Middletown transcript., 1909-07-10
cONFnRaNce dETs WEsLEY cHuRcH
Trassier Made 1t Dever Il Amicable
Way. And Lltlaati0n Eaded

4
Way And Litigation Faded
DovER, DEL, July 8. Litigation was
ended to-day over she possession Of Wea-
ley Methodist Episcopal Church, which
has been closed to the Rev. E. L. Hof.I
fecker as pastor since the Rev. A. W. Light.
bourne MAS deposed from membership in
the Wilmington Conference.
The church early this afternoon was
transferred formally to the Wilmington
Methodist Conference. and will be opeaed
on Sunday next with the Rev. Mr.. Hof-
fecker as pastor. He was assigned by the
conference at its session in Milford in
March, although the church has been
closed to him since then because the
sentiment prevailing among the official
members and congregation was friendly
to DIR. Lightbourne who was obliged to
retire as pastor after conference had ousted |
him from membership.
Litigation to determine whether the /
conference or the trustees own the Wesley |
Church is pending before Chancellor
Charles M. Curtis, it having been started
before Chancellor Nicholson, but il will
be Withdrawn following the transfer OF
the church aud parsonage formally to the
conference to-day.
Transfer Of Property
Shortly after noon today two lawyers
met in the Farmers Bank aud completed
the formal transfer of the church and
parsonage to the conference. w. W.
Harrington represented Henry Ridgely,
Robert H. Richards and Frank M. Jones,
as counsel for Wilmington Conference,
and James H. Hughes represented the
seven of the nine trustees who had kept
Wesley Church closed against Mr.. Hof-
fecker, regularly-assigned pastor, since
the latter part Of March.
To Pay For Litigation l
Uuder the terms of the transfer bond
of $500 was executed against the $47, 900
church property to defray the costs of the
litigation, counsel fees and also some re.
pairs that had been made. This amount
will be paid by the Conference authorities
and is the only encumbrance against the
property. William Salisbury and w. S.
Haman, two Of the trustees who were op.
posed TO the radical action in closing the
church, joined with the other seven
trustees in executing the $500 bond.
Following this the majority trustees
rendered their designations, they being
James H. Hughes, William M. Hazel,
I. j. Stevenson, Wesley Webb, Henry
E. Moore, ]. Frank Wilds, and William
]. Benson. This leaves Mr., Salisbury
and Mr.. Haman as the only trustees. 1t
is understood that thirty-two members Of
the official board also are preparing their
1
object to Church Closing
Que OF the trustees in speaking OF to.
days action, which was determined upon
At the conference last night, said:
"We had two objects 10 view in taking !
The action Of closing and holding the
church property:
First, Werdesired to hold our people.
300 or 400 of them, from scattering and
eaving church fellowship and labor al
;ogether.
Second, to tryt bring about house
cleaning in the Wilmington Conference
Ind get younger and more satisfactory
men in the lead, SO that eventually our
people would drift back.
'In the first We have succeeded and the
organization Of the Peoples Church is a
esult. The second purpose failed, for /
he preachers we're solidifed until our !
Oeople have determined fully not TO re. 4
urn to any afiliation with the Whining f
on Conference"
II is expected that reorganization of
Wesley ME-. Church will be completed as
Don as possible, and that District Super.
ntendent Morgan and Pastor Hofecker
will begin their labors on Sunday next to
ry to upbuild the church again.
Meanwhile the Peoples Church will
ontinue to hold services ia the Opera
House with DR.. Lightbourne as pastor.
'ome observers of the situation to-day
we're predicting that the settlement Of I
he litigation eventually will mean the q
dissolution of the Peoples Church, which
) made up Of persons who were members
I Wesley Church. :