The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-15
The POWER BEHIND
DR.. Amory Bradford Of
Montclair Backs the
Tabernacle Peti-
TONERS.
APPEARS BEFORE TRUSTEES
The Demands Made Will Not
Be Divulged Till a Settle
ment Is Made.

There are some inside facts in connec-
ton with the controversy between the
uptown and downtown branches of the
First Congregational Church that have
been carefully kept from the public The
preliminary steps taken by those mem
Ibers of the church who were determined
| on a separation were not divulged even
when meeting of the signers of separa-
tion petition was called There have been
dark hints of a power behind the throne
and there have been many guesses, but
those in the secret have refused to di-
vulge the name or names.
The meeting of Wednesday evening pro-
duced nothing more than the plans for
the forming of provisional church. Be
hind these plans lies the secret of the
movements of the downtown church,
which has been working for a separation
since the first of the year. In accordance
with letter sent to Clerk G. II. Ware.
of the Tabernacle, by Secretary Frank
H. Hall. of the Board of Trustees re-
questing the downtown branch to appoint
a committee to confer with the Board
of Trustees, meeting of the downtown
branch will be held next Wednesday
Board of Trustees will be appointed, as
told last nights News" This board,
at the request of Secretary Hall, will call
on the uptown Board of Trustees at the
next meeting of that body. All this will
be done in compliance with this letter.
July 12, 1899.
George H. Ware
MY Dear Mr. Ware-I send herewith
a off l.
ed by the Board of Trustees at our meet
ing last night, relative to the petition re-
ceived from DR.. Bradford.
Whereas, At a quarterly meeting OF
the society of the First Congrega ational
Church of Jersey City it was resolved
that in case sufficient number of our
church members residing in lower Jersey
City formed themselves into new Con-
gregational Church, we hereby authorize
contract with them whereby said new
church shall have free use of the Taber-
nacle, at York and Henderson streets, for
religious purposes; therefore be it
Resolved, That as soon as meeting
of those of our members residing in
lower Jersey City, who. in good faith, de-
held and committee who will be al-z
thorized to represent and act for them IS
appointed we shall be glad to meet this
committee and endeavor to obliterate the
difficulties existing between the two
churches in a measure satisfactory to
both parties.
signed the petition ought to meet and
| take steps looking towards the organizing
| of a new church. and appoint a commit
| tee who will be finally and fully author
| lied to act for them and who will be
expected to assume all the responsibilities
| for them.
ed, Board will do everything in our
| power to treat with them, with view to
! settling the differences now IN existence
| between the two branches. We feel that
under the resolutions adopted by the So
| ciety. we are not authorized to take any
steps in this matter until there appears
can deal and whose acceptance OF any
propositions which may be made. VIII be
binding upon the downtown branch.
"Our desire is to work out a solution
4 of this problem as speedily as possible,
and I believe it is unnecessary to assure
you that we will do everything which can
| consistently be done under the powers
| given us to facilitate the solution OF the
present difficulties; ..11des, tr,,,u you're
| FRANK H. HALL,
| The above letter was received by Mr..
Ware almost two months ago. A meet
| ing of the signers of the petitions referred
| to in the letter was held on August 10,
| hut the committee spoken of in the above
letter avs not appointed. Neither was
this committee selected at Wednesday
nights meeting. But on Wednesday next,
/ this committed will be selected under the
name of a provisional Board of Trustees.
The petition spoken of in the resolution
| quoted above, is a voluminous document,
which was sent to the Board of Trustees
| through the Rev. Amory Bradford, of
Montclair, in May last. This petition was
never touched by the Trustees, until on
| July II, Mr.. Ware and Mr.. Parker, from
the downtown branch called on the
Board of Trustees and inquired about the
document and what the Trustees intend
| ed to do. The answer was the above let
ter and resolutions requesting the APP
! pointing of a committee to settle the diff
/ ferences.
AS was stated before this committee
will be selected Wednesday evening.
Seven members will constitute the pro-
visional Board of Trustees
Only the signers and the Board of Trus-
tees are aware of the contents of the pc
tition sent to the Trustees by the down.
town branch last May. A reporter of
1.-THE News learned on good authority
that 1t contains five closely type written
sheets Also that all the clauses and
conditions under which a permanent sep
aration can be effected are contained
therein. Practically everything touching
on final separation is embodied in the
petition. The precise contents are not
likely to be made public until final ad-
justment is consummated. This petition
is liable to cause a great deal of dissen-
sion among the members of both commit
tees. 1t will be thoroughly discussed
from beginning to end by both sides and
every effort will be made to bring about
an amieable settlement. The downtown
members feel that their plans will go
through. They have not considered what
steps they would take If their petition
were turned unfavorably.
In case the committees succeed in
settling the plans for an independent
church, the provisional church formed
Wednesday night will be duly organized
and it will become a permanent organi-
zation
Great care will be taken by the down
town people In their conference with the
Board of Trustees on the Heights