The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-03-15
TABERNACLE PLANS.
Many Members Threaten to
Leave--The Committee
Will Work Hard to
Save the Branch.

Plans for the continuance of the Taber-
nacle church work are still under con-
sideration by the committee appointed
by the Board of Trustees of the First
Congregational Church and Society about
a week ago. The committee consists of
two deacons, Myron Kelsey and H. L.
Grisworld; two trustees E. B. Sperry and
Sidney Gould, and a treasurer, James 5.
Whipple. The committee met last week
and devised some. plans for the downtown
work, but the people constitutiong the
Tabernacle congregation will be consult
ed before these are put into operation.
This committee will govern all the down
town work and will conduct affairs pretty
much as they see fit.
1t will be left to the people of the lower
branch whether they will retain the
present supply, S. V. Robinson or whether
they will secure the services of some
other preacher.
Treasurer James S. Whipple was seen
yesterday afternoon, but he was inclined
to be reticent as to the future plans for
the Tabernacle work. He stated that the
success of the church lay with the peo-
pie and if they supported the church,
that institution would be run as it was
during the first year of the consolidation
when the Rev. Sydney Cox was the as
sociate pastor.
"a preacher will be engaged and will
be give the same power as Mr.. Cox
had," said Mr.. Whipple. "Who the pas
tor will be, remains with the members.
The assistant will be given charge of the
church work. if sufficient funds can be
raised to pay him a stated salary. His
position will be a permanent one and he
will be right in the midst of his field OF
labor A subscription list will be started
shortly and we expect numerous con-
tributions."
Mr. Whipple went on to speak of the
condition of the depleted treasury, saying
that the Sunday School and Christian En-
deavor Societies were among the best in
| the city, 'It would be a chance" he
said, ''for these branches to disband, and
I think that it would be a blow to
church work in the lower part of the
city,
On all sides there are many rumors of
leaving flying about How true these are
remains to be seen. Not one has request
ed a letter to another church as yet, but
almost every one approached declares
that he or she will take those steps. They
| fail to see how the church can be sue
cess, and have expressed themselves
rather harshly ON this matter. There is
no telling how it all will end. If the
members are true to the statements they
have uttered so often, there is but one
fate in store for the lower branch: dis
bandment The new committee will, how
ever, make a strong fight to keep the old
ship af1oat by building her over again
with some new timber. 1t Is even pos
sible that the Board of Trustees will
| consent to advancing some funds to the
empty treasury of the downtown churcn
to set the organization on its feet again
| All monies for rentals, entertainment
| and such like are to go to the independent
| downtown treasury in the future and the
| committee will endeavor to make the
! branch self-supporting.
! The majority of the church members
have gathered up their hymn books ano
have taken them home. Other property
belonging to the members has also been
| carted away.