New-York tribune., 1920-12-13
Expels
Elopingg Choir
Girls Parents
Married Sister of Trina Han.
nenberg, Who Fled With
the Rev. Cornelius Densei.
Is Placed OH Probation
No Explanation Is Given
You All Know Reason for
Action; / Need Not Say
More" Elders Only Word

Without public explanation, Mr.. and
Mrs. Marinus Hannonberg yesterday
were read out of the Netherlands Re-
formed Church, Passaic, N. j., from
which the Rev. Cornelius Densel re-
signed November 12 and ran away with
Miss Trina Hannenberg, choir girl
and former servant in the house of the
dominic. The choir girl was ousted
from the church few weeks sgo.
lrina's sister, Lena, who since Novcm
Der IS has been Mrs. Jacob Cooper. of
10 East Nineteenth Street, Paterson
N. j., was placed on probation, the only
explanation i'll her case being made by
John Rose, presiding elder, who said:
Lena is q nice girl"
None of the Hannenbergs attended
the service. There are eight children
in the family. The choir girl decline
TO be seen. The former dominic. who
returned to Passaic last Wednesday
night to ask forgiveness and to tell his
devout parishioners that God sent him
back" preferred tho seclusion of tho
parsonage to the accusing glances oi
his flock and the insinuating eazo of
the curious.
Congregation Awaits Report
The Rev. G. Van Adricchem, OF the
First Netherlands Reformed Church. of
Prospect Park, n. j., was in the pulpit
with the presiding elder when the serv-
ices began at 9:30 o'clock. Presiding
Elder Rose read the Ten Command
mcnts and the congregation waited ex-
pectantly for the report of the action
OF the consistory meeting, to which the
1ormer pastor tried to tell his story
last Wednesday night. But after read
ing 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, it
was evident that the congregation had
been informed snat the matter would
be brought up at the Sunday morning
meeting. After the last strains of the
Doxology died away and Cornelius
Dcnsel jr., son of the pastor, presid
ing at the organ as usual, was about to
play the occasional, it seemed as if tn G
matter of the preacher and the choir
girl was to be deferred at least The
members Of the congregation started to
file out of the church.
Parents Are Expelled
Then the presiding elder rose and in
Dutch said:
II have an announcement to make"
Quietly every one present went back
to his seat. Mr.. Rose said in effect:
"At the recent meeting of the con-
sistory of your church it was decided
to remove from the books of the church
the names of Mr.. and Mrs. Marinus
Hannenberg. You all know the reason
for this action. I need not say more
Mr.. Rose sat down, but before the
church members could start out again
got up and said that the consistory had
decided to place upon probation Mrs
Cooper.
None of the persons interested in the
case would talk yesterday. In addition
to the younger Cornelius at the organ
the Defs family was represented at
the services by Richard, Benjamin and
Gertrude, children of the pastor Ben
jamin was the only one who would say
anything and his statement simply was
that his father might have something
TO say soon.
May Take Pastor Back
The parishoners also were united in
maintaining silence, although a few
CONTINUED on page sevcn)