Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-07-23
Overlooked and Articles of
Incorporation Require
Prompt Action.
FORGOTTEN IN APRIL.
Contributors Who Cancelled
the Debt Want Terms
Complied With.

Now that the Union Tabernacle Il
for the first time in it's history free
from debt, there is a very general
expression of opinion, especially
from those who reeently contributed
to clear IT ofdebt, that the taberna-
cle's governing board showld be re-
organized ard its affairs pBt upon a
self sustaining basis. This has never
been the case. The debt uponi the
building was reduced $1,000 several
years ago by the sale Of a strip of
land on the east side-o8 the grounds,
a step unwisei B the beginning and
one that is destined to cause. trouble
in the courts before it is through
with. The land decided 10 the tab.
Ilernacle IN 1898 extended to the west
bank Of the river" located some so
or more feet from the river bed. In
che sale Of the property il had ac-
quired, deed was made not to the
west bank, but to the 'low' water
mark of Little river, thus appr8-
priating and transferring a. public
roadway Leading to q ford that had
belonged to the city of HopkinsWlley
used and occupied as a street anG
roadway leading to the river, for
more than EG0 years. This property
is now needed for bridge purposes
and litigation to recover possession.
of it iS unavoidable.
Another mistake made by the-tab--
ernacls. board first created was iwthe
location Of the building. One con-
dition Of the deed was that Is feet
on the west side shOuldsbe reserved
for street purposes to widen Mercer
street. which is only % feet wide.
This was not done and the buil1ing
was built so near to EEeTcer street
that this cannot now be done. In
disregard Of the terms Of the deed, ]
the reserved portion was occupied
on the west side and an unnecessary
alley opened on the east side to, as
sist in selling the pRblic ground
above referred to.
Aside9rom the 81 Coo mentioned !
above 10 part of the $1,000 debt
made soon after the house was built
in 1893. was ever PAID The balance
of $1,000 still remained with two
years interest and sundry smaller
debts amounting to $2,447. so, when
the Kentuckian set on foot the
movement that caused number OF
business men to raise the money to,
wipe out the debt. The largest
contributors are business men who
feel o keen interest in the preserva-
ton of the building for the uses for
which it was intended. 1t is con-
trolled by hoard made up, Of one
member from each of the seven
Protestant churches Of the. city, viz:
Buptist, Christian. Episcopal, Meth /
odist, Ninth Street Presbyterian. |
First Presbyterian and Cumberland |
Presbyterian. The members are re-
CURED to be elected annually the
first Tuesday in April or as soon
as prictieable. This pro-
vision has not been complied with |
for several years and the present |
board members have no legal stand
ing exeept as hold-overs, whose sue
cessoTs have never qualified.
1t is understood that these gentle
men themselves recognize the i'm
pOrtance Of recognizing. One of |
them, Mr., Rogers, has created an
actual vacancy by resigning. The
others should follow his ex-
ample and let their respective
churches either re-elect them or
choose new members without delay.
This is not intended to reflect upon
the present board. The tabernacle
has beeun troublesome trust at all
times and most of them have been
unwilling members, who may be
anxious to be relieved of a thank
less task. If they desire to be re-
elected, all we'll and good. Let it
be done in a regule way and then
let them apply the lme business
methodist the tabernacle that
they would use if it were a private
inuestrnnrt 70 ha mt ON q nrnhtahln