The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-12-20
Congregational Church Votes
to Drop All mot in
Good Standing"
WHOM DOES IT HIT?
Tabernacle Members Wonder
If This Is an Attack
on Them.


gregational Church, which was postponed
from last Friday night when the meeting
of the society to ratify the sale of the
Elks was held took place last night in the
lecture room of the church, corner of
Bergen and Boyd avenues. The reports
of the various organizations of the church
were read and acted upon and officers for
the ensuing year were elected. Only one
allusion to the society meeting was made
though action, which was the direct out
come of that meeting was taken in the
vote to revise the church roll.
The Rev. John L. Scudder, pastor of the
church, made report on the Peoples
Palace. He said in part:-"The work car
ried on at the Palace this year was very
successful. A record was made in the
number of free baths given to the boys
which has never been eaualled IN previous
years. Over sixteen thousand baths were
recorded showing how the boys appreciate
the privilege. The work is supported by
subscription from the public and to a
great extent by the First Congregational
Church. The institution helps support it
self to some extent by the revenue derived
from the innocent games which are played
there such as ten pins, billiards and shuf-
fe board. The members are all made to
pay an entrance fee when they join, where
previously any body was admitted. By
this they are more liable to take care of
the various apparatus and better order
is maintained.
''Since the sale of the Tabernacle build
ing was put through chapel has been
fitted up and meeting are held there, thus
making the Peoples Palace an institu-
tional church in every respect. Such as
Miss Clerihew spoke about. Those who
were not in favor of the Palace because
it was not formerly an entirely religious
organization, should now be satisfied in
every respect"
This allusion was in reply to Miss
Clerihew's statement at the society meet
ing that the sale of the Tabernacle was
a blow to institutional church work, as it
made the Peoples Palace nothing but a
club.
Miscellaneous business was next in or
der Mr. Charles Golden moved that the
roll of membership of the church be gone
over and those names of persons who had
died. moved away from the city, and not
been neard from in some time. and those
who would be accounted as not being IN
good standing in the church, be reported
nation from the roll.
Deacon Kelsey misunderstood the mo-
ton and thought that if it were carried it
would empower the prudential committee
to make the revision without first bringing
it before the church. He rose and made
the following remarks: ST do not think it
would be wise to do this without first
bringing the names to be eliminated be-
~, H., l. e., +I,f ~ -,
lieu of the recent troubles which have
been in the church some might say that
we had taken this means to get rid of
those whom we did not want any longer
and it would create wrong impression of
our action. I think it would be wise,
therefor, to have the list when compiled
acted upon by the church.
Mr.. Golden explained that that was the
way the motion was offered. The mo-
ton was carried and the list will be COM
piled and brought before the church for
action
In the course of the election of officers
the chairman of the meeting said that it
was in order to nominate superintendent
for the downtown branch Sunday school,
No name was offered and this position is
vacant.
The stnding rules of the church provide
for the dismissal of members. The arti-
cles relating to it are:-
XxIV.-DIsMISsION
Members removing from the watch
and care of this church, or habitually
worshipping elsewhere, shall apply to
the pastor or clerk for letters of dis
mission and recommendation. Such
applications may be announced at any
regular meeting of the church. and if
0DipofiOQ is made Sllph IpTfprG
shall be issued and signed by the
clerk or pastor, and shall be valid for
In case a member should apply for
letter OF dismission. who has been abb
sent and beyond the watch and care
of this church for a period of two or
and signed by the clerk or pastor
stating the period of absence and de-
claring that at the time of departure
said member was in good and regular
standing. Upon each Communion
sabbath the pastor shall announce
from the pulpit the names of all mem
bers who have been dismissed during
the two months preceding.
XXV.-WITHDRAWA OF FELL
LOWSHIP.
Under peculiar circumstances such
as the continued absence of mem
Der whose residence is unknown, or
the habitual neglect of the communion
of the church by one whose conduct
is not otherwise seandalous, after all
proper efforts have been made to Sc
cure dlSfn ,SSlOn according to the
regular form. the church recognizes
Its right to discharge itself from fur
tller sresDonsi iblity of watch and care
by the withdrawal of its fellowship
without a formal trial. Upon the re-
commendation of the Prudential Com
mittee and a two-thirds vote of the
members pre- ent and voting at any
regular meeting of the church the
name of such member sha be dropped
from the roll, and notice of the ac-
tion of the church shall be given by
the clerk to said member. The names
of persons dropped fr m the fol shall
be announced from tie pulpit upon
the Cemmunion Sabbath following
such withdrawal of fes'oxsh D
XXVI.-OFF'ENCFsS AND TRIALS
No member shall be deprived of
church privileges except by regular
process.
The members of the church are won
degiag this m rning whether the resolu-
ton is intended to be used to get rid of
the down town members Of the church.
Those who support the Sunday school
cannot attend communion service because
i Is held on the Heights at eleven o'clock
An Old and Well Tried Remeax