The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-02-09
Special Notice.
TOwsONTOWN MI. e. CHURCH.
MoNKToN, BALTIC. COUNTY, Jan. 30, 1884.


Messrs Editorsof The Union Gentlemen The
Baltimore County Herald of last week, in copying
from the Baltimore Sum- of the 18th inst. n report
of the dismissal of suit brought against the Trus-
tees of tho Towsontown M. E. Church, by John L.
Ensor, plaintiff, furnishes its readers with an
editorial of over half column in length, in defense
of the plaintiffs action in the case and that, too,
it is to be presumed in the strongest light posi-
bic, and charges the minister in charge with vio-
lating the Discipline of his church in nominating
certain gentlemen for the Board of Trustees of said
church, and further afirms that said Trustees
would be willing to act with himself in repudating
d claim for borrowed money
The editor of the Herald seems to have consti-
tuted himself not only judge of ecclesiastical law,
but inquisitor of other mems motives. The fol-
lowing is his language, with my own italicizing
"The Rev. VIM II. Chapman, who was then pre-
siding elder on this circuit, in good faith made an
effort to arrange for the settlement of these claims
due Messrs Merryman, Emory, Bowen and Ensor,
for money loaned the church, they agreeing to de-
duct all the interest But the minister in charge,
who succeeded the one who was here when the case
was decided, hoarted the efforts of the presiding
elder, and in his absence removed Messrs. Merry
man, Emory, Bowen and Ensor from the Board of
Trustees, in oiolation of the church Discipline, and
put others in their places who ,could be ceiling to
money and plead limitation to defeat it,"
The editor of the Herald, in his coOardty attack
upon myself and the Trustees put in the places of
Messrs. Merryman, Emory, Bowen and Ensor, has
carefully ommitted names and dates. Does he think
by this omission to lessen the responsibility for a
wllful SANDER? But the public is informed that
the Rev. VIM H. Chapman, sin good faith, made
an effort to arrange for the settlement Of these
claims due Messrs. Merryman, Emory, Bowen and
Ensor. With oohom did the Rev. VIM. H. Chap
man arrange? No such an arrangement was ever
made with myself the official body of the church.
What arrangements he may have made, if any,
with the plaintiff or his constituents, have been
kept from the public. And ,ehen did Mr.. Chap
man make said arrangements? Was it before the
Boyce suit was decided? And ,ohen said
arrangements to be carried into effect? Was it to
be when Mr.. Boyce was put out of the Board of
Trustees And again: Hon. was the settlement of
these claims to be effected? Was it by securing
mortgage upon the church property An honest
answer to these questions would throw much light
upon the subject.
was in charge Of the Towsontown NJ. E. Church
for two years-from March, 1880, to March, 1882.
One of the first things heard, in connection with
the church troubles, was that the society had no
deed for its church property. This came to me
from Mr.. Ensor. He claimed that the property
was decided to seven men, he being one of that
number, and then he read to me an abstract of
deed by which the seven owned the property
Nevertheless, Mr.. Ensor said he wanted me, as
pastor, to get the society to give mortgage upon
the property, in favor of himself and the other
three claimants, all of whom were of the seven
mentioned. My only reply to this was "What
do you want with mortgage?" off you o,cn the
property and want to get money out of it, sell it
and get the money" On an examination of the
proper records soon found the church held the
property by good and valid deed, and that the
deed, by which Ensor and others claimed to own
the property, was a deed in the AIR. The society
denied the legitimacy of the claims of Mr.. Ensor
and Others and never for q moment entertained
the idea of giving mortgage. I said to these
claimants that wished justice done to all, and
invited them to come forward and make good their
Claims. This they refused to do before either the
church or the civil courts during my entire admin
istration, though repeatedly urged to take such
steps. But they wildly hoped for a mortgage, as
they had done under the administration of my
predecessor. Notwithstanding, these claimants
constantly threatened to sue the church and sell
the building over the heads of the people, they
were continued in the Board of Trustees during
my whole administration, and only when forbear-
ance ceased to be virtue, were more suitable men
put in their places.
At the fourth quarterly conference of my first
year it became my duty, as PASTOR to nominate
full Board of Trustees, the term of office in each
case expiring annually. / nominated the entire
old Board, though the presiding elder and Mr.
Ensor protested against Mr.. Boyces re-nomina-
ton. They were all elected. The fourth quar-