CHURCH RENT ASUNDER.

New York, 1895

THE REV. MR. SPEARS OF COMAC INSULTED AND DEFIED.

A Christianless State of Affairs Brought to Light in the Presbytery of Nassau — A Trustee Who is an Unbeliever — The Treasurer Throws Up the Books.

The Presbytery of Nassau held its Summer meeting in the chapel of the Presbyterian church at Jamaica on Tuesday. The Rev. J. Howard Hobbs was chosen moderator, and the Rev. A. G. Russell, stated clerk, recorded the proceedings. The attendance was small.

The Rev. P. D. Oakley's historical report of the Presbyterian church in America, which was read at the fall meeting of Presbytery, and who also wrote a history of the Jamaica church, in which he claimed that it was the oldest Presbyterian church in America, and which was denied in public print by the Rev. Mr. Kerr, of the Hempstead church, caused considerable discussion.

Mr. Oakley claimed that he had been misrepresented in the article published by Mr. Kerr.

Both of the articles were read from the papers in which they were published; and Mr. Oakey explained those portions alleged to be incorrect by Mr. Kerr. He said: "If I live to see Saturday of this week I will be 79 years of age, and I have been a member of Presbytery for 40 years. If Presbytery lay this matter on the table, it will be a blot on my character as a minister. I wish to clear my skirts of what has been stated incorrectly in Mr. Kerr's article."

The Rev. Mr. Kerr said he did not wish to do an injury to Brother Oakey. He was perfectly willing to let the matter rest with Presbytery. He had tried to uphold what he believed, and so long as he lives, unless there is better evidence than that brought by Mr. Oakey, he shall believe that the Hempstead church is older than the church at Jamaica.

The matter was referred to a committee to report at the next meeting of Presbytery.

The Rev. P. W. Cutler, of the Brooklyn Presbytery, who was present, was invited to sit with Presbytery as a corresponding member.

The Rev. Mr. Spears, of Brentwood, and having charge of the church at Comac, said that he had been appointed chaplain to the New York City insane asylum at West Islip, but he should remain in charge of the church at Brentwood, and asked that his pastoral relations with the church at Comac be dissolved. Things have not been pleasant at that church.

"I tried to have the hour for the afternoon service fixed for 4 o'clock, instead of 3 o'clock, but no action was taken. At a Congregational meeting I tried to direct the meeting, but was told that I had no business there. I then tendered my resignation which was ignored, and I was told that the trustees would attend to it. The chairman of the meeting was not a member of the church, and the meeting was illegal."

Much of the trouble has arisen at the annual meeting. Three of the members would meet and elect a trustee, and keep no record of the meeting. Presbytery should know how some of its churches are run. The law as to the holding of church property has been ignored by the trustees. There is but one male member of the church, and he is an elder. I am told by men in that congregation that Presbytery has nothing to do with them.

Elder Wickes — "Yes, that is so, and I shall leave and go to some other church."

The Rev. Mr. Spears — "I do not wish to go back to that church. It has become distasteful to me. The men do their dickering and trading before coming to church, and before the 'Amen' is said are at it again. I wish the Comac church to know that they must abide by the rules of Presbtery, and that they cannot insult the ministers."

The pastoral relation between the Rev. Mr. Spears and the church at Comac was dissolved, and the Rev. Mr. Carter, of Huntington, will declare the pulpit vacant on Sunday. The Rev. Messrs. Carter and Mallman, and Elder Woodhull Sammis, were appointed a committee to investigate the affairs of the church.

Mr. Spears inquired if the Comac church was responsible for his salary. The treasurer had turned the books over to him, and had resigned.

The moderator said that all personal considerations will be held in abeyance until the committee have investigated and reported.

The Rev. Mr. Spears asked, "What shall I do with the church books? The trustees refuse to come to the church, and one of them is an unbeliever."

The moderator — "You being the head of the church, and clerk of the session, must take charge of the books."

The committee on the Whitestone church recommended that aid in the sum of $300 for one year be given, and it was so ordered.

Owing to the small attendance consideration of the report of the committee to general assembly was deferred until the fall meeting.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, June 21, 1895, p. 1.