The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-04-10
FOR WOMEN
ONLY =
Father" Wattson's Talk at
Church Of Holy Cross Hor-
rifles His Hearers.
CAUSED NERVOUS PROSTRATIOa
The Congregation Again Stir
red Up Over Ultra Ritu-
alistic Practices.

A dozen members of the Holy Cross
Protestant Episcopal Church. Claremont
and Arlington avenues, testified their dis
approval of the High Church ritual Sun
day morning, by unceremoniously leaving
the church when the procession of altar
boys bearing burning candles, followed by
priest, and headed by an .acolyte, swing
ing a brass censor containing burning
incense, moved up the main aisle. A
number of the congregation, while they
stayed throughout the service, after
wards protested against this High
Church method of conducting the ser
vice.
The services were conducted by the
Rev. Lawrence Watson, of Nyack, New
York, who has. been performing the
duties of rector in the absence of the Rev.
Augustine Elmendorf Mr.. Watson is a
firm believer in the laws of the High
Church, but he did not conduct services
according to this method until Sunday
morning Father Elmendorf, who has
been seriously i'll, made his appearance at
Church Sunday morning and sat with the
congregation. In the evening he partici-
pated in the professional service. His
participation is considered sanctioning
Father Wattsons method of conducting
the service.
Father Elmendorf's leaning toward the
High Church service, and amicular con-
fession cause a disruption in the church
about year ago from the effects of
which it has not wet recovered. The
High Church service of Sunday is almost
toiy To IN 1rti1 ions
which will result in another reduction of
the congregation. 1t is said that several
members openly protested to Rector
Elmendorf, but were told that the SER
vices were conducted according to. the
rules of the Episcopal Church, and that
in the future all services would be con-
Quoted that way.
The services have previously been con-
Quoted without the burning of incense,
but it is well known that had Rector FL
mendorf felt assured of the sanction of
the congregation, services would long ago
have been conducted according to the
High Church ritual.
Another feature of Sundays service,
which caused the disapproval of the ma
jority of the congregation was the bow
ing of the members of the choir, altar
boys and the officiating rector to the
cross.
There is great indignation among the
women of the congregation because of
things said by Mr. Watson at meeting
for women over eighteen years old, held
last Friday afternoon. Some of the re-
marks it is said, had absolutely nothing
to do with the subject of religion, and
were unfit to be repeated One woman,
it is said, after attending the meeting, re-
turned home suffering from nervous
shock, and is still ill. Others. it is said,
have vowed never to attend the church
again, as the meetings and services con-
Quoted by Father Watson instead of pro-
noting Christianity only filled them with
disgust.
Mr. Elmendorf has been endeavoring to
school his congregation for some time to
address him as Father which is al
legged to be the proper title for a High
Church divine. Some of the members
have taken kindly to the innovation, and
ssFather Elmendorf'' is now frequently
heard.
Neither Mr.. Elmendorf nor Mr.. Watt
son could be seen last night. 1t is said
that Rector Watson was brother of
Superintendent Watson of the West
Shore Railroad, who was killed by Cliff
| Ford