The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-03-10
TABERNACLE BOMB
Trustees Announce That
Their Ultimatum Is mo
independence.
NOT EVEN HOME RULE
Separationists Told Last Night
That a Committee Will
Govern the Branch.

Another conference was held last even
ling in the lecture room of the Tabernacle.
between six of the Trustees of the First
Congregational Church Society and those
representing the downtown branch of the
society, and as usual the plans submitted
Iby the Trustees were opposed in every
detail.
The Trustees popped in on the down
town people while they were holding the
|weeluly prayer meeting. They waited until
the meeting was over before submitting
plans drawn up at meeting of the Trus-
tees he'd Thursday night. Secretary
Blake read the plans. Under the new sys
item committee of five, two deacons,
dyron Kelsey and H. L. Griswold; two
trustees, E. B. Sperry and Sidney Gould,
and a treasurer, James S. Whipple, will
conduct the affairs of the Tabernacle.
This committee will provide the church
with a pastor, defray all expenses of the
dover branch and assume charge of the
church affairs in general All monies re-
ceived downtown from rentals, contri-
buttons, pew rents and such like, will be
used entirely for the lower branch. The
treasurer will attend to the paying of all
| Di-A9 OuS VI tAAAo 4iloCpCAluSlil treasury
The Tabernacle people could scarcely
restrain themselves while Mr.. Blake was
reading what one member termed an "in-
famous proposition
Cries of 'tMr. Chairman" and "Mr.
President" were heard on all side from
many who jumped quickly to their feet.
There is no chairman said Mr.. Blake.
One woman called for Trustee Gould to
take the chair, but Mr.. Blake arose and
stated that there was no need of any
such action, as there was no meeting and
that the Trustees had simply come down
to read the plans which they intended to
put into operation He then went on to
| explain what he thought would be the
advantages resulting from the new plans
| and concluded by stating that he hoped
everything wiuld be satisfactory to the
Tabernacle people as the plans were GER
tainly good ones.
| Trustee Sperry took the floor in the in
| terests of the new proposition. He spoke
| of how the new committee would control
matters of the pastor to be called, and
he also hoped that the plans would meet
with favor.
MIR. J. D. Noonan, of the lower branch,
was the first to arise and object to the
proposition He told of the struggles of
| the downtown branch-for existence within
| the last two years and stated that he
| knew of many people who as a result
were staying away from the church He
added that the Tabernacle branch had no
representation on the committee, as
James Whipple was doubtful, and the
other four were members of the Hill
branch.
| Theodore Parker followed Mr.. Noonan
and he spoke for half an hour against
the plans. In his argument he reviewed
the career of the downtown church and
asked if the plans would be better than
an independent church. He would like to
have the people vote on the new plans,
he said, and this would have been done
| if the trustees had only informed them
| that the plans were to be submitted. He
referred to the struggles of the Taber-
nacle as resembling the Rebellion of 1776.
'ATaxation without representation" was
how the matter stood. He compared the
| trustees with gigantic trust with CEN
| tra1zed power, and stated that the trus-
tees wished to palm off plans without the
consent of the governed.
] Mrs M. Vance also raised an objection
to the new move after which the session
broke up. Several women rushed for the
Trustees, and some shook their fists in
| the faces of the members. A couple of
/ the Trustees attempted to dodge out of
the door, but they were caught and
asked for explanations.
"To think that my parents were char
ter members of this church, said one
lady almost in tears, land now we are
| haipo almost driven away
| The six members of the Board of Trus-
| tees present were:-Messrs Gerson, Gould,
/ Sperry Craig, Rowland and Blake. Their
plans are to be put in operation i'm
mediately and the Tabernacle is thereby
| taken out of the hands of the downtown
people. The committee will rule the
/ church.
The downtown people were under the
impression that the Trustees would grant
them the lease of the church for year
with the option of a renewal, but this
was denied as the following communica-
tion will show
March 8, 1900.
| Provisional Board of Trustees of the
| Tabernacle of Jersey City.
| Gentlemen-Your letter of February
| 25 1900, received. When your commit.
| tee was before us the renewal clause
/ was thoroughly considered and it was
at thait time our conclusion that no
such clause should be inserted, and We
see no arguments are now advanced
in favor of such q clause, and we see
no reason for changing our minds on
this question The memorandum sub
mitted to you at our meeting of Feb
| ruary q. explained our ultimatum and
inasmuch as those whom you represent
will not accept the same, we conclude
that all negotiations which have for
their object the forming of an indie
| Dendenf church are at an end
We shall therefore put into effect
the plans for the continuance of the
/ Tabernacle work, which we have been
/ endeavoring to formulate, and as soon
| as possible advise the Tabernacle
! people of the same.
Very truly yours,
/ Board of Trustees, First Congre-
gational Church Society, Frank III.
j Hail. Secretary
This communication settles all possible
ity of the Tabernacle people having their
desire The downtown branch will meet
at the conclusion Of tomorrow nights ser
vices to discuss the action taken by the
Trustees.
The Rev. John L. Scudder, in referring
to the controversy, said last evening that
there will be no independent church down
7,I,at x.,ort ca4f1ad 11o said