Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-06-10

The WI. r.. Church VS.. the M
Il. Church. South.
CARD.
To Whom 1t mag Concern:

| deem it duty | owe the public, al
we'll as an answer to the many iuquir'
les received, to publish the following
official communications exchanged be-
tween the two churches named above
At the close of the war, the M. E
Church South, organized Society al
this place, and was permitted the use
of the NJ. E. Church. From that time
to the present, they have used the
church for worship md the land belong
ing to said church for the purpose OF
raising potatoes, etc. At no time since
they began to worship at Gerardstown
have they been interferred with in the
use of said property. Not satisfied with
its use, however, on Sunday April 2Dd ,
1882, the Rev. j. W Wolff, OF the NJ
Church South, after preaching, proceed
ed to elect Trustees for the property,
and next day two able counsels were
retained in order to fix up the job Now
after waiting patiently Tor two months,
our Church, in order to terminate the
strife and settle the question in dispute,
communicated to the Church South, the
following, which will explain itself.
May 9th, 1882.
To Rev. J. w. WOLFF.
Dear Brother: Since you pro-
ceeded to elect Trustees for our church
property at this place, we, the M. E.
Church, have waited long and patiently
for the termination of the trouble caused
by said action. In order to defend our
selves against the NJ E. Church South,
we have been put to considerable ex-
pense and trouble, all of which has
arisen out of our courtesy in gracioasly
permitting you to worship with US.
Thus we have been panied aud wound
ed, by those whom we have SO long be-
friended. Notwithstanding cur possess
sion Of the said property for more than
fifty years, also, board of trustees on
record in the Circuit Court, bearing
date December 1866 and quit claim
deed secured from those whom we sup
posed, originally owned the land: the
M. E. Church, magranimous to the last
communicated the following to the NE
Church South, at this place; of which |
presume you was duly made acquainted:
April 9th, 1882.
To Mr.. CASPER STUMP:
Dear Sir: am requested to in
qure if you officially represent at Ger
ardstown the N Il. Church South, and
ifso. to bear you fraternal greetings,
from the Trustees and Quarterly Con-
ference of the M. f. Church and on
their behalf exte d to the M. + Church
South. through you as their representa-
tive, the use of the NJ. E. Church, at Ger
ardstown, tor public worship. IfyOu do
not officially represent the M E.Church
South. | am requested to commun-
icate with the Rev. j W. Wolff, to the
the same effect and request reply at
an early day. Signed ca behalf of the
Board OF Trustee aud Quarterly Confer.
ence of the M + Church.
Yours mos respectfully,
THos. WocD.
Since the above official communica-
ton, | received the following:
GERARDsTowN, w. VA,
May 1882.
Rev. THOMAS WOODS:
Dear Sir: Your favor of April
9th, 1882, inquiring whether or not /
officially represent at Gerardstown, the
M. E. Church South, is before me. My
answer is do, as one of the surviving
Trustees of the house of worship used
by the Methodlsts Of this place. The
feeling of fraternity, expressed through
YOU, by the parties you represent, we
must heartily reciprocate. The tender
OF the use, to the M. L. Church South,
of house of worship in Gerardstown,
by the parties your represent, cannot
be accented, as by so doing we would
surrender right to the use of said
property by us, which, we claim in
equity and law, as equal at least, to any
claim that may be set up by the M. h.
Church, etc Signed
ISAAC HoUsWoRTH,
CASPER STUMP.
The above is so remarkable IN view
Of all the facts, in the case, that ! will
not attempt any criticism, at least for
the present. 1t only remains Tor me to
say that so far from setting up q
claim, the property was properly decd
ed to the NJ. 4. Church, 81 years ago,
and put on record 10 the Circuit Court
and may be found in book So, page $40,
bearing date, Dec 26th, 1925. | now
call your attention to the fact, that
since the refusal Of our offer, you. e
the M. E Church South, have continu-