The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-04-12
'FATHERLY' TALK
Mr.. Wattson's Sermon to
Girls as Great a Sensa-
ton as the Book
Of SIM
TROUBLE FOR Mr.. ELHEHDoRF
Families Who Stood by Him
Last Year Said to Have
Left Now.
TROUBLE FOR MR.. ELMENDORF

1t is learned on good authority that the
High Church services, conducted Sunday
by Father Watson, at the Holy Cross
Protestant Episcopal Church, have resulted
in at least one resignation. Mrs. Tanner
who resides in Arlington avenue is said to
have sent her resignation to Father FL
mendorf Tuesday. When seen last night,
Mrs Tanner refused to discuss the mat
ter claiming that it was a personal affair,
which did not concern the public. During
the trouble last year caused by Mr.. FL
mendorf's confessional guild "The Book
Of SIM which resulted in wholesale
designations, Mrs. Tanner espoused Mr..
Elmendorf's cause.
Mr.. Samuel Burns, one of the vestry-
men, whose wife is said to have left
the church Sunday morning, when seen
last night declined to discuss the matter
Several other members were seen. but de-
clined to discuss matters pertaining TO
the church.
A former member of the church, who
for various reasons desired his name to
be withheld, said last night that per-
sistent use of the High Church ritual
would certainly resultin the dissolution
of the church. Many members, he said,
while they would not formally resign,
would discontinue attending the church,
and would refrain from giving it f1nanclal
support Those members who left the
church about year ago, had previously
stood the major part of the church ex-
pense Since then it has been a struggle
to meet the financial obligations of the
church.
s4Mr. EImendorf certainly displays a
great lack of Judgment" he said, ''in
practfcing or permitting to be practiced,
doctrines of which the majority of mem
bers dfsapprove and which must neees-
sarily result in a dwindling of the con-
gregation and eventual dissolution. The
people DON'T believe in the High Church
ritual, and if the rector persists in this
course they will seek other churches,
where Services are conducted in con-
formfty with their religious ideas and
previous teachings.
'sThe burning of incense is a custom
practfced by the priests of the Roman
Catholic Church, and was formerly a Gus
tom of the Greek Church In those days,
it was not considered of great religious
Importance, but was done merely to
partially purify the atmosphere. Churches
were not then always as clean as they are
now, and something of this kind was
deemed necessary. 1t seems strange that
the Episcopal Church should have adopt
ed this custom, but nevertheless 1t is
practiced by priests of the extreme High
Church, and some of our younger
rectors, who might properly be termed
fanatics, would insist upon US Worship
ping after the manner of heathens, be-
cause they pretend to belive it is right.
I'm this enlightened age God is worship
ped without ostentation. True Christians
believe that the Almighty pays heed to
the humble, and these of faith who en-
deavor to live in his image
1T is said that many of the Episcopal
clergy belong to a Brotherhood and as
in the days of the Knight Templar, the
members make vows which they even
strive to fulfill The introduction of the
High Church ritual is probably the vow
made by the younger Fathers.
Rector Elmendorf could not be seen
last evening.