The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-05-16
]. C. DISTRICT.
Archdeacon Jenvey Tells the
P. E. Convention of the
Years Progress.
CHRIST HOSPITAL REPORT
Breezy Discussion Over
Amendment of Canon
Regulating Church
Property.
Especial to '.The Jersey city News"l

Especial to 1.-The Jersey City News"l
EAST ORANGE, May is, 19oo-The pro-
posed insertion of the apparently innocent
and harmless little word income in a
canon provoked a sharp debate yesterday
afternoon at the annual convention of the
Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Newark,
now in session in this sleepy little suburb.
The section of the canon now In discus
sion was approved of by Vice Chancellor
John R. Emery. of the Committee ON Civil
Legislation, which asked the convention
to incorporate in the statute law these
words;-
Any such corporation, notwithstand-
ing any restriction contained in its
charter, letters patent act of ineorpor-
alton, or certificate of organization,
may acquire, purchase, receive, nave
and hold any real estate which 1t may
deem necessary and expedient in trust
for the use of said congregation, pro-
vided the same shall not be used by
the corporation for any other purpose
than the rendering and maintaining IN
any building now or hereafter erected
upon such real estate, the worship or
Almighty God, and the futherance or
religion, according to the doctrines,
discipline and worship of the said Pro-
testant Episcopal Church, or for edu-
cation or administration of charity to
the body or souls of men.
Rev Walker Gwynne moved that the
words income of the should be placed
after the word provided" Then there
was a kick all around because the adop-
ton of the amendment would prohibit
several wealthy parishes leasing property
for business purposes.
Rev. W. r. Richmond, of Orange,
whose church has several houses leased
for secular purposes. became alarmed and
asked for the advice of the lawyers
present. He also complained that the
clause in the same section prohibiting the
church making leases for any time longer
than one year without the approval of the
Bishop and the Standing Committee was
a hardship.
What does it mean?" he asked. I
would like to hear what lawyers here
have to say about one year leases"
..It means,'' replied Judge Charles w.
Parker, delegate from ST. Paul's, Jersey
City, that the church can't go into the
real estate business and confines its use
of property to the uses mentioned"
That is the language of the present
statute and was revised by Vice Chan
celior Emery" replied Rev E. A. White.
But look here.,' said Colonel E. A
Stevens of Hoboken, addressing the con-
ventiou. "the question of lease is not so
important as the question of limiting the
income here. represent parish in Ho-
boken which has large real estate and I
object to the title of that property being
affected by this change. 1 won't take
any snap Judgment of this convention on
SO important a matter and will fight it
aC oil iph
/ want to know that first"
Rev. George S. Bennitt of Grace Church,
Jersey City, put the extinguisher on the
amendment, which was noisily voted
down. Colonel Stevens and Rector Rich
mond looked happy.
The next section of the canon regulat ting
the quorum of vestry was discussed and
finally decided that to constitute a
quorum three integral parts must be pres
ent, the rector, one or both of the war
dens and a majority of the vestry, and in
the event of the absence or inability of the
rector one warden and a majority of the
yestrymen can call a meeting Other
changes were made of a very slight ma
ture in matters of parish procedure.
The Convention then listened with in
terest to the annual report of Christ Hos
pitai, Jersey City, which was read by Rev.
George S. Bennitt, rector of Grace
Church, Erie street. and president of the
Council This year completes ten years of
work, during which the total number of
patients cared for was S1,453, at cost of
si25. 600 The total number of patients
treated last year was 1916. The expendi-
lures were s21, ,6SS.es meaning the cost per
day of each patient of 95 CENTS
.sThe receipts have been," said the presi-
dent. Through the especial efforts of the
treasurer sufficient to meet the current
axnensesz and interest for the year; with a
balance of over three hundred dollars on
hand. The building of the new wings
began with the breaking of ground by the
president. September 13, 1898, assisted by
others connected with the institution. On
limo IA 1899. the Bishop of the diocese,
assisted by the president the chaplain
and the Bishops chaplain, opened the
new wings with religious services. The
total cost of its construction has been
about $s6 900, of which only $4,000 was OBJ
tanned by mortgage and we have already
two thousand dollars towards this obliga-
tion.
sThe Council has received by legacy
from the estate of Margaret Cowen, late
of Jersey City, s., 900, applied to construc-
ton of new wings, and by will OF Louis
M Vogel, late of West Hoboken, $5,oOo lol
the endowment of a bed Is provided Tor
ssThe Abercrombie Guild is especially
engaged in the endowment of beds ane
In many other ways for the best interests
of the institution. It has added ovel
eleven hundred dollars to its endowmen'
funds. has in hand over twelve hundred
dollars towards a new Daisy Ward, ane
nearly four hundred dollars towards th'
bonded debt. 1t has paid in towards tn
current expenses, mostly from its inter
est on endowments, over twenty-five hun
dred dollars The Guild desires to extent
dts thanks to Hon. John w. Heck fol
most valuable services rendered it.
"St Mary's Guild has for its work th'
raising of money towards the interest OF
the mortgaged debts of the hospital They
have now about SIS mite boxes in various
stores. offices and families, collected from
quarterly The last year the four quar-
+ere, collections amounted to $9s0.89
Aa Old and wo1l TriodRomeay.
aIls ssiiislows Soothing Syrup fos
c94sAsren teerhing shonld always pc used
for children whise teetn.ng. II softens tbs
ss,.s o1favs the pair cures wind colis