The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-10-25
Federation Of Denominations
On the Hill Formed by
Five Clergymen.
CONSTITUTION AND RESOLUTIONS
Promoters Intend to Form Ne
New Society but to Unity
Those In Existence.

In federation there is strength, an9
what the churches need is strength-there-
fore, they have come to the conclusiou
that the best thing they can do is to
form local federations, which later will
develop into State and National federa-
tions. This movement of federation has
been very successful in many places
throughout the country, especially in New
York, where there is a central agency, in
charge of the Rev Sanford, general secre-
tary. The movement started in the New
England States and has grown with great
rapidity. The object is to so district
the cities that every family can be visit
ed with the idea of bringing them into the
church, according to their preferred de-
nomination.
A few years ago something OF this
kind was started in Jersey City. but did
not prove successful, but now the move
ment has what is believed to be a frm
foothold. 1t started with five clergymen
representing feur denominations. the
Rev. Charles A. Herr, of the First Pres
byterian Church, the Rev E. L. Stoddard.
of st. Johns P. E. Church, the Rev.
William A. Brush, of st. PauPs P. E.
Church, the Rev. John L. Scudder, of the
First Congregational Church, and the
Rev. Cornelius Brett, of the Bergen Re-
formed Church
These five men conceived the idea OF a
federation on small scale, that is among
the churches of the Heights and Tuesday
afternoon held a meeting in the session
room of DR.. Hers Church and adopted
the following constitution
Name-This organization shall be known
as the Federation of Churches in Jersey
City.
Objects-Its promotion intend to form
no new society. but rather to unity those
already in existence.
They intend to interfere with the
autonomy of no church. nor do they pro-
pose to involve themselves in any mat
ters political in their nature.
They seek to bring about practical
union between the churches through CO.
operative work.
To bring the organized intelligence and
love of our churches to bear on the
material, social, economic and spiritual in
terests of the life of our city, and through
! nterdeneminational conference and CO.
operation meet the city's religious needs.
To show by such means the essential
unity which really exists between
churches and to give medium through
which the united Christian sentiment Of
the community in regard to moral issues
may be expressed To reach and touch
every home in our city, by house to house
visitation.
To consider new or additional methods
for the Christianizing of the city.
Membership-Each church accept
ing this constitien shall be enrolled as a
member of the Federation and shall have
the right to appoint its pastor and two
delegates, one man and one woman to
represent it in the Council. Any other
organization may be admitted to member
ship by the vote of the Council and shall
be represented by one delegate.
Government-The government Of this
Federation shall be vested in a council
composed of the pastor and two delegates
from each church in union with it, and
one delegate from each organization other
than church. This council shall have
no authority over churches. its power be-
ing advisory and executive.
The council shall elect each year at it's
annual meeting president, vice-presi-
dent. secretary and treasurer. and there
may be. appointed an executive committee
consisting of the president. secretary
and five others.
The council shall have power to make
such bylaws, initiate such work and
adopt such methods of work as shall
seem wise.
Meetings-The council shall meet once
a year or at the call of the president.
The executive committee may meet once
in two months or at the call of the Presi-
dent
Finances-The expenses shall be met by
a voluntary offering from the churches in
session with the Federation.
In addition to the constitution the fol-
lowing resolutions were passed. That
there shall be sent to each Clergyman
within the district covered by our work.
that is. the district extending along the
FTill from Newark to Bidwell avenues .
istatement of what has been done.
Parechial-That as the districts of an
pastors will be canvassed, all are most
earnestly and cordially invited to unite
in this Federation. That after a pre-
liminary meeting of alb the clergy OF the
| distrtct, there will be held a public meet
ing, at which the aims of the organiza-
ton shalrsbe set forth, this meeting to be
followed by a completion of the Fedora
ton by extending it to as many churches
as possible
The next meeting, to which all the
clergymen in the Hill District are to be
invited will be held in the lecture room
of DR.. Hers Church. on Emory street.
at 2:15 on the afternoon of November /.