The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1879-12-12

Made and the Action Taken Against
Him by His Methodist Brethren---A
History of What He has Done for the
Church.
From the Pioneer Press:
In the Pioneer Press Of September 10Th and
nth last, under the head OF Manksto Items,
were some sensational reports touching charges
the Methodist church In this place, and n pre-
tense Of trial thereon. The sources Of the re-
porter's information were rather dim and
shadowy. and the statements made to him weie
altogether wide OF the truth.
The matter upon which the charges were
founded related entirely 10 an agreement about
4 certain piece Of property, formerly the Metho
dist church parsonage There was no pretense
or claim that l owed the church any money.
There could be none, as had not been treasuI-
er Of either the trustees or stewards Tor ten
years certainly, and TO the best OF my recollec
ton, not since 1854 or 1865, l had invariably
refused for q long time TO act in that capacity.
and the reason was we'll understood by the most
active members OF the church-that could not
afford 20, as in such case great many arrearages
would be added upon me which ought not to
pay-and ofcourse lose.
/ now come tn the reporters statement as
follows: 1.-THE church side Of the affair Is this
In or near 1871, the church, Mr.. Hall acting as
agent, bought parsonage for the society. Mr..
Hall did this On his own responsibility, promts
ing when questioned rs to the adyisability Of
the purchase, to take it himself at the price paid
for II. II at am time the church should regret
the price paid"
trustees Of the NJ. r. church In this place
bought the property in controversy for parson-
age Of j. j. Thornton, then and now q resident
Of Texas. He was here and sold the place him
self TO the trustees, and the first knew of the
closing OF the trade, he came into the bank one
day and said he had sold the place 10 the trus
tees for 81 200, and stating the terms OF payment.
Mr. Thornton was an old friend and former part
ner, aud during the time he was in the army
and amer he went TO Texas, l attended to his
business here.
The subject of buying the property had been
talked Of by the Official board and others, before
Mr.. Thornton came on, and while was per
sonally in favor Of the purchase. as | was agent
for Mr.. Thornton and trustee Of the church,
refused to act in the matter. After he came
here the transaction was closed and all were
satisfied al the time so far as know. That is
all there IL OF the purchase story. There was
not at that time the 81 adow Of an obligation on
my part TO even take the property. and certain
ly tt was no condition OF the purchase.
The statement that l made the purchase on
my own responsibility is therefore untrue in
every particular.
In October 1874, At an official meeting, in which
sundry affairs Of the church were being discu SIS
ed, said 10 the board that l would take the
property of their hands. II WAS an unwise
and unselfish act on my part, and had no refer
ence 10 the original purchase, but was prompt
ed by desire to relieve the society. II was
only ono more assumption OF q load upon my
shoulders which they ought TO have carried.
Nothing was done further at that time, as the
society desired 10 retain the property as q par
sonage for another year.
In October 1875, the Rev. Mr.. Door vacated
the premises, and took possession, expanding
between $500 and $500 In improvements.
There being q mortgage on the property, the
rch did not then make deed. Afterwards
Il was discovered that there was an informAlity
in the conveyance TO the trustees, and declined
20 aEa daad until this rprffnAd The
matter ran along. as such things are apt TO. IN
I'll the bank brought suit en- the notes thel Neld,
and by that time ! was unable to make arrange
After the bank brought suit, the official board
passed resolutions TO bring charges agains: me,
as IL lie technically called. unless l would carry
out the agreement. committee was appoint
ed 10 confer with me. To them / stated that
did not repudiate the contract that was IN
able 10 do so now, but that | would take the
property as had promised, just as soon as /
possibly could.
few weeks afterwards was called to meet
the committee again. Upon doing so, l said
that had met them at their request, but
could not say anything different from what
had said at the previous meeting.
To this Prof. d. c. John replied that after the
previous meeting the committee had conclude d
TO accept my statement, but on looking over The
records, found had some property which could
be used some way in q settlement. Upon de-
cribing the property they learned at once that
IL was a mistake. This left the matter Just as
il stood at the first meeting, and IL nothing
further had happened at this Interview II would
have ended then, for the present, at least.
But now comes "true inwardness" of this
church trial. Prof. John got mad. In the
angry discussion which followed, ! alluded to
his putting his property In Pennsylvsnia ont OF
his hands pending the settlement Of his BUSH
ness affairs, This caused most unseemly ex'
hibitior of passion, which, while II might have
been pardonable in poor. weak sinner Ike
the writer. was unworthy OF Q minister OF the
Yha nrfurinal M the Rar0nd Etatc
Normal School, the ssodei and exemplar Of
hundreds Of young people, and knowing the
dou bt when walked ont Of the building that
night that he would use his influence over the
committee 20 recommend that charges be
brought against me than had OF my existence.
balance Of the committee were as 'clay in the
hands Of the potter"
In due time charges were brought and was
cited to trial.
did not put in an appearance al the trial or
make any defence, chiefly because first or last
n would have probably involved the whole
church. Church trisls, like family quarrels, are
almost invariably protracted and bitter. IL ]
was TO retain my membership in the church I
did not want to live In quarrel. Then l felt
so outraged In my feelings by the course of the
church, the action taken being so unusual
bringing a ch Irch indictment to compel the
carving out OF q contract.
This is concisely statement in regard TO this
transaction, but feel that ] should be doing
great iniu stice to myself dill not give o. briefly
as possible TO the public somewhat OF my rela-
lion TO the NJ z. church Of MAJ kato for the last
q years. have been published "a an embezzl-
e, Of church funds through all the length aud
breadth of the state, as am informed that near
ly every paper has noticed the publication made
in the Pioneer Press.
When we came to this place In the fall Of 1852
nv wife and myself had been members OF the
vi. T.. church well on TO twenty years We foa nd
the church socially and financially very weak
I'm did m hesitate to cast In LOT with them
Al the very fret opportunity.
could not afford to do much, but felt like
belping along all could. Opportunities came
fas Ter Than could have wished, for in q few