Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-01-26
"SLEDGE-HAMMER"
BLOW THREAT TO
PASTOR BARKER
Rev. Otis M. TrOusdale Declares
Chassis Will Act-COngre-
CATION to Fight.

Rev. Percival H. Barker, of Christ
Reformed Church, Will be struck q
''siedRe-hammer blow at the next
meeting OF the Newark Chassis, &C
cording 10 Rev. Otis NJ. Trousdale,
prominent member of the Chassis.
Just what the nature of this blow
will be Mr.. Trousdale declined to say.
Mr.. Trousdale was asked today to
comment on a statement given out
yesterday by the consistory of Christ
Church. This, declared the members
OF the consistory, intended to remain
true to their pastor, Mr. Barker.
and fight the matter to a finish. In
the statement Mr.. Trousdale, Rev. G.
B. Condit and Rev. Albertus T. Brock
are named as the men behind the
movement to force Mr.. Barker's res
ignation.
1T will take ten days at least to
cali an official meeting of the Chassis
said Mr.. Trousdale today, but the
fact that two other members of the
Chassis and / have been made the
butts of this controversy will be
brought out into the light. We shall
strike a sledge-hammer blow
The statement given out by the con-
sistory yesterday was as follows:
we. as members of the consistory
of Christ Reformed Church, at an In
formal meeting, carefully have con-
sidered a statement under date OF
January %, and which is alleged to
have come from and expressing the
opinion of the Chassis. In answer we
wish to state:
an the first place no meeting, for
NAL or informal, Of the Chassis at
which such a statement could have
been prepared has taken place to our
knowledge. We are therefore at
loss to understand just whose infor-
NAL opinion of the members of the
Chassis this statement represents.
"However, in order to avoid any
possible misconceptions we have de-
cided to answer some of the allega-
tions made in said statement.
"Astonishment Is expressed in the
statement at the discovery by part of
the members of the Chassis when the
meeting was held to receive Mr.. Bar
ker into membership and arranged for
his installation as pastor that Mr..
Barker could not show credentials,
I'VE fail to understand where the
establishment should come from, in
asmuch as Rev. Charles B. Condit,
stated clerk of the Chassis, was the
first party to notify the committee on
the new pastor that there existed let
tiers from out West derogatory to Mr..
Barker
"A meeting was thereupon arranged
at the Y. NJ. C. A. building at which
three members of the Chassis and three
members of the consistory conferred.
This is the only meeting that pos
sibly could be referred to in the al
legged statement of the Chassis.
were the same men who have opposed
Mr. Barker from the beginning and
whose attitude, to the best of our
knowledge does not represent the sem
timent of the Chassis as a whole.
1.-THE assertion of Mr.. Barker hav-
ing been dropped from Mccormick
Theological Seminary has since been
answered and retracted by Mr.. Condit
on his own behalf.
Aside from any minor assertions
made in the statement, which we do
not think 1t necessary to go into in
detail as the next meeting of the
Chassis is so near at hand, We do wish
to correct at this time what We con-
slider to be a gross misstatement of
facts.
THE part of the statement referred
II aims to make it appear that we re-
tanned Mr.. Barker against the will
ana Wishes OF the cldSSlS. IH6 IdCLS
in the case are that the Chassis ap-
pointed committee which reported
In favor of Mr.. Barker's continuance
as a supply preacher, pending the
final outcome of his suspension.
This report of the committee was
concurred in by the Chassis and there
was nothing left for us to do but to
act under the same and abide by it.
I'VE nevertheless want it under
stood that we are firmly resolved TO
fight for what we believe is a right
eous cause; and, above all, to not act
within the narrow confines of the let
ter of the law, but in the broadcast in
depreciation of its spirit and Of
Christian fellowship.
I'm our opinion no proof has been
sdduced to justify the unfortunate
position Mr.. Barker has been placed
in, and until the time that such proof
has been submitted to US we shall
remain loyal to our preacher.
las far as the trial of Mr.. Barker
by the Neosho Presbytery and the I'LL
innate verdict are concerned, we do
not want to express any opinion at
this time further than that we are
fully convinced that the case Is well
worthy of the appeal which Mr..
Barker has now taken.
(Signed)
DANIEL HOPPER,