The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-01-13
WHERE ARE THEY At?
Meeting o. the First Congre-
gational Church Adjourns
at Midnight Without
any Definite Action.
Mr.. D SURPRISED
Thought There Was a Cap
italist Somewhere-Scheme
to Close Tabernacle.

AEf ~
-
DR.. Scudder's two First Congregational
congregations don't know where they're
at. There was trouble and more CONFUSION
at the regular annual meeting in the
Tabernacle last night when these congre-
cations met to consider the ACCESSIBILITY,
of closing the downtown branch which
the trustees claim is constantly running
behind in expenses. Mr.. Scudder sizes
with the uptown church, and it has evil
IDENTIFY all along been the intention of this
branch, which is in the majority, to sell
the Tabernacle and transfer the congre-
cation uptown. This the Tabernacle
would not hear of, and last night brought
both congregations out in full force to
fight it out to the bitter end.
A blackboard containing a hieroglyphics
exercise which nobody outside Of the trus-
tees who had placed it there, seemed to
understand, but which afterward showed
that the Tabernacle had actually gone in
debt to the depth of twenty-one dollars
and some odd cents, exclusive of the pas
tors salary. confronted the audience. Mr..
George w. Russell was appointed chair
man. Mr.. Scudder made a little prelim-
ilid Sptec4 Ill WHICH sI0 SdIu lie re-
porters (the church had never hereto
fore admitted newspaper men willingly)
were going to be disappointed. The peo-
pie were not there to close the Tabernacle
but to do the best thing Later he said,
There is not a single person who wishes
to close the Tabernacle if it is possible TO
keep 1t open,' and then went on to show
how utterly impossible that was. IF this
church is supported said he, 1T must
be done from outside" He spoke of the
members of the old Tabernacle who had
moved to the Hill, taking with them their
church attendance. The list was appal-
ling. 1t sounded like a newspaper clip
ping from a fashionable wedding, and in
Guided every member on the hill. regard
less of where they went to church, or
whether they attended any at all.
Mr.. Scudder, however, thought he had
a big surprise for Those present, and hint
ed at an unknown capitalist who had
come forward through Deacon Hunt with
financial aid. But Mr.. Scudder was the
only one surprised. Deacon Hunt was
called for and rose to the occasion by
saying that he knew of no capitalist ex-
cept the capitalist the Lord sent when
His people were doing His work; that
help had been received in the past and
would DE in the future as long as the
down town work Continued, but would be
suspended the minute it stepped.
1t seems the idea of a capitalist grew
i out of conversation between Mrs. Scud-
der and Mrs. Hunt, when the latter told
the former not to worry, all would be ar
ranged for the church.
Just prior to this discussion four trus-
tees had been elected:-Messrs. William
Rowland, Sidney Gould, Gerow and Blake.
The church nla1aual called for the cleo
ton of trutees by ballot. The motion to
thus elect them was passed, but before
it was put another an before the house
that the secretary cast the ballot, and.
| although it was not entirely unanimous,
carried the day. Mr.. Blake rose TO a
| point of Information as to whether he was
! legally elected, but the Chair ruled MIN
out of order, so that as the matter now
| stands the church has four trustees VIM,
according to law, are not trustees
The chairman then called for fufther
| business and a y member of the uptown
| branch moved thar inasTuch the financial
! standing would not warrant the malnten-
ance of two churches, no more money De
and Henderson streets. This caused a.
hot debate. Mr.. Ware, former Clerk OF
the church, who had been busy getIng
that he had raised 81, 500 in this way. with
a promise of $iG0 more in case the down
town work was continued aside from
| what he was sure of from outside sources;
( raising the total to about S2,o0o-. rms
| seemed to surprise the uptown people,
and they called for a list of the subscrib,
ers. Then there was more debate, ana
Mr.. Ware was appiauded when he refused
to read the names.
III would be sinful to close the Taber-
| nacle,v said one man, "and | hope you
will vote down this resolution" The mo-
1 ton was lost. Miss Florence Clerihew
| then called for a set of resolutions passed
at a committee meeting of the trustees
about December Is. Mr.. Crosby then
said he had those resolutions home in his
pocket. but did not know they were want
| ed last night. Mr.. Crosby is an uptown
man. Miss Clerihew then came to the
rescue with a copy of those resolutions
rEvidently something of this kind had
been expected, which set forth frst,
naeIe be continued" second, That they
have an assistant PASTOR third, That
les raised in the Tabernacle be expended
on that church, and, fourth, That the
| Tabernacle be represented}b by three trus-
After some more hot words these reso-
lutions were adopted with the exception
of the fourth. The Tabernacle is now rep
resented by only one trustee, a a m meh !
| nacle have it's own treasury. and manage
its W finances. To this the uptown peo-
Pile were opposed. Such a proposition Is
an insult to the Board of Trustees" cried
Mr.. Scudder, snatching the resolution
from the hand Of the man who had made
1t.
A movement was made by Mr.. Sperry
of the Boyd avenue division to adjourn
to next Thursday evening, in the uptown
| church. Mo- roared the Tabernaclers:
| As the motion had already been seconded
Mr.. Russell put he question and the nays
gair-l by a majority of fifteen. People
begal to make & move for the dooT, Mr. Nj.
| RusselI then too much confused to do
aught. else took this for a tip and the
meeting adjourned in disorder, to meet
again. according to parliamentary rule, IN
Midnight had come and the two churches
stand just where they were two months
and three meetings ago.