The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-03-13
WILL NOT ATTEND
Tabernacle People Would
Not Promise to Be
Present at Down
town Services.
LADIES' AID REMOVAL
Will Keep Together as So
ciety, But Will Store
It's Property.

1t is pretty evident that the Tabernacle
congregation intend to entirely abandon
their downtown property as far as at
tendance goes. Last night another phase
in proof of this was brought to light.
1t was the occasion of the Christian En-
deavor sociable. and at the conclusion OF
the programme Mr. Robinson, of Brook
lyn, who has been preaching to the DOWN
town people, was called upon to speak.
He had few words to say, he said, and
had been advised that now was the time
to say them. although he did not desire
to interrupt the social.
He referred to last Friday evening $
meeting. saying that he knew nothing or
the business brought UP after he left.
But said he, "as 1 left the room L
was met by two men, utter strangers to
me, who said they represented the uptown
branch. 1 asked their names and they
gave them. Then they spoke very nicely
of my remarks at the prayer meeting, and
told me they desired me to go on and
preach down here just as I had been
doing. l asked them if they would ex-
plain this to the people inside, and they
said they would. Now, what I want to
know is how many of you are coming
here to prayer meeting next Friday even
ing. 1t is long distance for me to come,
but 1 don't mind that. 1 only want to
know that when I get here l will meet
something else besides lamps and chairs.
How many of you will Gomez"
Utter silence was all the response he
got He put the question again with a
disappointed air, then the people began to
speak. One would be glad to come but
had another enga cement, another might
come but would not promise, while the
majority would not come as matter of
principle.
''You say, Mr.. Robinson" said one
member, ''that those men promised to tell
US of their arrangement with you Friday
night? was present at that meeting and
not one word of this was said. Do you
think we can still have confidence in those
men?'
''Who were they?" was whispered about,
and it was pretty generally ascertained
that they were Deacons Griswold and
Kelsey. Because said some one, they
were outside at the time"
Mr. Robinson further explained that he
had not solicited the arrangement, as he
was afraid some one might think, and
that his syrnpathies were with the DOWN
town people, but he wanted them all to
come out Friday.
Mr.. Charles Hill then came to the
rescue. He said he would come and called
for rising vote Some of the people
were already standing, so they were asked
to raise their hands. In response two
ladies rose and about five hands went up,
including those known to he in sympathy
with the uptown branch. Mr.. Robinson
looked disappointed, but said that he ex-
pected to he present and hoped to see
them all, after which he shook hands all
round and wished the people good night.
Rev. Mr.. Jones and his family were also
present.
1t is evident that the downtown people
intend to literally move out taking all
their property with them. The gathering
up of hymn books on Sunday was in
dicative of this, and last night just prior
to the social the Ladies' Aid held
business meeing in which it was decided
that for the present they would store
their knives, forks, spoons, plates and kit
chen utensils, and meet from house to
house as a Philanthropic Society. 1--WE
may be needed later" said one member,
possibly we will have to take care of the
Day Nursery.
The people will not as a whole with
draw their letters from the First Congre-
gational Church. which goes to show that
they still intend to KEEP an eye to their
rights.