The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-05-21

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a half nerth of Fort Lee. There have
been two bodies of Christian people in
this town, the Romanists and the Con-
gresat at.onaiista This latter body has had
| it's eyes turned towards the church for
several years.
Four years ago the Rev. Mr.. McCleary,
rector at Edgewater, received Mr.. Waiter
z. Brown into the church, That gentle
man had been ministering to this con-
! gregation. He had been using portions
| of the Prayer Book service in his ser
vices. More recently Mr.. George H. Dog
| gett, churehnlan, became the orgaaist
| of the congregation. He pressed the use
of the Prayer Book more energetieally.
| This led to definite action on the part OF
the congregation and to their appeal 70
the Bishop to be received into the church.
The Rev Mr. McCleary met this congre-
cation at a meeting over which he pre-
! sided and received their unanimous decis-
ion to become congregation of church.
He has given them careful instruction in
the history, position, government, and
doctrines of the church. He has received
their individual pledges that they will be
loyal to the church; will be instructed for
confirmation; and, when ready, will offer
themselves for confirmation. Nothing
more unique or interesting has ever taken
place in the Diocese. 1t is not the impul-
sive action of moment, it Is the result of
four years of thought and preparation
The church property is worth fully $3,00O
An organ costing $1,000 was recently pur-
chased. The title is held by the Congre-
gational building Society of New York
City. Mr.. McCleary has offered this So
ciety $1,000 for the entire property. The
offer has been accepted. 1t will require
$500 more to make such alterations as will
be necessary to put 1t in condition for
our uses. He is diligently at work raising
this money.
The town of Grantwood IS as far south
of Fort Lee as Coytesville is north. 1t is
growing rapidly and solidly. Major Nc
Clark, churchman has given the Rev.
Mr. McCleary for the church a fine, large
corner lot, nearly two hundred feet square
in the very heart of the town. Plans are
ready for the erecting of church build
ing. Work will be begun at once. A
large portion of the money, $1,000, is al
ready in sight 1t is hoped that there will
be but little debt when the building is
completed. The outlook in this mission is
to Mr.. McCleary.
The good work not only continues in
the Mission of the Good Shepherd, Fort
Lee, it increases constantly. The mission
was cleared of debt a few years ago.
Since then much land has been purchased
and 81, 600 has been raised towards
Parish Home
Four places are under the charge of the
Rev. James A. McCleary>-the parish at
Edgewater, and the missions at Fort Lee,
Grantwood and Coytesville. No harder.
better, more successful work is being
done in the Diocese than is being done by
this truly consecrated man of God
The new mission of the TRANSPORTATION.
Oradell, is more than realizing all that
was expected of it. 1t has done more
work in the past year than seemed pos
sible. 1t has paid It's own way. 1t has
acquired valuable mission furniture It
has purchased a lot lis feet by $50 feet
in the very best portion OF the town.
This win be entirely paid for in a few
weeks The hope is to build a mission
building and rectory to cost not less
than $4,000 in the present year This work
is under the charge of Rev. Chas. S.
Champlin, a seminarian Mr.. Champlin
of my own parish, and will be ordered
Deacon by our Bishop on the first Sum
day of the Trinity. He will continue in
charge of the mission He is heartily
commended to all to whom he may come
in the interests of the mission.
The Mission Church of the Ascension
has passed safely through an experience
which often sets back a long while
-. i j.
sion The Rev. James Cameron, who
had been in charge of it for fourteen
years died quite unexpectedly to US all,
on the 26th of December last
He was second in the list of clergy still
in active service in canonioal residence in
the Diocese. He had filled an honored
place in the Diocese. He was the valued
friend of many of us. His sudden death
shocked us greatly. There was not q
break in the services, however. The mis-
sion was put Into the hands of Mr.. Dun
can NJ. Genus, a seminarian, who is to De
ordained deacon at once. He is doing
tonishing WELL A remaining balance of
$3.50 on the second mortgage of $1,000 on
the mission property had been paid be-
fore Mr.. Cameron's death A vested
choir of men and boys were introduced on
Palm Sunday.
A class of twenty-six was confirmed
on the 1ith of this month. There have
been forty-one baptisms. There are two
hundred and thirteen teachers and school
ars in the Sunday School. There are tw,
hundred conmunicants who have re
ceived during the past few months. The
offerings have been 81 S22
There remains now a. first mortgage of
$1,000. This viii be paid in due time.
Great things may be looked for from this
mission in the near future.
An atmosphere of uncertainty has hung
over St. Matthew'S Church, Jersey City,
for the past few months
The members Of the vestry have
thought it was useless to attempt to
support the church and services any
longer. They have made formal appli-
cation to the Bishop and Standing Com-
mittee to be permitted to sell the
church property, to turn the pro-
ceeds over. after paying all debts,
to the Trustees of the Epsco-
pal fund. and to take such steps as
might be necessary for the extinction Of
the parish They are hopeless of the fu-
ture OF the parish, not because of any
lack on the part of the Rev. w. G. Webb,
priest in charge. for they are unanimous
in praise of his fidelity and worth, but
because of the constant changes In the
neighborEnood. The American population