The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-09-21
ST. JOHNS
GROWTH,
DR.. Stoddard Will Have
Erected a Temporary
Building for the
Overflow.
NEW PARISH HALL NECESSARY
Sunday School and Institute
Are SO Large the Rooms
Are All Crowded.

The Rev. q. L. Stoddard, Z. D., of St.
Joints Episcopal Church on Summit ave-
nue. and Gardner avenue, has plans on
foot whereby the present crowded con-
dition of the Sunday school and institute
of his church may he greatly aleviated.
He intends to nave constructed a tenn
porary frame structure on the plot adjoin-
ing the gymnasium and In the rear Of the
church. Bide for the erection of such a
building have been sent to the pastor. II
is likely that the work will begin in earn
| est within the next few days or by Mon
day morning.
tturi'sl Iaftrgo aleab Q lSa.hnw raddada
The building will not be elaborte nor
embeHished. It will be put up simply to
relieve the crowdsd state Of the chapel
and gymnasium.
The opening Of the Sunday school for
the fall term on Sunday last, show e
| plainly that the new building could not
be put up too soon. There were nearly
a hundred recruits added to the big list
0 fscholars on Sunday.
st. Johns sunday school Is one of the
largest in the city. There are over nine
hundred pupils with forty more teachers
to look after the classes. The chapel
| where the school is held, is simply jam
med with benches and chairs at present.
| Every nook and corner has been utilized
for classroom. Glasses were formed on
the altar platform. The primary depart
ment was forced to hold its session in the
gymnasium and two classes we're held in
the choir loft. This condition of affairs
exists at present. The pastor Is doing
all in his power to remedy the crowded
state of the school.
There are fourteen classes in the In
stitute and these classes are also crowded
for room. Never was the need of a parish
building felt SO keenly. These classes
began their fail meetings this week. Not
until next week will the fall plans be
mapped out.
Thu erection of the temporary building
is the first step toward a new parish
building. Mr.. Stoddard in the church
Bulletin says that the work of the
parish can never assume its natural pro-
portions until the new building graces the
site adjoining the church. The chapel Is
not adapted for lectures and there are sc
few rooms that several classes are obliged
to hold their meetings away from the
church.
Plans are already IN hdnd Ior extending
the work this fall. New classes will be
added to the present list and an attrac-
tive course Of lectures will be provided
for the young people.
Every year the need of a new building
becomes more pressing, as was shown by
figures at the close of last season There
were more han one hundred and seventy
five members in the Institute. TIL pros
poets for increasing this total to the two
hundred mark are very bright. Appplica-
tions for membership nave been made and
will be acted upon at the next meetings of
tn evarious classes.
This is a work in which Mr.. Stoddard
has deeply interested himself He has
ever had the interests OF his young people
at heart, and he never loses and oppor-
tunity of furthering plans whereby his
classes may be benefited. Plans for a
permanent parish building are as yet in
definite. This question viii be settled as
soon as Mr.. Stoddard finds the time is
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