The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-05-06
JOHN KNOX PLIGHT
Church Was Sold To Mac
Kenzie Estate Under
Martin Act.
TILL JUNE TO PAY sl7o
Rumor Has 1t That Trustees
Have Violated the Con-
ditions Of the Deed.
TILL JUNE TO PAY Sl7O

The members of the John Knox Pres
byterian Church, are much disturbed over
the poor financial condition of that
church. Because of this the building
may be turned over to the Jersey City
P~resbytery,
Some of the members feel sanguine
that the debt of $40 for a sewer assess
ment, which is the cause of the contro-
versy between the Mackenzie estate and
the trustees will be paid when the time
given them for payment is up. The con-
troversy dates back to last December.
The church was built by George Mac
Kenzie and given ito the congregation I'M
der conditions. Owing to the inability OF
the trustees to meet the sewer assess
ment the church was sold at a Martin
Act sale. Mr.. Robert McAndrew, who
has managed the Mackenzie estate for
years, bought the church, paying the
sum of the sewer assessment.
Property purchased in this manner is
not turned over to the purchaser until a
stipulated number of months have
passed. This gives the delinquent time to
settle the original debt. In case the for
mer owner does not materialize within
the required time the purchaser is given
an absolute bill of sale. The church has
until June to pay.
Mr.. McAndrew was seen yesterday af-
ternoon by a News reporter and asked
if the church would be turned over 10
him when the time for paying had ex-
PRED He said he thought 1t would. In
answer to an inquiry as to what dispos,-
ton would be made of it, he said he did
not know. He said hat the trustees
lave until June to pay the sewer assess
ment, and If they do not come to terms
then the church will be taken from them.
He added that he did not know whether
or not the money would be paid, but said
he knew the church to be in a very poor
financial. condition.
There are some who think that in case
the trustees fail to meet the judgment,
the church will be turned over to the
P~resbytery of this city.
The will of Mr.. Mckenzie does not
state that the church shall revert to his
heirs, if the conditions of the will be
broken. The congregation is eagerly
awaiting developments which will crop
out within a week or perhaps ten days.
A person who has been interested in
the controversy since it began, told a
News reporter yesterday that the $40
would be paid within about a week, thus
settling that end of the. dispute.
One condition made by Mr.. Mackenzie
is thai no debt shall be assumed by the
church. The second condition is that no
instrumental music h be permitted
in the church. A small organ is now used
at services.
The trustees deny that there is any
debt on the church save the one for the
sewer assessment. 1t was said that Mr..
McAndrew had employed counsel to sue
in the Court of Chancery for the recover
of the property on the ground that the
conditions of the will have been violated.
Many think the matter will be amicably
settled within at least two weeks. Coun-
selor McCrea, who represents the trus-
tees, said yesterday that he did not care
to be quoted on the matter just vet. He
admitted though that he thought the case
would be settled without the slightest
difficulty. When the proper time comes
he said, he will give the information out.