The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-01-30
ROW A FIzzLE.
Opposition to the Rev. Mr.
Garretson Not Very
Strong in Claremont
Church.
DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT
Vote On Acceptance of Re-
signation So Light That
Decision Is Left to
Synod.

| The annual meeting of the Clarenont
Avenue PRESBYTERIAN Church and congre-
CATION was held last night to elect ofh-
GERS and take action on the resignation of
the pastor, the Rev. George r. Garretson.
| rendered several weeks ago. The meeting
was something of fizzle. The resigna-
ton of the pastor was neither accepted
nor rejected and members are now in
doubt as to what will be done.
| Some of the members claimed a while
ago that the church was growing weaker
and they blamed the pastor. Because of
the bad feeling Mr.. Garretson decided to
resign That he still has many adherents
| in the congregation was plainly Demon
strated last night.
The meeting was called to order by Mr..
Garretson, who briefly announced its OBJ
ject William Gregory and w. Lindsey
were reelected elders, Mr.. Gregory for
I three year term and Mr.. Lindsey for a
one year term. Mrs. William Hyams was
| unanimously reelected deaconess re-
port was read showing that the congre-
cation numbered one hundred and twenty
four, twelve less than the previous year.
| In a cduSllC Speech 1dSlOT NIdIictoOli
deplored the absence of the annual re-
ports of the various auxiliary church or
ganizations, which in the interests of the
church should have been compiled and
presented. These remarks were received
without comment, and Mr.. Garretson then
introduced the Rev. DR.. Thompson of the
! Westminster Presbyterian Church, who
was to preside over the joint meeting of
church and congregation Mr.. Garretson
| then left the church.
Before proceeding to action on Mr.. Gar
retson's resignation, Messrs. Gregory, Pier
son and Anderson were elected trustees to
/ serve three year terms. Treasurer Greg
! ory of the Board of Trustees, read a
| financial report of the past year showing
that both receipts and disbursements
| were s., 49, 70 meet the expenditures 1t
was necessary to apply to the Synod for
aid An estimated report of receipts and
expenditures for the ensuing year, based
| on previous showing, demonstrated that
| the receipts would be $1.045 less than the
expenses.
At this point a member arose, and salt
| that he objected to the church receiving
aid from the Synod. He was quickly
squelched by Mr.. Gregory, who sarcasti-
| caly inquired how the church could have
existed if it had not been for outside aid,
as a number of it's members apparently
were not overburdened with a spirit of
| liberaity. Mr.. Gregory further stated
that the liabilities for the coming year
4 would amount to 1895, exclusive OF the
regular church expense
| At the conclusion of the reading of the
| report Mr.. Gregory rendered his resigna-
ton as a trustee, but DR.. Thompson ruled
him out of order, as motion to adopt the
report had been made. Mr. Gregory evil
IDENTIFY reconsidered the matter, as he made
no further effort to resign. The various
reports were all adopted without further
comment.
The resignation of the Rev. G. r. Gar
! retson was next read. The reason as
signed for resignfng was the strained re-
lations existing between the minister and
a number of the congregation whose sus-
picions as to his we'll meaning ne had
been unfortunate enough to excite
DR.. Thompson next asked what action
! the members would take A dead silence
following this query, no one apparently
| wishing to take the initiative. 1t remain
ed for DR.. Thompson to suggest that the
matter be decided by ballots, plan
which proved acceptable
There were forty-fve votes cast,
twenty-three against and twenty-five
votes favoring acceptance. The result
was a surprise, as it was generally sup
posed that the resignation would be
unanimously accepted.
In compliance with the concluding
clause of the resignation, DR.. Thompson
announced that a motion nominating dele
gates to appear before the Presbytery, at
4 the next general meeting, to explain che
trouble, would be in order. 1t was de-
cided to elect three delegates Many
nominations were made, but destinations
followed in every instance. A plea made
to the members that they interest them
selves in the matter passed unheeded In
/ despair Dr. Thompson finally ordered bal
lots to be distributed ana Instructed the
members to vote for any three men they
choose.
The vote resulted in the election of
William Maver, Charles Heinsky and Will
/ lam Morris. All of these gentlemen had
previously declined to serve and their in
tentions are now in doubt
Previous to the balloting, DR.. Thompson,
said 1--we will elect them and if they
refuse to serve we can do nothing more.
Mr. Garretson and the church delegates
will be given an opportunity to state their
cases, at the meeting of the Presbytery
next month";
The resignation of Mr.. Garretson takes
effect next May. It could not be learned
last night whether he would abide by the
1 majority vote and stay, or would insist on
his resignation being accepted.
TO PREVENT ELoPEMEnT.