The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-07-12
MARTYR TO
RITUAL
Rev. DR.. Pyle Forced Out on
the Auricular Confession
Issue.
CONGREGATION COT TIRED
His Resi- snation Pleases Grace
Church Greenvillians-
The Question OF q
Successor.
CONGREGATION GOT TIRED

There is great satisfaction among tho
Grace Episcopal Church, Ocean and
Pearsall avenues, over the resignation of
the Rev. Percival G. Pyle, the rector.
who handed in his resignation early in
the week to the vestry. The action of the
pastor is regarded as a victory for the
bitter fight against him for almost tive
years.
TOO MUCH HIGH CHURCH.
They based their fight on the grounds
that the rector was too much of High
Church man and his views on religious
matters were not relshed one bit. His
High Church ritual was objected to on
all sides and because of this his resigna-
tiolf followed The most prominent FAM
ilies-the Detwillers, Lockwoods and
Frys-all got out and stated that they
would not join again until the pastor
left.
CONFESSIONS OBJECTED TO.
The pastors views nthe matter of
high church rituals led him to hear con-
fessions. He was charged with being at
the church every Saturday night to hear
those who came to him. When approach
ed on the subject, he declare dthat he
would do as he pleased about confess
sions. Those who come to him do so vol
UNFAIRLY, and not by compulsion. The
biggest fight was made on this point.
Parents repeatedly objected to the views
and actions of Pastor Pyle. and stated
that they would not annow their chill
dren to go to that church if the pastor
continued to hear confessions.
In spite of all these vigorous kicks and
designations the rector would not change
his views. He preached a~sermon in
which he said it was no ones business.
The most prominent members appealed
to him from time to time and even then
he would not stop. More designations
followed and4the finances of the ehnrch
dropped to very low ebb. The con-
dition of affairs became alarming. Again
the rector was appealed to. This time
3 he did discontinue hearing confessions,
but still the members were not satisfied.
RESIGNATION WANTED.
They kept at him again and again re-
questing him to resign. but he refused,
saying that he would go when he saw
fit
About two months ago. the pastor re-
ceived a call from ST. Matthew's Church
in Brooklyn. but this he did not take. 1t
was said that he remarked out of pure
spite. When he handed his resignation
to Senior Warden Samuel Ross. a few
DAYS ago, the members were greatly sur
prised. They hardly believed that he
would take such action after his repeat
ed refusals. The resignation was acted
ON Wednesday night. and the Vestry re-
ceived it unanimously.
ELMEND0RF RESPONSIBLE.
prominent member of the vestry
said in an interview with a reporter OF
sThe News" that the Rev. Augustine
Elmendorf, rector of the Church of the
Holy Cross. at Garfield and Claremont
actions of Pastor Pyle.
ssWhen Pastor Elmerdorf began to
hear confessions" said he, Pastor Pyle
followed in his fotsteps.S Trouble began
to brew in both churches. Families in
both churches got out and finally some
of the more prominent people in the Holy
Cross Church. appealed to Bishop STAR
KEY to have Pastor Elmerdorf with
drawn from circulation an objectionable
book called, "The Way of Penitence,'
which purported to prepare people for
confession This book was widely cir
culated among the young people and ID
was the parents who took exception to
Rector Elmendorf's actions. Bishop
Starkey told Mr.. Elmerdorf to stop cir
cuiating these Objectionable books. He
did sc, but he stills hears confessions.