The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-11-20


SEIZURE OF A CHURCH FOR DEBT.-Mr. VIM
| Parks, of Baltimore county, through his coun
| sell Messrs. Cuttings and Mcintosh, has issued
a writ of feri facias on judgment obtained
! against the Methodist Episcopal church at Tow
| sontown. The Sheriff has accordingly levied
upon the church building and its contents, in
| Guiding carpets, seats, organ, &c. The build
| ing is very handsome one, and cost in its con.
struction over $50, 900, being built in the most
| substantial manner of 6rst-class materials in
every respect. When it was commenced, five
well known citizens of Baltimore county gave
| bonds to contribute some two thousand dollars
| each, and large additional sums were advanced
| by Mr.. James Boyce to insure its completion
he holding mortgages upon the property to Sc
cure himself from loss. There has for some
time past been great difficulty in meeting the
payment of the debts due by the church to Mr..
| Boyce and others, and the action taken by Mr..
Parks has doubtless been occasioned by this
cause. The sale of the property at this time,
If such should finally be determined upon, is
to be regretted as it would probably realize but
| small portion of she sum it originally cost.
The pastor, Rev G. II. Richardson. has been
untiring in his iabors to free the church from
| debt, but has unfortunately not been able to
accom- lish it, and the result is resort to law.
Gazette Of 18Th inst
In reference to the above difficulty Mr.. Jas.
| Boyce makes the following statement, which is
also taken from the Gazette:
"The debt for which the church has been
seized was contracted before he had anything
to do with the church. The church was dedi-
Gated in October, 1872, and Mr.. Boyce, after be-
coming connected with it, advanced in cash
$40 600, and II. L. Bowen, 0. P. Merryman, D..
H. Emory and J. II. Ensor each gave Mr.. Beyce
mortgage their individual property for
$4,000 to secure him from the loss, he assuming
as his subscription the remaining $1,000
I'll
1876, but the accrued and overdue interest has
not been paid on any of them except in the
case of Mr.. Merryman.
''The four gentlemen above named also en-
tered into written agreement with Mr. Boyce
to each pay one. fifth of whatever additional
cost should be incurred in the erection and
equipment of the church. Mr.. Boyce states
that he expended, in addition to the 100000
about S12 00O and this, he states, the signers of
the agreement refused to assume, expressing
to him their inability to pay the same.
"Mr. Boyce states that he then proposed that
il they would give him an unencumbered title
to the church property, and pay the current
expenses of the church renaing unpaid at that
time, he would assume all other Indebtedness
and release them. The transfer, he said, must
be without condition. This they agreed to con-
slider. Shortly after the pastor, Rev. c. Herbert
Richardson, called on Mr.. Boyce and inquired
what he would do with the church if it came
into his possession. He replied he would pre-
sent it to the congregation, or erect for them
another more suitable one.
"Mr. Richardson then produced an agree
ment signed by Messrs. Bowen, Merryman,
Emory and Ensor consenting to an assignment
of the church property to Mr.. Boyce, provided
he would allow the congregation to the
church and the pastor the parsonage, free of
charge. Mr.. Boyce stated that this agreement
WAS not satisfactory and declined the teruna
whereupon Mr.. Richardson presented a second
paper from the gentlemen informing him
(Boyce) that he might sue for his money. He
has accordingly brought suit for foreclosure
of the mortgages against each of the gentle
men individually, and also against the church"