The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-01-10
THE TABERNACLE.
It's Fate viii Probably Be
Decided Tomorrow
Night.
ANNUAL SOCIETY MEETING
Assistant Treasurer Says No
Funds Have Been Sub
scribed for Next Year.

The annual meeting of the First Con-
gregational Church Society, is to be held
tomorrow night in the lecture room of the
| Hill Church. The session is for the cleo
tion of trustee an da secretary, to pass on
reports and to consider some plans for
carrying on the church work this year
It is also probable that the Tabernacle
| questions will be brought up for con-
| sideration, but what action will be taken
is not known.
The Hill board of Trustees will not grant
the concessions asked by the provisional
trustees of the lower branch. This state
ment was made not only by a member
of the uptown board, but by the assistant
| treasurer of the church society, James
i Whipple. Mr.. Whipple was seen this
morning by a reporter of "The News"
and the following statement was made
"You may state positively that the
separation asked will never be granted.
The concessions asked are so unreason-
able that the uptown board cannot see
its way clear to do any thing in the
| matter.
"One clause the opening one Of the Pc
tition, asks for all the papers of the Tab
ernacle prior to the consolidation. This
would virtually give the church ard prop
erty to the downtown people. The Hill
4 Board would place itself in a responsible
position in granting this request because
of the condition of the lower branch An
other request made by members of the
Tabernacle was to be allowed to use the
church for a term of ninety-nine years
under a lease This plan was not looked
upon with favor, and was also refused.
The Hill trustees were willing to allow
them the use of the church for two years,
but no longer. If the work was carried
on successfully, the lease could De renew,
ed for a similar period.
LAS far as know, the downtown peo-
pie have no plans in view for this year,
Really the church is in a sorrowful state
when the past record is taken into con-
sfderatiom The decline has BEEN gradual
but sure, and now it has reached such
state that it is on the brink Of toutering
to pieces.
i "Not one effort has been put forth this
year for the running of the church. Not
a cent has been subscribed nor one penny
4 taken in for pew rent. In previous years
/ subscriptions and pew rents were well ad-
vanced by this time, but people have
actually told me not to put their names
on the subscription list for one penny this
year. So far I have not received cent
and prospects are very dim. People are
slowly but surely drifting away from the
old church.
1.-THE Tabernacle people have paid all
of their last years debts and will have
few dollars balance. This in view of the
fact that we have had no regular pastor
for almost two years, think is remark
able. Really we have a remarkable set of
people in the church. They have clung
together through everything, feat that
few other churches In similar circum-
Istances could accomplish.
1.-THE downtown people seem to be inn
| bued with a feeling of distrust of the Hill
| trustees. So far every promise made by
| the Hill trustees has been faithfully kept.
Still the downtown people regard the Hill
branch in a suspicious manner.
"a rumor that has gained considerable
circulation of late is to the effect that
the uptown branch is trying to sell the
/ Tabernacle property and thus shut the
| down town people out forever. This is
! absurd. I am member of the Taber-
nacle, but I have never taken sides in
| the controversies. I will say on this SUBJ
ject that it is impossible to dispose of
the church property. The Gregory es-
| tate gave the property for church pur-
poses, with the express condition that it
shall always be used for such work, and
| in the event of failure to carry out the
| provisions of this agreement, the prop
| erty was to revert to theNestate 1t will
be seen how ridiculous such statements
are
s.At the meeting, tomorrow night 1t Is
! likely that some plans for the future of
/ the Tabernacle may be brought up, but
| 1 cannot say positively. So far as know
/ there have been no plans considered by
| the downtown people, and, further, not
one step has been taken for the running
/ of the church this year. This certainly
1 does not look as though the workers We're
| very anxious about the future of the
church. They have become disheartened
| of late and do not seem ito take any in
terest in the church work. shall not
accept the position of assistant treasurer
again if 1T is offered to me-
| Secretary Frank H. Hall, of the Uptown
! Board of Directors, said he knew of no
plans for the future of the Tabernacle.
i "Our communications" he said, regard
| ing a, conference, have not been consider
! ed and SO the matter rests. If a. communi-
4 cation touching upon the separation ques-
| ton should be presented at the meeting
tomorrow night. 1t will probably be re-
ferred to the trustees for consideration"
Mr.. Hall confirmed Mr. Whipple's state
ment regarding the Tabernacle pew rents
and subscriptions, adding that he was
unaware Of any plans for the continuance
of the work.
Three trustees terms will expire to-
morrow night These are Frank H.
Hail, e. B. Sperry and G. M. Craig. All
will doubtless be reelected, no other
candidates having been mentioned. The
Board of Trustees win meet for the last
time tonight, to pass on reports. which
| will be presented at tomorrow nights
meeting. Thea new Board of Trustees
i viii organize at the conclusion of the
3smeeting tomorrow night. A secretary
will also be elected, and a treasurer will
| be chosen by the Board of Trustees. The
trustees will be chosen for two year
terms.
/ The Hill church Is in an excellent condi-
/ ton In the past year, $500 has been
paid on theFchtigch and parsonage debts
.I.Of this 5000 was raised at a special col
! lection taken for that purpose sast year.
The Ladies' Aid Society gave $3.50 toward
xa,.1,