The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-11

So Votes Nassau Presbytery-Accusation
Is That the Doctor Has Been Reaching
Over Into Nassau Field in the Mat.
ter OF Pulpit Supplies-His Defence.
The Rev. j. Howard Hobbs Of the First
Presbyterian Church Of Jamaica. at the
spring meeting Of the P~resbytery Of Nassau
yesterday criticised the Rev. Frederic E.
Shearer, D. D., stated clerk Of the New
York Presbytery, for alleged interference
with the p~rerogatives of Nassau Pres
bytery. Mr.. Hobbs was seconded by two
Of the delegates to the meeting, and a reso-
luton was passed that the attention of
New York Presbytery be called to the
resolution relative to DIR. Shearer's al
legged unwarranted interference.
The meeting was held in the First Pres
byterian Church Of Far Rockaway. Mr..
Hobbs, after asking to hear read the names
of members Of the committee on vacancies
and supplies, offered the following resolu-
ton:
Resoired, That all vacant churches In this
Presbytery shall be instructed TO make their
wants known. and apply for pulpit supplies to
the Presbytery's Committee on Vacancies and
Supplies, and that no church in Nassau Pres
bytery have any communication with the
new EIeleTlC L. oHedTeT, ~, L., OF NeW 1Ofk
Presbytery relative to supplying the pulpit. or
other church affairs.
There have been two or three cases of
such extrava CANT and ~audacious conduct
upon DR.. Shearer's part, = said Mr.. Hobbs,
that notice must at last be aiken. 1t is
necessary that applications for supply
shall not be made to DR.. Shearer on any
account whatever. He has repeatedly
liaN1ox val 10 rr 49, DkAl
affairs. Some years ago it was thought
We might start a church in Flushings and
some one was sent there to look over the
ground. 1t was then deemed unwise to
establish the church.
Later another member Of the Presbytery
Of Nassau was sent to Flushing. and he
found abundant encouragement for starting
a church. A committee Of Flushing citizens
was appointed for the formation of a Pres
byterian Church, and DR.. Shearer got some
OF the members into a consultation and
informed them that Nassau P~resbytery
was under a ban and was TO be disciplined
By Synod. Some OF us who we're associated
with the movement looking to the establish
ment OF the new church were informed Of
the consultation and that Shearer had
voluntee red to take charge Of the church's
organization ana start It.
When the meeting night came some Of
US who knew all about this man Shearer,
were present, to his very evident surprise.
He talked to us Of everything under the
sun, save his interference with the prerog-
atives Of Nassau and, when taxed with his
part, he disclaimed any intention to inter-
fere in any way.
Again he interferred with a church seek
ing a permanent pastor BY sending word
that the young man selected was not fit
for the place"
The resolution offered by Mr.. Hobbs
was unanimously passed,
When the resolution vas called to DR..
Shearer'e attention at his residence at 2465
Broadway, last night, he said:
1T is true that | am a member of the
committee on vacancies and supplies for
the New York P~resbytery. The other
members are the Rev. Dr., Wiley and Lieut.
Gov. NJ. Linn Bruce. / do not deny that in
ministers for ~vacanoise in the Nassau
Prssbytery, but only at the request of the
churches in that jurisdiction.
W always have on our lists a number of
unemployed clergymen, and whenever re-
quests for ministers to fiji vacancies or to
occupant OF the pulpit have come to us,
we have been very willing to oblige. This,
though, we would do in the case of any
other p~resbytery, l have no special designs
on Nassau, nor do I wish to interfere in their
special province.
AS for the resolution itself, | have
nothing to say except that / suppose
it represents the wishes OF the delegates
to the Presbytery, who want to fiji the va
cancies themselves. 1t happens at times,
however, that the members OF the churches
prefer to con to the New York P~resbytery
for their ministers" !