Parish Statistics of Christ Church, Elizabeth, N J, And Fifth Annual Address of the Rector Easter Monday, 5 April, 1858 Classic Reprint

Excerpt from Parish Statistics of Christ Church, Elizabeth, N. J., And Fifth Annual Address of the Rector: Easter Monday, 5 April, 1858

A little more than fourteen months since, this Church was encumbered with a floating debt large enough to have broken up a congregation of twice our size. There is no need to enter now on the causes which brought it Upon us. I had almost said that no Church debt can be justified, much less one that jeopardizes property consecrated unto god. It harassed and depressed the wardens and vestry. It kept strangers from uniting themselves with the parish. It aroused the worst fearsin the congregation, and it cast a dark cloud over every effort to enlarge Opr borders, or to increase our usefulness in the Church's cause. One of your vestry and myself met the Bishop, by appointment, to determine what was to be done. After long and anxious consultation the conclusion was arrived at, that we must either make an assignment of the property to the creditors, or else enlist the sympathies Of every member Of the congregation in one united effort to raise the money, which was required for the liquidation of the debt. The question was laid before the vestry, and not without serious fears as to the result (in consequence of the large sum needed,) it was resolved to make the eroi't. The congregation were invited to meet in the school room, immediately after the evening prayer, on the thirtieth day Of January, 1857. The night was dark and rainy; comparatively but few assembled. Yet, on that night depended, humanly speaking, the very existence Of this parish. It were needless to conceal the anxiety with which your Rector and vestry met you on that occasion.

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