New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-16
TO EXPOSE CHURCH'S FOES.
r. BOSWORTH SPEAKS.
Building Committee Gaze Contracts
to One Another, Pastor Charges.

The Rev. Boardman B. Bcsworth in his ser
mon at the Washington Heights Baptist Church
Yesterday spoke at length on the trouble over
the mortgage Of 100000 giving notice that mere
after he would not hesitate TO speak publicly
oho,,+ nersons who had been enemies Of the
church in the long and fruitless struggle TO clear
n from debt After reciting what was told IN
The tribune last Thursday regarding the refusal
of the Baptist City Mission Society to fulfill It's
pledge 10 nay $4,000 whereby the church lost
a contribution Of $4,000 from Mr.. Rockefeller
and regarding the failure to get hearing be-
fore the Southern New-York Baptist Assocla-
ton. Mr. Boardman said it was plain that the
church was being prosecuted for righteousness
sake.
With much earnestness Mr. Bosworth ue-
clared his belief that God would not permit the
persecution to kill the church, and he urged ms
hearers TO continue their work in the belief that
some way out of the difficulties would be pro-
vided In adjudication of his sermon there was
distributed to the congregation a printed state
yaent of the whole trouble from the time the
meeting house IN 23d-st. was sold TO provide
capital for the building of the present structure
at 1A5th-st and Convent-ave
The statement is intended to show that the
aabt was incurred largely by the building com
,nittee without the knowledge or consent Of
The church. This committee consisted of DR..
A
-7ool,son and they gave the building contract to
'z11ra1v I Robinson, a member of the church,
who was not limited as to time or expense. ana
MAS 10 receive > per cent OF the cost OF inc
7,,,.Iding as his commission. The statement says
The marble for the building was taken from a
.-Ho~gio ouerry owned by a company IN which
MT Robinson held controlling stock and Dr.
Bennett was president, while the hardware came
from q firm in which Mr.. ClinCh was a partner,
The building. it is declared. cost over S3oOUo
more than a rival builder of approved respon-
sibility offered TO build it for on the basis OF
the same general plans. but Of cut granite IN
stead of Georgia marble.
On December IL 1900. the statement says. the
congregation adopted resolutions competing
the former building committee and builder, DE-
James A Bennett Alfred D. Clinch and T. NJ.
jackson and Andrew ]. Robinson, 10 take let
ters of dismission within one week, failure to do
so itself to constitute accommodation without
further action of the church, The following IS
s5ded:
On the last day permitted by these resolutions
-<oIiozTing evening were received into membership
in Mount Morris BAPTIST Church. That same even
sion Society retired in Dr. BENEFITS favor. ana at
T4tLP Mission Soeietv held the following evening
December 19. 1902 DR.. Bennett was elected to the
Mr. Robinson who. Ike DR.. Bennett, was char
ter member OF the society vas similarly restoTed
present Mount Morris Church has had four rep
CITY Mission Society. namely, the Rev. Dr. w. G
Biting, Edward S. Clinch, James A Bennett and
Andrew J. Robinson. During the same period, ana
for the first time in its history, washington
Heights Church has had no representation on TINS
board. Repeated protests have not altered TINS
situation
cumstances under which he left the Washington
Heights Baptist Church. and in spite Of the fact
that he is a member of Mount Norris Church. has
continued until the present autumn to attend the
morning service Of public worship In Washington
Heights Baptist Church regularly as before, com
Inunion services alone excepted ana Mrs. Bennett
has retained her membership and has been active
in the business and other meetings Of the church
Nj Bosworth said last evening that people
could understand from the statement of facts
why the City Mission Society had violated its
pledge to help free the Washington Heights
Church from debt, and Why influences in the
C,itv Mission Society had been able to keep the
church in a turmoil. He had desired he said.
n avoid scandal in the church. but he had de-
ternined that the only way was to speak out
the truth plainly.