Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1915-04-13
Mr.. M'DOWELL'S
MESSAGE STIRS
CHURCH FOLKS
Park Edifice Pastor Sees In
Vasion of Field by Third
Church North.
DENIES 1T Is REASON
FOR LEAVING NEWARK
Charges Effort to Anchor En-
dowed Church in Resi-
Dental Section.
DENIES 1T Is REASON
FOR LEAVING NEWARK

=
a printed message sent recently to
the members of the Park Presby-
terian Church by their pastor, Rev
John Mcdowell. Mr.. Mcdowell has
accepted call TO q prominent Bal
timore church and will shortly leave
to take up work there.
The message from Mr.. Mcdowell
makes reference to the differences
of opinion that have existed Of late
between the Park Church and the
Forest Hill Presbyterian Church on
one side, against the Third Church
North, at Arlington avenue and
Ridge street. The latter church was
erected by the old Third Church at
a cost Of SIZE, 900. In Mr.. Nc
Dowells reference to the Third
Church North some persons see a
possible reason for his leaving the
local field.
When asked whether the attitude
of the Third Church in invading his
field was the indirect cause of his
resignation Mr.. Mcdowell declared
positively that it was not.
'Ts there any friction between you
and your church people?" was asked.
"None in the least" was the reply.
thing, but I will say that l do feel
very strongly in the matter, just as
have ever since I came to New
ark, ten years ago"
At the congregational meeting OF
Park Presbyterian Church last night,
Mr.. Mcdowell openly charged that
persons affiliated with the Third
Church. North, were endeavoring to
draw members away from Park
Church, since Mr.. Mcdowell is leav-
ing.
The accusation came up after q
committee had been elected to seek
pastor to take the place Of Mr.. Nc
Dowell. He said that, as much as he
! disliked to tell it, he felt it his
iduty to inform the members that the
missionaries of the Third Church,
North, had approached members Of
Park Church and tried to get them to
ioin that church.
in discussing the matter today, Rev
DR.. Robert Scott Inglis, pastor of the
| Third Church, North, said there was
no real ground for the charges.
DR.. Ingis asserted that members OF
his church had been approached with
a view of taking them TO other
churches.
The Newark Presbytery is In ses-
sion at the First Church today and
win formally act upon the resignation
of Mr.. Mcdowell Mr.. Mcdowell was
warmly greeted by his ministerial
brethren, and they expressed regret
that he is about TO leave the city.
DIR. Inglis today said:
.-T'his thing is miserable. measly. l
have never knowingly approached
anv member of the Park Church and
asked him or her TO join our church.
"It is a customary thing, however,
and one to be expected that people
should be invited to the church near
est to them.
moved to the Forest Hill section Of
tbe CITY. and a great many OF my
members have been approached ana
asked to Join other churches and some
churches which are not even In the
denomination.
Only Two Cases.
"T took I'D this matter today with
Mr.. Mcdowell, and he could only tell
me of two cases where persons be-
longing to his church had been ap-
nroa ched by anybody connected with
| the Third church North. One OF these
| invitations was made over the tele-
! phone. 80,
making any request to members OF
Park Church to join with u.s. l aiso
emphatically deny that emissaries
were sent out to get members from
the Park Church. Mrs. TunIs's IN
structions were to find out wnere
residents of the Forest Hill sectlon
were attending church, so that !
might avoid the embarrassment OF
| calling llpon people who were con-
! nth other churches.
asIs there any ill-feeling between
Won and Mr.. McDowell?' was asked.
"No was the reply; this is
merely a church matter, and each OF
ms has tried to do what he thougnt
,.ras hest for his church. 1t was
Who last wear nominated him as del
agate to the general assembly, which
met in Chicago, and headed the COM
mittee which sent Rev. DR.. j: Ross
Stevenson, former pastor or Brown
| Memorial Church, to the Prlnceton
Theological Seminary, thus creating
! the vacancy he will now NIL
Following is the message Of Mr..
NTcDowell. which was sent out in
printed form:
| INV Dear Friends:
"Ten years ago you honored me
with a hearty and an unanimous can
TO become your pastor, and aIter
these years of service together de-
/ sire to say that you nave more thaIl
made good every promise. AT no
! time have YOU faltered in your sup
norst Of me, and in your sacrifice Tor
the welfare of Park Church. What
ever of success has attended our
work here in the church and in the
/ CITY has been due to the heartiness
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