Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-12-18
CONS|STORY BACKS
BARKER IN FIGHT
Calls Action of Chassis Unfair
in Attack on Christ
Church Pastor.

The consistory of Christ Reformed
| Church, Delavan and Washington
avenues, is disputing the victDr,
claimed by the Newark Chassis. which
at its meeting Saturday gave the con.
sistory of Christ Church until Feb.
ruary l, 1914, to present credentials
of Rev. Percival II. Barker, the pas.
tor of that church, to the Chassis. The
consistory and congregation of the
church claim the Chassis Is unfair In
| its methods to GUST him.
Representatives of the church who
were present at the meeting of the
Chassis, felt that a renewal of the at
tempt that has been going on to GUST
Mr.. Barker had been at least tenn
porarily defeated. 1t was learned,
however, that through the represent
atives of the consistory the Chassis
postponed immediate action.
The members of the congregation
are giving Mr.. Barker united support
and resent the manner of his treat
ment at the hands of the Chassis.
Three or four members of the Chassis
are blamed particularly for this atti-
tude.
It is said that the first gun fired
against Mr.. Barker came from three
members of the Chassis, who sum-
| moned the consistory to private
meeting and then read the ultimatum
that Mr.. Barker was under suspension
in the Presbyterian Church and must
leave town at once, threatening that
| If he did not take the earliest train
possible they would drive him out and
would resort to publicity If necessary.
This was followed by meeting of
the Chassis to which the consistory
were summoned. Here, 1t is alleged,
the same parties who had announced
their intention to drive Mr.. Barker
out of town were leaders in the OPP
position to him and endeavored to
haves the Chassis take action, formal
ly disappearing of Mr. Barker and of
his retention by Christ Reformed
Church, but the consistory informed
the Chassis that whatever there was
of pastoral call to Rev. Mr.. Barker
had been withdrawn, that he was only
acting as supply, that he was do
ing splendid work and that the
church was In great need of the re-
vival of interest that he was re-
sponsible for. The eonsistory asked
that the matter be left with 1t, at the
same time saying that 1t was the in
tention to have Mr.. Barker preach
from Sunday to Sunday as supply
without being installed, while await
ing the outcome of the appeal that
he was about to present to the synod
of Kansas from the action of the
Presbytery that suspended him. The
Chassis voted to leave the matter with
the consistory, at the same time ap-
pointing a standing committee TO as.
sist the consistory in dealing with
the difficult situation that confronted
it, The church under Mr.. Barker has
grown in numbers and interest, and
about 1870 new members have come
into the church In the short time that
he has been preaching.
1t is claimed by the copsistory that
a few weeks ago, at q stated meeting
Of the Chassis held at Plainf1eld. when
the routine report from the Christ Re-
formed Church was presented by Its
representative, one of the trio that
had undertaken to drive Mr.. Barker
out of town took that opportunity to
renew the attack, but the Chassis laid
the meeting over until May. 1914.
The dismissal of Mr.. Barkers APP
peal to the Synod of Kansas was then
announced, and Immediately a special
meeting of the Chassis was called and
the consistory summoned to show why
1t retained Mr.. Barker.
Mr. Barker refused to talk. saying
he preferred that information should
come from the members of the Chassis
and the consistory. 1t Is said that
Mr. Barkers appeal was dismissed
or denied consideration on some tech
nical insufficiency, and that the minis
ter was not notified of the alleged
defect nor given any opportunity to
be heard upon it.
Rev. Charles B. Condit, pastor of
Trinity Reformed Church, and clerk
of the Chassis, said that Mr.. Barker
had been suspended from the pres
bytery, and that the Chassis had
felt constrained to disapprove the call
extended by Christ Reformed Church.
Mr.. Condit said the expiration of
the period Of suspension will be jan
uary IA, 1914, and the presbytery will
then either have to reinstate him in
his regular ministerial standing or
depose him.
Mr.. Condit also said that Mr.. Bar
ker had given offense to several
members of the Chassis by his having
addressed the meeting held at the
Young Mems Christian Association
one Sunday afternoon about three or
four weeks ago, and that he and Mr..
Trusdale and one or two others had
protested to Mr.. Cozzens, the general
secretary of the association. against
Mr.. Barker being allowed to make
the address, but his protest was not
needed, and Mr.. Barker addressed the
meeting.
Mr.. Condit said that they particu-
larry objected to the fact that cards
had been issued advertising the Y.
M. C. A. meeting with Mr.. Barker
picture on them, and that he had
been described on these cards as pas
tor of the Christ Reformed Church.
The controversy between the Chassis
of Newark and the consistory of
Christ Reformed Church has reached
an acute stage, and feeling runs high
in the congregation.