The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-06
ELMENDORF
SILENT.
Rector Of Holy Gross Church
Nervous During His
Sunday Sermon.
NOT 4 WORD ABOUT CONFESSION
More Warm Talk by Parish
toner's Other Clergymen
Upon Church Custom.
NOT 4 WORD ABOUT CONFESSION

The account in sThe News" Saturday,
of the iniquitous book circulated by the
Rev. Augustine Elmendorf among his
| youthful parishioners created great
| sensation There was scarcely mem
Der of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church
who did not feel confident that the rector
! would answer the charges against him
| from the pulpit at yesterdays services
| They were disappointed, however. Mr.
| Elmendorf did not allude to the contro-
| versy directly, but preached sermon
| touching on troubled consciences, which
| the members thought was roundabout
manner of taking a quiet slap at them.
| He was plainly under a severe mental
| strain. Not infrequently he stopped in the
middle Of a sentence for lack of words to
| express his views. Several times he
| stammered and many people expressed
| themselves as being sorry for what was
| evidently a painful situation. The rector
| has made it practice never to answer
newspaper charges from the pulpit, and
! he made statement to that effect last
! evening after the evening services.
| The congregation at the morning ser
| vices was quite small. At no time in the
| sermon did the rector make any direct
| allusion to the subject of controversy.
| Mr. Elnendorf said that the way of
salvation was indeed hard, and that one
| must expect to suffer greatly before be-
coming d thorough Christian. Chris
| tians must also expect to be crucided,' .
| he said. He then went on to speak of
consciences, saying that the Devil always
! put temptations in the path of all.
| ha hat f1l1u Ct c
| these temptations must be an extraordi-
nary being he continued. There are
people who are tempted by the Devil. and
| their consciences tell them to do as the
Devil says. They invariably do it,
The above sentence is the one the mem
bers of the congregation thought was di-
rected at them.
| 1t now becomes more and more appar-
| ent that the congregation is in terrible
| state. The trouble was smothered as long
| as possible, but now that it is fairly out
| those who disagree with their rector are
not afraid to give vent to their feelings.
| This they do in a manner anything but
| mild.
| One woman fairly clenched her hands
! with rage when speaking of the rector 5
| actions in sanctioning the distribution of
| the book called "The Way of Penitence." +"
| There are members who have emphati-
| cally declared that never again would
| they enter that church until the present
rector has gone away.
| 1t is not so much the question of con-
| fession that the members object to as
!, it is the book. This book, which was
! clearly described in '1The News on Sat
urday is the foundation of the present
dissension. Had this book never been
! given out to the young folk it is doubtful
if the matter regarding auricular con-
| fession would have come to light. Bishop
| Starkey's decision is impatiently awaited.
| If the Bishop should decide in favor of
| Mr.. Elmendorf, designations are looked
| for by the score. Many families are
awaiting news from Bishop Starkey be-
| fore taking action. Some of the members
| declare they never could remain in a
| church where such books are given out
| even if it should be with the Bishops
| consent.
One member has prepared voluminous
answer to Mr.. Elmendorf on the question
| of confession, declaring that never was
| the congregation in favor of it. This
same member said that he favored confess
| sion, but answered that he did not go. In
| the document, the member goes on to
| say that confession is purely voluntary on
the part of the members and wants to
| know why the rector insists upon the
members attending confession.
This is the paper which it was rumored
was to be sent to Mr.. Elmendorf, and
which the rector said he would probably
pocket. The rector never received the
document and he never will.
Several more members were seen yester-
day in regard to the trouble, and all are
| still just as bitter against their rector
sIf that man had given my daughter
any such a book" said one woman in
| a very vehement manner, 81 would have
slapped his face good and hard. It's ter
rible to think of. Just imagine such a
book being placed in young girls hands,
putting things in their heads they never
| thought or knew of. I really do not
know what will become of our church
| with that man in charge. It is impossi-
BILE to get rid of him. The Vestry has
| no power, that matter being wholly in
| the hands of Bishop Starkey. You may
| state however, that within a short time
| there will be more designations, no mat
ter how the Bishop decides We can
never go back to that church. My chill
| dren l took away some time ago.
"It is not the question of confession that
we object to so much, but the rector s
| tactics Confession is not obligatory, but
! Mr.. Elmendorf has told members that
| they were afraid to go to confession. He
has brow-beaten them time and time
again. This we cannot and will not stand.
There are many of us who do not believe
| in confession, and consequently we will
| not stand any of the rector's tactics He
| speaks of confession being voluntary. He
| is not consistent in this respect.
| .'Another thing which we all know to
| be false is the statements regarding the
| financial condition of our church 1t is
poor very poor, and never was it in such
a condition. How can it be prosperous
| when members are being driven away?
| Why does he not cater to the wishes of
| his people; they surely support the church
and they are the ones to be respected.
However. he will probably keep on until
| women. None of the men agree with him.
HE is also elevatng the church TOO
| high for us. and this in view of the fact
| that he promised not to do SO when he
came to us. We will not stand for these
| Roman Church methods. The reserva-
| tion of the Sacrament and the Sacrament
/ lamp are not to our liking. These we
| understand, are to be put in before Lent =
| Mr.. Elmindorf discusses the matter in a
| quiet way, and does not hesitate for a
| moment to give his views on the matter.
irF