The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-02
FOR AND AGAINST DR., HYDE.
TROUBLE IN ST. MATTHIAS
CHURCH, SHEEPSHEAD BAY.

warden Hahn Thinks Iherc ID SAVIOR Of
Methodism In the Episc0palian Ser.
vtces-Both Factions Appeal 70 Bishop
Burgess-Disagree - y the Results.
There Is trouble in. st. Matthias's Prot
estant Episcopal Church in Sheepshead
Bay. The congregation Is split into two
factions, one Of which Is headed by Warden
George A. Hahn and which Is trying to
get Bishop Burgess OF the Long Island
diocese to ask the rector. the Rev. DR..
Thomas z. Hyde, to resign. The other
faction wants the Rev. DR.. Hyde to remain
and II alleges that II contributes almost
all the financial support TO the church.
The division OF the congregation OF which
Warden Hahn IL champion, criticize their
rector's methods Of oonduc ting worship
and complain OF faint OF Methodism in
his service which they lay to the influence
OF family OF former Methodists now promi-
nent in the affairs Of St. Matthias's.
The trouble IL expected to come to sort
OF legal climax at to-night's regular meet
ing OF the vestry. It came pretty near
TO the climax 1t last months meeting on
Feb: .. On that evening regular mesting
having been called. the Rev. DR.. Hyde and
three vestrymen, Alfred II. Marvin. Everett
d. Strong and Robert O. Cornell. got there
early. George A. Hahn and Lara Richard
son. two wardens and John. NJ. c,iriine.
They looked In the door Of the vestIy.
they say. and saw that veetryman ely
burn, who has recently voted with Hahn,
Richardson and Cunline on all questions,
him, they say, without slginfying their
presence orally or otherwise to the Rev.
Dr. Hyde, who presided. That left four
men In the vestry. These four men went
ahead and held a meeting on the ground
that a quorum had been there at the be-
Hahn, Richardson and Cunliffe returned
with Clyburn In a short time. Just as
they got in, the Rev. Dr. Hyde, according
to the Hahn faction. got up from his chair
and said:
Il move we adjourn"
Then he and the three men who had been
with him voted to adjourn. The Hahn
| four voted against adjournment. Then.
according to Warden Hahn. the minister
made this assertion:
As the vote is a tie and as am presiding
officer and have the right to cast the decid-
ing vote. l vote to adjourn. Gentlemen.
| the meeting Ia ad journed.'
But you've already cast one vote and
are now casting another said one OF the
The rector, however. declared the meet
| ing adjourned. And then IL was announced
that the meeting had dropped Mr.. Hahn
The Hahn faction went out and got up
a petition to Bishop Burgess which was
| signed by forty people and which asked him
to demand the resignation Of the Rev. DR..
Hyde. The rector's faction Sent Q letter
| to the Bishop saying that the rector was all
right. Meanwhile the Rev. DR.. Hyde
threw a little salt into the wound Of the
Opposition by announcing that Mr.. Hahn 8
place as vestryman had been filled. He
didn't say who had fIled i and refused to
| tell Sun reporter last night.
The factions sent representatives to
| Bishop Burgess on Saturday. As to what
happened at the Bshop's there are con-
| ficting statements. The Hahn faction
say Bishop Burgess reproved the rector
for perncious activity. The rector 3
friends say the Bishop throw out the Hahn
petition, which they say contained the
names of thirteen minors, anyway.
Each eide, II is said. has consulted lawyers
and the air in Sheepshead Bay promises
to be full OF iniunctions Tonight.