The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-08-14
D|SSENS|0NS Rife
IN THE REV. DR.
J WASS0N'S CHURCH
Pastors Liberal Views Not In
dOrsed by Some Members of
His Congregation.
ST. STEPHENS OFFICIALS
ALSO OUT OF HARMONY
Mr.. Terlinde Is Optimistic and
Says Trouble Is Not SO Se-
.rious as to Cause Split.

That there are wide differences of
opinion among the members of the con-
gregation of st. Stephens Episcopal
Church, at Clinton and Elizabeth ave-
nues, over the fearless utterances of
the rector. the Rev. DR.. E. A. Wasson,
was revealed today when several prom
inent members admitted that there is
an element OF friction in the church.
While exceptions are taken to various
stands he has assumed on public ques-
tons it Is generally admitted that he
ID universally admired.
Several of the wealthy members of
the congregation do not agree with
many Of DR.. Wasson's broad religious
views" declared vestryman Bernard
w. Terlinde. one Of the most prominent
members of the board, when seen to-
Gay. "But there Is no danger of the
little disaffection along that line Great
ing any serious friction in the church,
he added.
While Mr.. Terlinde takes a cheerful
view of the situation, he freely admits
that all is not harmony. DIR. Wasson
will not endanger his status with the
fow-church element who constitute the
largest part of his congregation, and
believe that one human soul is as good
as another" said he.
TT is quite true he continued, that
the feeling is not wholly unanimous.
How can such a condition exist
among 400 church members when some
Of the people are disinclined or unpre-
pared to accept broader and more
adaptable form of religion?
! '.H,Dr Wasson,'' declared Mr.. Terlinde,
SIS a brainy man, and one of the fore
most theologians in the country, but
he cannot prevent a little friction IL
some of the higher classed members of
his flock are too narrow to see things
in the light he does. The rector and
st. Stephens fosters the low-church
doctrine, which advoc5te tes most
Democratic line of religious principles,
that promotes the sane equality OF
man"
When Deputy United States Revenue
Collector Newton Fl. Porter, a former
treasurer of the church, was seen re-
garding his withdrawal from the Of
fetal board. he said that it had nothing
whatever to do with the attitude or
Views of the rector.
81 simply removed from that section
Of the city and could not give the Oh
flee the attention it required" said he.
st understand that DR.. Wasson's views
do not satisfy the high church thinkers
in the congregation he remarked fur
Their "and that it is true that j. Lewis
Hay, one of the leading vestrymen,
and several of the wealthy members
feel that his stand is entirely too lib
eral, but that does not mean that
concur or agree with him in all things.
It is also taken as significant, the
fact that at the last board election
some changes were made in it's COM
plement of vestrymen. Martin L. Gard
ner and Henry G. Currier retired and
were succeeded by G. Frederick Bos-
took and Arthur j. Guide. The treas
urer elected to succeed Mr.. Porter was
Henry C. Wark. 1t is known that the
entire board Is not in harmony with
DR. SWasson. The wardens, George Lin
nett and Jacob Hoesly, are, however,
both warm supporters of the rector.
DR.. Wasson's creed can be summed
UP in his own words, as follows: Tor
my part I will cringe and fawn before
no God. I am no worm nor vile earth,
nor abandoned wretch; and I incline to
believe that if stern justice We're dealt
out to me should fare considerably
better than I do. I think / am about as
good, all things, heredity, environment
and the rest, considered, as I ought to
be, and think God has reason to be
satisfied. on the whole, with me and
my record. FL
''And I think that other men are
as good as l." he said further. "As I,
put the creed of Lincoln in three arti-
-cles--first, I am as good as you; Sec
ond, you are as good as I, and, third,
we are both about as good as could
be expected"
DR.. Wasson and his family are living
the simple life during this month in
the interior of Virginia. He has been
the rector of st. Stephens Church for
ten years.