The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-13
CHURCH BANS PARENTS
OF RUNAWAY GIRL

PASSAIC. ~ J., Dec. I3.-Without
public explanation. Mr.. and Mrs. Mari
nus Hannenberg yesterday were read
out OF the Netherlands Reformed
Church here. from which the Rev.
Cornelius Densel resigned November
IL and ran away with Miss Trina
Hannenberg. a choir girl and former
servant In the house OF the dominic.
Tho choir girl was oustcd from the
church few weeks ago.
Trina's sister. Lena, who since No
vember IL has been Mrs. Jacob
Cooper. OF Paterson. n. j. was placed
on probation, the only explanation IN
her case being made by John Rose,
presiding elder, who said:
Lena is a nice girl"
None OF the HannenberSs attended
the service. There arc eight children
in the family. The choir girl declined
to be seen.
The former dominic, who returned
to Passaic last "Wednesday night 10
ask forgiveness and to tell his dcvout
parishioners that God sept him
back" preferred the seclusinn OF the
parsonage to the accusing chances of
his flock and the insinuating gaze Of
the curious
CONGREGATION WAITS REPORT.
The Rev. c. Van Adriecham. Of the
First Netherlands Reformed Church,
OF Prospect Park, n. j., was in the
pulpit with the presiding elder when
the services began at $3.50 o'clock.
Presiding Elder Rose read the Ten
Commandments and the congregation
waited expectantly for the report CT
the action of the consistory meeting,
to which the former pastor tried to
tell his story last Wednesday night.
But after reading the Commandments
Mr.. Rose sat down and the regular
service continued. The entire service
was in Dutch
While nothing was said by Mr.. Van
Adriechem that might be construed
TO have any bearing on the Densel
case, 1t was evident that the congre-
cation had been informed shat the
matter would be brought up at the
sunday morning meeting.
After the last strains of the Dox-
ology died away and Cornelius Densel,
tr.. son of the pastor, presiding at
the organ as usual, was about to play
the Recessional. II seemed as If the
matter of the preacher and the choir
girl was to be deferred at least. The
members Of the congregation started
TO Ale out OF tho church.
PARENTS ARE EXPELLED.
Then the presiding elder arose and
in Dutch said:
II have an announcement 10 make"
quietly everyone present went
back to his scat. Mr.. Rose said in
effect:
AT the recent meeting of The con-
sistory OF your church II was decided
to remove from the books OF the
church the names OF Mr.. and Mrs
Marinus Hannenherg. You all know
the reason for this action. need not
say more"
Mr.. Rose sat down, but before the
church members could start out ho
again got UP and said that the con-
sistory he'd decided TO place upon pro-
baton Mrs. Cooper.
None OF the persons interested In
the case would talk. In addition TO
the younger Cornelius at the organ,
tho Densei family was represented at
the services by Richard, BENJAMIN
and Gertrude, children of the pastor.
BcnJsmin was tho only one who
would say anything and his state
ment simply was that his father
might have something to say soon.
The Pensioners also were united
In maintaining silence, although a
few were found who Indicated that
they might not oppose taking the
former dominic back into the church
and possibly recalling him to the
pulpit
The service lasted for two hours.
Dominic Van Adrlechcm chose for
his text passage from II Corinth.
ians, 9Th chapter and 10th verse,
az follows
"As sorrowful yet always rejoic.
Ing; as poor yet Masking many rich:
as having nothing and yet possessing
all things"
The only words In the sermon that
might be considered significant were
thvs, REFERRING 90 the Apostle pauls