The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-03-15
CHURCH'S CRISIS.
Special Meeting Of Green
vile Reformed Congre-
cation to Discuss
Money Raising
Measures.
STRANGE DECREASE IN MEMBERSHIP
Consistory to Try to Raise
Money to Meet Financial
Difficulty.
STRANGE DECREASE In MEMBERSHIP

AS result of a pending financial crisis
of the GreenyiIle Reformed Church,
special meeting of the congregation was
called last night to devise plans to raise
funds to bridge over the present difficult
ties and save the church from disruption.
A similar meeting was held last fall ana
10y dint of much urging a number OF the
members were induced to contribute
enough funds to relieve ths, church OF
its financial embarrassment at that time.
The members were forced last night 10
face ike situation.
For some reason during the past few
years there has been gradual decrease
in membership, a fact which naturally
affected the finances of the church. The
expenses remained the same while the
annual receipts grew less. The result
was that few years ago the ehurch
was forced to borrow s400 to meet ex-
penses. Besides this, there is s',eVo
mortgage. which has been running since
tbe erection of the church. 1t was only
by the hardest kind of work that the reg
ular expenses OF last year were met.
Al the beginning of this year the church
found itself handicapped by S4Vo note
besides the regular expenses. 1t dla not
see lis way clear to meet che hrst quar-
ters expenses The Consistory after
consulting the pastor, the Rev charles j.
Allen, decided 10 call a special meetlhs
of the CONGREGATION hoping that the
members would offer substantial AID IN
fbe form OF generous contributions. In
mis- ,ha Constslory was a tribe disap-
pointed, ana it now seems probable that
eilher another loan must beApego-iated or
the pastors salary decreased. AT the
meeting the congregation was scored by
several members of the Consistory Tor
lis general inactivity and lack OF interest
in the welfare of the church.
The meeting was called to order by
Pastor Allen. In stating its object, he an
nonnced that he thought, plans could De
devised whereby the gale could pe
vyeathered if the members could work IN
hsrmony. While the members showed
dsposition TO work in harmony, compllea-
tions. the result of erroneous statements
arose. which for time plunged the pro-
ceedings in a state of chaos.
In response to a call for suggestions,
Michael Schultz, Jr., member OF the
consistory, stated that the obligations
must be met, and suggested that money
be borrowed on another note
Another member opposed this sugges-
ton on the ground that it was not
nalicv to increase the church debt, with
ont the means of early settlement in
sight.
Mr.. Schultz with great warmth then
asked was the church was going to 40
THE pastors salary" he said, must
be paid and regular expenses settled II
the credit of the church is to be main
tanned. I am loath to increase the church
debt but under the circumstances there
appearss no other way out of the difficulty
unless we devise means to decrease e1-
penses This, I believe. has been sug-
gested by some of the members
Mr.. Hess another consistory member,
said he labored under the impression that
Mr.. Schultz had in some manner referred
to him as advocating the reduction OF
Pastor Aliens salary. He said that he
was friend of Mr.. Aliens and had re-
ceived much benefit from his sermons.
IF the members of the congregation
would take more interest in church work
and keep their promises relative to sub
scriptions the church would not be in
financial straits today" he said.
Mr.. Pierson at this juncture said that
he did not see what the congregation had
to do with the matter at the present time.
.erhe Consistory," said Mr.. Pierson,
ssmust as representatives of the church,
pay its honest debts. 1t has the power
and must do it. If the congregation fails
to support the Consistory in its financial
difficulties it must abide by the conse-
Quences. What is the estimated shortage
for the ensuing year?"
He was informed by Treasurer David
Jones, that the shortage, including the
note for S400, would amount to about Sl,4eo.
Questions We're then fired at the Treas
urer from all parts of the room relative
to receipts and disbursements for prey
ious years and years to come. Everyone
seemed to be working at cross purposes,
and confusion prevailed. Through the ef-
forts of Pastor Allen quiet was restored.
motion was then made by a member
that vote be taken as to whether OF
not the Consistory should raise loan 70
meet the present financial difficulty.
The motion was seconded and was about
to be put, when Mr.. Hess declared that
the consistory had full power to act in
the matter, and such a motion was
usurpation of its authority
Mr.. Allen recognized the justice of this
statement and declared the motion out
of order.
Mr.. Pierson here moved that a COM
mittee of the consistory be appointed tc
visit all members, with the object Of
obtaining sufficient subscriptions to meet
expenses up TO April l. The motion was
carried.
At this point Pastor Allen remarked
that If the members deemed the pastor
burden, they should act accordingly.
1t further developed that the Ladies
Aid Society paid the yearly interest OF
about $3.50 on the church mortgage and
also paid off 500 on the main debt each
year. This fact was elected by Mr.. Pier
son, who was anxious to know what be-
came of the earnings. In spite of requests
by the Consistory it appears that the la
dies refuse to depart from their custom
even for short time.
Mr. Oliver remarked that their IDEAS
of dnanciering were rather peculiar, mas
much as they paid off s100 each year on d
debt contracted at per cent, while the
consistory was forced to borrow money at