The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-03-25
ASK SEPARATION
Tabernacle Committee Be-
lieve in Financial and
Ecclesiastical Divorce.
WON'T Be A BRANCHLET
Petition Circulated Last
Mighty What Mr.. Scud-
der Says.

Although for the past ten or twelve
weeks the Jersey City Tabernacle has
rbeen APPARENTLY pursuing the even tenor OF
its way until the public generally was led
to believe that all its troubles were over
the serenity seems to have been merely
the calm which precedes a storm, and the
clouds have begun to gather.
Last night at the conclusion of the
regular Friday evening prayer meeting,
petition was brought before the people
for signature. 1t was prepared at re-
cent meeting of the committee especially
appointed to take care of the Tabernacle
in its present state. 1t sets forth that the
undersigned believe for the good OF the
Tabernacle a separation both ecclesiasti-
cal and financial should be effected and
petition the Board of Trustees to call a
meeting of the First Congregational
Society and take steps to bring about
such d separation.
While some seem to think that the up
town branch will be willing to make any
reasonable concession to the Tabernacle,
others are of the opinion that If this
meeting be called there will be just such
another storm as was awakened when
the plan of closing the Tabernacle was
presented
The Tabernacle property belongs to the
society of the First Congregational
Church, which is composed of all the
members of both branches. AS the up
town branch is in the majority the ques-
ton is whether or not that branch will
for the sake of peace give up its claim on
the property.
T ;c cnid hat a aTa
of the Tabernacle who are opposed to a
separation. The number of signers of the
petition has not yet been ascertained.
Mr.. Scudder was seen this afternoon by
a News reporter and asked his opinion
of the action taken of the downtown
branch.
81 am not very conversant with the new
move" he said. 81 have not thought it
over sufficiently to give an opinion. l
had heard rumor of it. OOf course, II
such a step is to be taken by the Taberna-
Gle people, melting of the CONGREGATION
of the whole church will have to be
called You know that both congrega-
tions are of the one church This meeting
will probably result in the setting of the
ecclesiastical part of the trouble.
1.-THE society meeting which will prob
ably come first, will settle the nnanclai
question. That is where the trouble seems
to lie.
"This talk of the hill church wishing
to see the downtown church die, is not
true. We would like to see the church
prosper, but the financial end OF the
trouble with which all are familiar IS
matter that the hill church cannot
stand.
ssIf the people think that the only way
out of the predieament lies in organlzlng
a separate church, then so be it. Will
be in favor of what the people decide.
He was asked whether he had formed
an opinion of the trouble, and II ne Wouid
prefer the down town church to sever its
Connection After some hesitation he
Il have not studied this matter enough
to give an opinion. 1t is new question
and therefore I am not conversant with
the details.''
He was also asked if the members of
his church wanted a separation Replying,
he said that he did not know the senti-
ment of his congregation, but thought
the members of it had formed no opinion
as yet. Mr.. Scudder added that he would
like to see the matter amicably settled,
and that further than what he had al
ready said no more information would
come from him.