The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-04-23
Mr.. PYLE'S BOMB
If Rumor Speaks True It
May Prove a Boom
erang.
SAYS HE WILL RESIGN
Prominent Member of Grace
Church Answers That is
What the Members
Want.
SAYS HE WILL RESIGN

rye, rector OIL Grace frOteStdii i1PAS
copal Church, Ocean and Pearsall ave-
nues, discoursed on the finances the
church. Mr.. Pyle threw a bombshell
when he stated that if the congregation
did not take immediate steps toward pay
ing off the church debt he would accept
call, proffered him by a larger church,
which would pay him much more money
than he now received. Mr.. Pyle added
that he was expected to give an answer
by May l, or as soon after as possible.
Mr.. Pyle's ultimatum was a surprise to
the. congregation. 1t caused number OF
ladies' in the congregation to weep, and in
cidentally to increase their customary
offerings when the plate was passed.
Referring to the financial condition of
the church, Mr.. Pyle said:-"I am, at a
loss to understand the reason for the i'm
poverished state of the church treasury.
When, three years ago, became rector
of this church, the congregation, then not
much more than half its present size,
contributed S2S5 to the Easter collection.
The following year, with a membership
not greatly increased, the Easter collec-
ton netted 1925. Last Sunday our col
lection was S84 The question why this
great decrease naturally presents itself.
s.In the past three years the congrega-
tion has increased seventy-five per cent.
Last Sunday there was thirty-three per
cent more communicates than on Easter
three years ago. Strange as 1t may
seem, as the congregation increased the
contributions decreased to such an ex-
tent that at the present time the church
finances are in anything but satisfac-
tory condition Averaging the collections
and annual income since the first OF the
year, at the end Of the year we will be
$500 in debt, in addition to the $1,000
church mortgage"
Mr.. Pvle contrasted Trinity Protestant
Episcopal Church of Rroolyn with Grace
Protestant Episcopal Church, to the dis
advantages of the latter Trinity
Church. said Mr.. Pyle. 'shas an an
nual- income of $4,000 which is subscribed
bv a congregation smaller than that OF
Grace Church. Trinity Church Is pros
porous. while we appear unable to raise
the insingnificant amount essential to the
proper. maintenance of the church.
without suggesting a remedy for the
financial difficulty Mr. Pyle then made
the statement relative to the call from
another church He also stated that
Bishop Starkey had granted him permis-
sion to accept the call.
A member of the church who does not
wish his name used, said in reference to
Mr.. Pyle's statement:--''Mr. Pyle has
stated his ide of the financial question.
Speaking from the pulpit he has slight
advantage of the congregation Yet there
are two sides to the question. He is alone
responsible for the impoverished condi-
tfon of the church today. BY his extreme
views on the ritualistic forms Of SER
vice. and his persistence in maintaining
them. he has antagonized those members
who in the past shouldered the major part
of the expenses of te church.
s'Mr F. B. Lockwood, who has served
in the vestry for a number of years. has
during the past year withheld his f1nan-
cial aid and has practically severad his
connection with the church. Mr.. Lock
wood has always been heavy con-
tributor and the withdrawal of his sup
port makes a vast difference in the
finances of the church. He holds a $1,000
mortgage on the church, the other mort
gage of 81. 600 being held by Mr.. j. J. Det-
1 W1ll6r. VINO also previous tbulIibutCu
largely to the support of the church.
admitting that the congregation hes
increased in size, its lack of proper finan-
clay support denotes lack of sympathy
between rector and congregation. If the
majority of members approved of Rector
Pyie's high church rituahstic tendencies
they would certainly testify their approval
by giving substantial financial aid. It is
an old fashioned congregation, however,
and with perhaps the exception of a few
women the members are opposed to every
form of the high church ritual
Last year Mr.. Pyle was told that if he
would abolish the confessional and con-
duet services according to the wishes of
thine congregation his salary would be
increased from 81, 900 to 81, 500 per annum.
Mr.. Pyle replied that it was his special
prerogative to conduct services in any
manner he deemed proper. The result was
that he did not get an increase of salary,
but only succeeded in increasing his un-
popularity. I am in position to state
that the majority of the congregation are
inclined to favor a change Of rectors and
will probably, as a speedy means of rid
ding themselves of Mr.. Pyle, refrain from
rendering hnanclal AID until tne Gays OF
grace specified in Mr.. Pyles ultimatum
expires
At the recent vestry election three new
members were elected in the places Of
Messrs Edward Fry, William Ammrman
and Frank B. Lockwood. The present
vestry consists OFF. j. Detwiller, Senior
Warden; Samuel Ross, Junior Warden;
H. A. Lilliendahl, p. A. Bush, F. NJ.
Bartleman, M. NJ Henry. They were re-
elected. The new members are:-R.
Brewer, A. E. Gibbons and f. Hlliard.
1t is said that one of the members pres
ent at the election protested that it was
Illegal, because the polls We're opened
from $50 P. M. to P. NJ, when the
church law explicitly states that the poles
during the election Of vestrymen are to
be open from s p NJ. to 8 P. NJ 1t is also
said that five of the vestrymen will refuse
to serve If this be true it will be impos-
sible to obtain quorum for the pur-
pose of organization.
Indications.
"Watch TIL grocer's bhoy, said the
ianitor ,phfl0sopher: .sff he throws lr3 his