The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-07-14
Mr.. PYLE'S PULPIT
High and Low Church Fac
tions Excited Over His
Successor in Grace
Church.
FOES OF RITUAL ACTIVE
The Retiring Rector Explains
His Position-The Auri-
cular Confession
Contest. /

There is danger of further break in
the Grace Episcopal Church. at Ocean
and Pearsall avenues, and in the Church
of the Holy Cross, at Claremont and
Garefild avenues, over the high church
tendencies of the pastors of both of these
churches.
The congregations of both Of these
churches are opposed in the extreme to
the high church practices, and for that
reason Rector Pyle was practically fore
ed from the Grace Church few days
ago.
The congregation OF the Church OF the
Holy Cross attempted to oust the Rev.
Augustine Elmendorf, but his power
was too great and number af families
resigned rather than remain there.
SPLIT IAIPENDS.
The high church doctrines practiced
by both of these pastors met with strong
opposition, and to this day the congre-
CATION of the Church of the Holy Cross
are kicking vigorously against the high
church tendencies of Pastor Elmendorr.
1t is safe to assert that the pastor
who succeeds the. Rev. Mr.. Pyle, will
not be a man who has the same views rs
Pastor Pyle. The congregation won't
stand for the high church teachings any
longer, and when call is extended it
will be to a man who has liberal views.
CHURCHMEN EXCITED.
Churchgoers and pastors in general
are depely interested in the controversy
between the Rev. Percival G. Pyle. pas
tor of the Grace Episcopal Church, of
Ocean and Pearsall avenues, and the
congregation, growing out of the High
Church doctrines practiced by Pastor
Pyle and his hearing of confessions.
PREVIOUS FIGHTS.
The resignation of Pastor Pyle,
brought about by the congregation be-
cause Of these reasons, recalls the bitter
fights waged in Pastor Pyle's Church
and in the Church of the Holy Cross,
of which the Rev. Augustine Elmendorf
is pastor, because these pastors heard
confessions and practiced High Church
doctrines which the congregation strenu-
ously objected to. Pastor Pyle emulated
the example set by Pastor Eimendorf
and vigorous kicks followed.
The objections to Pastor Elmendorf
became so great that dozens of families
left to 60 to st. Johns Episcopal Church
in Summit avenue. The climax was
reached when he circulated a book on
preparation for confession, called ''The
Way of ePnitence,' written by the Rev.
Mr.. Mortimer, of Philadelphia, bro
ther of the Rev Frederick Mortimer, of
st. Marks Church ON Jersey avenue.
ELAIENDORF'S BOOKS.
1t was said that member of the
vestry threatened to horsewhip Pastor
Elmendorf because he circulated these
books. Bishop Starkey was appealed
to and the result was that Pastor Ell
mendorf was ordered to cease giving
out the indecent books and to gather
in what he could from among the fami-
lies. Since then he has heard confess
sions. put in side altar and had a lamp
burn perpetually over the altar. He has
also frozen out Of the vestry all those
members who did not coincide with his
views. He even went as far as to
hold the election of the vestry at five
o'clock in the morning in order to win
his way.
TIRED OF PYLE.
The opposition that Pastor Pyle has
met with has been of the same sort. The
members grew tired of his preaching
and particularly the confessions. Despite
the fact that he says he was not asked
to resign, prominent members of the
church state that he was.
Pastor Elmendorf refused to discuss
the auricular confession question yester-
day, stating that he had nothing to say.
The Rev. Frederick Mortimer, who IS
a High Church man. was out of town.
Pastor Pyle, however, was home, and
had this to say
REV. MR.. PYLE'S VIEWS.
"Certainly / have heard CONFESSIONS
said Rev Mr.. Pyle, when approached on
the subject. Il have done so for a num-
ber Of years, and consider it nobody s
business. Some three years ago was
approached on the subject by three fami-
lies in the church, Detwillers, Lock
woods and Frys. They asked me what |
was going to do about the matter. told
them / could not do anything and when
members Of the parish came to me Of
their own will / would hear their con
fessions.
NOT ASKED TO RESIGN.
ssThese are the only families who, as
far as know, objected to my hearing
confessions. deny the statement that |
have been asked to resign number Of
times. have had a number Of other calls
but the one to st. Rarnabas's Church
was opportune and suited me.
A. Old and Well Tried Remei