The San Francisco call., 1905-01-31
BOOK CONCERN
MEN ARE ANGRY
MethOdists Meet and Make
Protest Against Sale of
Market Street Property
MAY SEEK LAWS AID
Nathaniel 7. Coulson Says
That He Has Offered an
Advance on Price Named
MAY SEEK LAWS AID

Advance on Price Named
Much indignation was expressed yes
terday by members of the commission
for the care of the San Francisco de-
pository of the Methodist Book Con-
Germ that contract for the sale of the
building 1887 Market street should
have been effected without their knowl-
edge and consent Of Eaton & Mains,
the Eastern agents.
meeting was held at Epworth Hall,
in the very building which may slip
from the hands of the Methodists, and
protests were freely made and even
court proceedings considered. Tele-
grams containing resolutions were sent
to Methodist headquarters in New York
City and Cincinnati, Ohio, expressing
the views of those who are most con-
cerned in the interests of California
Methodism
The Rev. Mr.. Keast was in the chair,
and among those who took part in the
proceedings was Bishop Hamilton.
If there had been any doubt about
the actual disposal OF the valued prop
erty it was dispelled when the follow
ing explanation was submitted by j. A.
Jones:
SAN FRANCISCO. Jan. 2s. 1908.
IN relation TO the safe OF the realty Oh tno
Methodist Book Concern, 1887 Market street, 1
have to say:
am real estate broker. Have operated in
such capacity in and ABOUT San Francisco
during the last fifteen years. For several
years--at least eight or ten-I have tried at
different times TO secure authorization Tor the
In April last i wrote to the authorities in
New York City that 1 had a client to whom
about Christmas time. when l was fully au-
thorized to sell the property. did so sell the
property during last week to Mr.. Louis Fried
man of this city.
OF course, 1 had authority to sell the real
estate only l understand that the depository
business of the Methodist Book Concern is to
be continued as heretofore at the old stand. or
in new quarters. JOHN A. JONES.
So worked up were a number or those
who have for years taken an interest
in the establishment and the welfare
of this Western branch Of the Book
Concern that they readily agreed to
transmit the following by telegraph to
the Western Book Concern, Cincinnati:
Resolved, That this meeting respectfully In
form the Western agents that our people on
the coast are greatly agitated by the reported
sale OF the property at 1887 Market street TO
an outside party; and we earnestly hope for an
early assurance that not less than $l25. 600
shall be expended in providing adequate ana
and Depository in the city of San Francisco;
and 1t is our judgment that the sale OF the
property should not be consummated until
equally good or better property shall be Sc
cured.
A second resolution as follows was
wired:
Resolved That we regret the sale Of the
property at 1857 Market street by the proper
authorities without consulting the local COM
mission In charge of said property.
The meeting went even further than
to pass the foregoing resolutions and
decided that legal notice be given to
Louis Friedman, Friedman & Rogers.
j. A. Jones and the Bank of California
that the legal rights to the property
1887 Market street rest with the Meth
odist Episcopal church and that Eaton
& Mains hold the title thereto in trust
for the church These persons and
firms are further to be notified that
the General Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church is the supreme
authority in and of said church, and
by resolution of said General Confer
ence at the session of 1900 a local COM
mission was constituted of seven men,
bers and vested with the full manage
ment and control of the business of
the depository at San Francisco and
with charge of all the property Of the
Book Concern in California. This was
confirmed by the General Conference
of 1904 held in Los Angeles"
The local commission declares that
1t has not authorized or consented to
InE sale anu jones, the agent, ana Lflo
Bank of California are particularly
notified not to deliver to Louis Fried
man or any one any deed conveying
the property.
If the Bank of California has re-
ceived any money 1t is to be warned
not to give it over to any one but the
local commission. Louis Friedman and
Friedman & Rogers will be informed
that Homer Eaton. George P. Mains
L. L.
not any right, authority or power to
grant or convey the premises or deliver
any deed purporting to convey the
property, nor has either OF them any
right, power or authority to receive
any money as the purchase price of
the said property. They are further
notified that any sums that may be
paid by them will be at their own risk
and peril"
This notice Is signed by G. B. Perkins,
secretary of the local commission. The
commission consists of Rolla V. Watt,
c. B. Perkins. DIR. c. F. Miller, DR.. E.
r. Ollie, DR.. E. P. bennett, A. j. Wal
lace and DR.. F. d. Bovard.
Among the indignant protestants is
the Rev. c. v. Anthony, who was one
of the committee that purchased the
property in 1876. Mr.. Anthony wrote
a scathing denunciation of the act of
the New York Book Concern.
During the meeting a letter from
Nathaniel T. Coulson was submitted,
declaring that he had offered an ad-
vance on the price paid for the prem
ises. 1t is said that Coulson's offer is
$135,000 while the price to be paid by
Friedman is SIPS 900.
The matter is causing no little anx-
iety to those concerned. There are
those who believe that the New York
men had not the least legal right to
dispose of the property without the
consent of the California Commission,
while others unwillingly aver that the
Eastern men possess the right to effect
the sale in the manner which they have
followed.