The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-03-02
STILL NO COAL.
First Congregational Trus-
tees Make No Provision
for Heat.
TABERNACLE PEOPLE FREEZE
Only Fuel for Prayer Meet
ing Tonight is the
Gas.

The Board of Trustees of the First Con-
gregational Society have taken no action
yet on the letter recently sent to them
in which the Tabernacle people give their
reply to the ultimatum of the trustees
regarding the lease. The clauses of the
proposed agreement, with the exception
of the one touching on the lease, were
satisfactory. In the communication sent
to the Tabernacle Branch by the trustees,
it was stated that the downtown branch
could have the church for religious pur-
poses for one year. This clause was OBJ
exception to it.
At the session held on Sunday night in
the lecture room, at the conclusion of
the church services, the Provisional Board
protested against the clause. A resolu-
tion was adopted calling the attention of
the trustees to the fact that it would be
utterly impossible to formulate and con-
summate plans for a successful church
organization in the limited space of one
year. And the question also arose, How
many would join the new undertaking II
the lease were for but one year? Several
declared that if such conditions were i'm
posed they would discontinue worship in
the old church, and would seek other
churches. Others stated that it would not
be possible to get an organization in good
working order in year, that pastor
would not take hold for that time, and
further that those who had formerly con-
tributed literally to the support of the
Tabernacle branch would refuse to sub
scribe under such conditions. These and
other reasons equally convincing were put
forth.
The answer of the Provisional Board
was sent to the trustees Monday. Moth
ing has yet been done.
AS result of the protracted controver-
sizes not a cent has been contributed for
pew rent nor have any subscriptions been
received The treasury is depleted and
the church is now running on its credit.
Unless the Trustees scrape money
enough to purchase coal for the down
town branch, there will be no services to-
night in the lecture room, nor will there
be services on Sunday. The janitor in
formed a reporter this morning that he
had written to the Trustees on Tuesday,
but had received no reply to his letter de-
scribing hesituation. There is not bit of
coal in the bunkers and there will be 10
fires tonight in the lecture room for
prayer meeting. It is probable that the
eight gas jets will be lighted early in the
evening to heat up the room. One thing
is positive, and that is that no fires will
be built unless coal is received late this
afternoon.
There appears to be no disposition on
the part of the Trustees to provide fur
ther materials for the lower branch
When questioned on this matter they
refer to, the condition of the Tabernacle
treasury. This branch is now in debt and
no money has been sent to the treasurer
for several months to pay expenses The
downtown people claim that there is S45
in the treasury received for rent from the
Schubert Glee Club. But what makes
matters worse, the Trustees won't allow
the Provisional Board to purchase sup
plies nor give the janitor permission to re-
ceive any coal or other materials unless
the name of a Trustee is attached to the
order.
1t is quite probable that the downtown
band will gather tonight to discuss the
extremely painful situation. These people
are disgusted with the turn of affairs and
are praying for speedy settlement. This
they have asked of the Board of Trustees
Miss Lille vance a prominent IneIHptI
of the downtown branch stated this
afternoon that it was downright piece of
wickedness on the part of the Trustees
to refuse to supply coal for the Taber-
nacle .'If my father had been well" said
She, 'sthere would have been coal for
the furnaces l would have had coal put
in if had to stand at the church door
with a gun to keep the Trustees off. They
have some money of ours and their
actions now prove that we are being
gradually frozen out. In time I suppose
the Trustees will wish to close the church.
All this is very ungrateful on the part Of
Mr.. Scudder and the trustees. We were
very kind to him when he was in trouble
and now he repays us with ingratitude.
st feel that my father who died last
evening, worried himself sick over. the
church controversies, and that his death
was hastened by his worrying. His last
words were in reference to the church
trouble and even in his unconscious state
he smoke constantly of the attitude of the
Trustees. My father will be sorely miss
cd in the Tabernacle, for he furnished the
pastors for the downtown church for
almost year"
1