The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-04-30
ENGLISH LD7HHRANS.
Possibilities That Two New
Churches Of That Denomi-
nation May Start in
Greenviile.

Unless something unforeseen turns up,
a meeting for the purpose of organizing
a new English Lutheran Church will
be held tomorrow morning in Greenville.
The Rev. Eugene L. Neudewstz. who is
now pastor of the Holy Trinity Evangeli-
cal Lutheran Church Of Montgomery
street ard Jersey avenue is behind the
movement. and he will be assisted By a
number of Greenville LGtherans. The
place of meeting VIII be in Bamber Hall,
on Linden. near Ocean avenue. Pastor
Neudewitz will remain in charge until
about the middle Of June, when the Rev.
A. C. Burger will take charge. Mr.. Bur-
ger has not completed his studies for the
ministry, and therefore win not be or
dained before June.
1t will be remembered that last fall the
Lutheran Choral Union of Greenville and
Pastor Sanft of the Zion Evangelical
Church. on NcAdoo avenue, had some dis
pute, the resals of which has been pub
lished many t1rnes in the local papers
AT that time the Choral Union, about
twenty-four in number, resigned in a body
from he church. where for a long time
the members had furnished music for all
the services. When the Choral Union
sent in its resignation as a body, a num-
Der of members OF the congregation who
took sides with the Union also left the
church, vowing that they would never
return until the Union was set right. Since
that time those of the members who re-
signed lave been without a place of wor-
ship. The nearest church of that denom-
ination is the ST. Johns Lutheran Church,
which is situated on Communipaw avenue
and Woodward street, Lafayette. This
church is fully three miles from Green
vile. and the Lutherans felt that they
would not go suc a distance to worship.
Last winter a movement was started to
organize a church of that faith in Green
vile, and for two weeks meetings were
held in Bamber Hall, The same place
where the new hurch is to be. started.
This fell through, as the Rev. Katnerdahl,
who was in charge. accepted a call to a
larger church in Chicago.
Finally all hope of having another Luz
theran church in Greenville was given Up,
until Pastor Neudewitz took hold, and now
the Lutherans are confident that a per-
manent organization will be effected. The
members who resigned from the Zion
Church have assured Pastor Neudewitz Of
lu6lT SuDDOII Ill the CHuItu AlONtl1tllt-
Many rumors are afoat that the mem
bers OF the Lutheran Choral Union are
behind the new church project, and that
it is solely for their benefit that the
church is to be perfected. A prominent
member of the Union was spoken to in
regard to the above stated rumor, and
while he did not directly deny it he said
that as far as he knew no such move
was Intended.
You may saw he said, ssthat the Lu-
theran Choral Union as a body will never
join the new church. All of the members
of the Union are very much tired of the
notoriety attached to this affair, and we
have come to the conclusion that we will
never join any church again as a body. OF
course, the members may join Individually
If they so desire, as no resolution de-
barring them from any such action has
been passed. You remember that we had
an excellent chance to benefit ourselves
if we so desired when the trustees of the
ST. Johns Lutheran Church in Lafayette
offered all sorts of Inducements in or
der to get the members to sing in that
church.. Many of the members were in
favor of accepting the offer, but we finally
decided not to take any such step. We
believe we are fully vindicated Of the
charges made against our member by
Pastor Sanft, as was shown by the action
of the trustees of the Lafayette Church.
Certainly, if they thought we were in
the wrong, no such inducements would
nave been held out to us.
I'm the future as a body We will remain
entirely independent. although l am posi-
tive that not the slightest difficulty would
nave 10 be s~urnnounted If the Union
wanted to join a church. A better
equipped singing society cannot be found
in the city, and we have members that
can fill two and three places if the occa-
sion may require. A number of the mem
bers are also excellent musicians, SO you
see we are in very good condition"
The membe further said that he
thought some of the members would go
to the rev church, but was positive h
The Union as a body would not assist.
There are also rumors going around to
the effect that Pastor Sanft of the Zion
Lutheran Church will also start a new
church in G~reenville in order to discour-
age Pastor Neudewitz's plan. Pastor
Sanft. however, is ~reticent on the subject,
and it is genrally thought that Pastor
Sanft has no intention of doing anything
of that sort. as he has all he can do to
handle the affairs of the old church on
McAdoo avenue.