp spoke about the equal
ling Of sums which the churches have
to pay. He said that some churches have
to pay much more than others when they
cannot afford to do it.
Then followed the reading of benefits
that churches had asked for. Rev. Mr..
Miller moved that the apportionment be
made in bulk. which was carried. Vari-
Gus committees were appointed, after
which the members parteok of collation.
which was served by the ladies of the
church in the Sunday school room
Ii was nearly half past two when the
afternoon session was resumed. Rev. n.
c. Herr read d report on foreign missions.
and the largest part of the afternoon
was taken up with General Eaton's adj
dress on the Mormons.