The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-05
CAN'T PAY MISSIONS TAX.
PASTORS REFLECT UPoN THE NEW
JERSEY SYNOD.

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Their Churches Being Mentioned ns DeiIn-
qusnts, They Declare That the Home
Missions Tax IL Too Heavy, and That
the Money IL Not Properly Expended.
The fall meeting Of the Presbytery OF Jersey
City was held yesterday in the Westminster
Presbyterian Church. at Summit and Magnolia
avenues. Jersey City. The Rev. Arthur Thomp-
son. pastor OF the church. presided until the
arrival Of the Rev. @. Evans. who had been
elected Moderator. A little breeze was created
by the report Of the synodical Committee on
Home Missions. which was read by the Rev.
DR.. Philo F. Leayens OF Passaic. Chairman Of
the committee.
DR.. Leavens offered this resolution:
That a former declaration be reallrmed. to
wit, that this Presbytery recognized in the
scheme OF synodical ZONE missions an adj
mirable plan and method for the wise prosecu-
ton OF It's undertakings. and pledges its hearty
support as well TO the Synod's scheme for our
own State as to the national work Of the Board
OF Home Missions"
The Rev. ]. II. Owens. pastor OF the East Side
Church. Paterson, said that tho work had
greatly fallen of during the past year. and that
matters were going from bad to worse. Many
churches were taxed according to their stand
ing and a number were far behind in their
contributions. while others had paid nothing.
DR.. Owens mentioned some of the derelict
churches. and said II was essential that all
churches should pay in the amount asked for
In order to maintain the work.
The Rev. DR.. Charles Herr. pastor Of the
Emory Street Church in Jersey City. said: II
cannot. as hard as I try. get the amount OF
money asked for by the Presbytery. Ny people
will not support this homo mission work. The
cold fact is that 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
1t should spend In the cities. l simply cannot
do 1t. gentlemen. and that Is the cold. hard
fact"
Il am in the same position" said the Rev.
David MoGie OF Paterson. II can do no moro
than l am doing now for the synodical work
because my people do not believe the money
has been properly spent. We have numerous
Of closing because Of a lack Of funds to run
them,. and l think that the synodical work
should be confined to the cities until these In
help out these country towns. We are taxed
too hard and we cannot pay the amount asked
Gentlemen" exclaimed DR.. Leavens. 1T Is
the, Synod, o, New Jersey that you are attacking
years. Let these men who make these remarks
aboutthe Synod go before that Council and make
is no time for such attacks. 60 before the SUI
preme Council and take the stand there about
being taxed too much for synodical work"
The Rev. Mr.. McGie expressed a hope in q.
somewhat sarcastic manner that the brethren
would remember. that the discussion was not
brought up until the deficiencies Of certain
churches were alluded to in tho report on
home, missions. u do not propose to 60 be-
fore the Giants and take any stand in the mat
ter" he declared.
Several other ministers. whose churches are
IL res d sra }tSeed t l5st' bi dssln aed tb that peo the
believe that the money ia not judiciously eI-
pended.
The whole question OF synodical work."
said DR.. Herr. would indeed be interesting IL
investigated. The Jersey City ,Presbytery is
taxed too much for this work and has TO strain
each year in order to try and raise the .neces-
sary funds. Other Presbyteries do It with ease.
and believe that the appropriations should be
our Presbytery gave $1,000 annually. and now
IT gives about $1,000. This shows plainly that
our PresbXtery is taxed too hard for synodical
purposes"
The resolution was adopted, together with a
motion that the committee make reductions on
9 Pre- rata basis After recess Gen 5ohn Eaton
and the Mormons Of Utah. The Rev. Charles
session on Code Hand on Our Country"