Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-08
ROW IN CHURCH
CONTINUES AFTER
: RECTOR RESIGNS
Re=engagement of Organist Is
Now Bone of Contention
in Arlington.

= The manifestation of dissatisfaction
among members of the congregation
saa of Trinity Episcopal Church, Airing
- ston, and how an endeavor was made
10 "bury the hatchet" between the
vestry and the recent rector, Rev
Carl S. Smith, who is now in STAN
- FORD, Conn, at a dinner given In
Newark restaurant, are among the
leading facts of a story that has
caused quite sensation in Airing
!, ton
More important thar all is the fact
that the church row, which has COW
cred a period of over two years. has
~ been kept so quiet by the parishion-
ers that practically no one outside OF
-n=rthe fold knew of any trouble. The res
74.3 ignation of the majority OF the board
of vestrymen, and the subsequent res
ignation of the pastor, are also among
the untoward happenings in the IItie
Even now that the rector has gone,
81 the friction has not been lessened.
). The bone of contention lies in the
- fact that a new vestry has re-en-
+ Gagged L. Beaumont Conkey an or
ganist. who was dismissed from
8 s=aaervice by the old board. Former
vestrymen say 1t was question OF
!, s. salary that was responsible for Con-
efrf Keys removal by tneui lnoJ huu ~
5 was also for good and SUFFICIENT rea-
sons" he was voted out What these
reasons are the former officials re-
ssnduse to say.
IT Is a fact, however, that number
~ of the former parishioners are now
sarrnttending services in churches other
than Episeopalian. Bishop Edwin s.
~ Lines of the Newark diocese, is aware
of the conditions, according to former
- Vestrymen. He admitted to re-
ss7rporter there had been trouble when
4, Mr.. Smith was in the Arlington
of the administration of church az
r@s4 fairs. He said he did not think 1t was
l5sserious.
nes say Rich Men Have Withdrawn.
one of the old vestrymen criticised
THE manner of naming church rec
tor, while another openly states that
neither he nor any OF his children Will
----ssa ttend Trinity Church while the pres
emit organist officiates there. The
claim is made that the wealthy men
OF the parish are those who are I'M
friendly with the church. AS result
of this fact 1t is pointed out that the
church will suffer financially. The
; new vestrymen point out that such q
= thing is impossible.
: Rev Mr.. Smith came to Arlington
two years ago. He succeeded Kew.
John j. Bridges, who was compelled
to give up the charge because OF III
health. Prior to leaving the parish,
Rev. Mr.. Bridges proposed as vestry-
men wealthy men of the parish, the
Idea being that these men could, at
any time, by making personal con-
trlbutions keep the church from meet
ing financial disaster.
When he came TO Arlington, Rev.
Mr.. Smith, according to members OF
the parish, declared one incentive was
the fact there was such an excellent
vestry. The field was good one, he
said. and he promised to get good re-
suits. The vestry had. after much
II deliberation voted Mr.. Smith a salary
Il Of $2.100 year. The majority had OBJ
= jected to paying such salary. They
VI argued the congregation was COM
m paratively small and paying @ salary
N In the amount named would not be
! Justified.
q Mr. Smith made it plain he could
u not consider q lesser amount with
- his promise to accomplish things 1t
]. was decided to pay the stipend in the
~ amount stated. At the outset Mr..
3 Smith is quoted as having promised
II 10 confer with the vestry on all mat
X kers concerning the church.
II That he did not keep this promise Is
g said to be shown in the fact that the
Il first rupture occurred after the rector
=, had personally given orders to the
8, choir to discontinue singing the pro-
RcSSIODdi anu TeGeSSlOhdi <Au-
a, vent and Lent. Members of the con-
= sregation objected. A conference was
: held and the Vestry questioned the
right of the rector to give out an
!, order without first consulting the
& board. The outcome was that the
i Singing was revived, and the rector,
81 1t is said, promised to confer With the
"a board in the future.
~ I Il is charged Mr.. Smith did not live
=, up to his word Conditions of dis
III satisfaction began to present them
q selves and some. of the members fell
Z away from the church. AS time wore
: on ii appeared that factions had
i fdrmed. Some of the practitioners
lined up with the rector. while others
III took sides with the board.
: When the vestry decided to drop
! Mr.. Conkey opposition was forth
coming from the rector. The vestry
j finally succeeded. however, In dis
7 missing the organist. Appeals from
!, tbe choir that he be reinstated were
{ without result. Later on the vestry
- found that some of the church So
= ceties were adverse to turning over
s their moneys to the church fund. This
Il WAS taken as an indication that
Everything possible was being done to
hamper the vestry in Its work
=, Finally disgusted e'eht of the elev-
en- vestrvmen withdrew from the
i board. This was last summer A
III special election was held and tenn
porary board selected. Soon after as
Stunning office the new board arranged
Il for the re-engaging of Mr.. Conkey as
4 organist The former vestrvmen
Il looked upon this action as spitework.
The majority of them then refused to
:, further participate in services at
q, Trinity.
- The matter was freely discussed by
Former officials when thew were in
terviewed by reporter. "Mr. Smith
did not make good" said Hubert M.
4 Schott, a stock broker. "That is the
whole story in a nutshell The bishop
knows the situation in our church and
he should endeavor to assume person.
al charge of the parish and straighten
y, out conditions. l tried to make an
appointment with him to discuss the