The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-10
BARS ITS FOUNDER
EDGEW .ATER SUNDAY SCHOOL
= STAYS OUT WITH HIM.
Pupils Vote on Lawn to Stand by Super
intendent Robins When Policeman
Tells Him Trustees Forbid Him to
Enter Old Row May Get Into Court.

INT ROBINS WneO fOucemhn
Tells Him Trustees Forbid Him to
Enter Old Row May Get Into Court.
George W. Robins. organizer and super
intendent Of the Union Sunday school OF
Edgewater. N. j., couldn't get into the
church which he founded when he ap-
peared for the morning service yesterday.
At the door stood Policeman John Riley.
saying: "You can't come in, Mr.. Robins
trustees orders.' Beside the policeman
stood some 81 the trustees themselves.
They said Mr.. Riley spoke truly.
While the colloquy was in progress
children Of the Sunday school gathered
on the lawn in front OF the church. There
were seventy OF them. Some OF them
had brought their parents. Said Police
man Riley: "The children may come in
But the children idgeted and looked from
their superintendent to the borough cop
and from that gentleman to the guardian
trustees.
isn't Mr.. Robins going ih2' asked n
Of the intermediate class.
1t appeared that Mr.. Robins was not.
The children were puzzled enough, but
some OF them knew about the row that has
been making headway in the church in
the last few weeks. One OF the youngsters
suggested that q Sunday school without
It's popular superintendent wouldn't be
worth attending. Somebody else asked
that a vote be taken as to whether n y
body should 60 in. The little party on
the lawn thereupon decided unanimously
that they wouldn't enter the church
without Mr.. Robins. and they didn't.
There was no Sunday school in the Union
Church at Edgewater yesterday
After the children had voted their
parents held an informal parish meeting
in the open and resolved that some legal
action should be begun against the trus-
tees this week. Meanwhile 1t was resolved
that all the property Of the Sunday school
should be removed from the building.
That means that the church will be pretty
well stripped. for the Sunday school owns
the chairs, the carpets, the organ and
nearly everything else.
The fuss which resulted yesterday in
the communication OF the s~uperintend-
ent at the hands of the trustees is pretty
nearly as old as the church itself, n that
il six years. Six years ago George W.
Robins, himself a Baptist, organized a
non -secta rian Sunday school which met
in his W home at first and later in the
quarters Of the Edgewater fire depart
ment. The school prospered until 1t was
thought advisable to have it controlled
by a board OF trustees. 30 these men were
elected: Lynn NJ. Saxton OF New York
University, chairman; ex-Miayor Daniel
A. Higgins, E. NJ. Speer. Edgar NJ. Robin
son, Ralph Reid. Edward H. Stickles'
John b. Signell, Carl Reichel, William NJ,
Smith and Mr.. Robins.
The trustees pledged themselves ia
raise $3.50 apiece toward the building OF
a church. They did raise more than 81 ,00C
and presently John W.. Watkins. a vel
to do man who owns considerable rea
estate along the Hudson. offered to do
nate a plot and building stone for the
church provided that the organization
should be non-sectarian.
The first floor OF the church was com
| pleted last September. Since hen Sun
day school services have been held on
Sunday mornings and hurch services
at night. The Sunday school has ile
pupils and eight teachers. Mr.. Robins
always has been superintendent.
Soon after the society moved into its
permanent quarters non-sectarianism
began to he irksome to some OF the men,
beers who had been reared evangelically
They wanted to ally with some regular
denomination This party got so strong
that the matter came to a vote,
Forty-six Presbyterians voted for ALI
ance with their own denomination, and
as the next strongest faction. the Metho-
dists, had only sixteen votes the Presby-
terians won. They got the Presbytery
to send its organizing board over to Edge
water. When the organizing board got
there it appeared that the desire for
alliance was not as strong as II had been
led to suppose and it refused to act. A
protest wa filed with it containing the
names OF eighty Edgewater people who
said they wanted to remain independent.
Eventually. however, the church be-
came Presbyterian. The Sunday school
remained non-sectarian because Mr..
Robins, its founder. wished it 30. as did
many others Of the parish.
Last Friday night Mr.. Robins went
to the church as usual to conduct q Bible
class. but at the door he found Riley. the
alert policeman. and other men. among
whom Mr.. Robins says. were the Rev.
Mr.. Currie. pastor OF the church, and some
of the trustees with straight evangelical
leanings. The superintendent learned
that he had been barred from the church
as a trouble maker. He says that he
stood by while the minister held a lamp
and the trustees with nails and a bolt
fixed the door so it couldn't be opened
with Mr.. Robins's key. He also says that
he was threatened with arrest II he should
try to force his way in. Mr.. Robins went
away and his Friday night class is shy
one Bible lesson.
Mr.. Watkins. who helped the society
build. is said by some Of the parishioners
to have threatened to revoke his gift OF
land and building material. In the deco
of gift it was stipulated that the property
should revert to Mr.. Watkins if it should
cease to he used for religious purposes
Mr. Watkins. the parishioners say
has made UP his mind that the proceed.
ings of the last few days have little to dc
with relig ion.