Evening journal., 1909-08-04
CHURCH WAR ENDS
IN COMPROMISE
SwedenbOreians May Get
Use of Property at
WiIIiStOn

WILLlSTON Md, Aug. "A church
war" which has attracted wide attention
on the Peninsula in the last few years
has been ended here i'm the compromise
of the dispute over the Wiliiston oMth-
odist Episcopal Church property.
Tho question got into the Caroline Cir
cuit Court two years ago when an in
junction was granted by the cour4 upon
the application Of the Rev A. A. Bichen.
then pastor in charge OF the BurrsviHe
circuit, restraining tho use of the church
at Williston as a Swedenborgian place Of
Worship For many years a preacher Of
tho Methodist Episcopal denomination
was stationed at Williston. where there
was a thriving congregation. but two
years ago the Wilmington Conference.
IN session at Pocomoke city abolished
the Williston circuit, and established a
new one. with the preacher I'm charge at
Concord, where a parsonage was erect
ed The Williston church was attached
TO the Burrsvillc circuit, and the congre-
cation and trustees. or most of them,
resented being made a fifth wheel to tho
Burrsville wagon, and the iealously be-
tween the congregations here and at
Concord also played a part in the dis
affection.
Desiring TO have a preacher of their
own, and one not under the dominion Of
the presiding elder. the Wnliston people
invited the Rev. John +. Smith, Swed-
enborgian clergyman. residing in 'Phila-
dolphia. 10 hold regular services. Mr.,
Smith was formerly member Of the
Wilmington Conference. but entered the
swedenborglan ministry. and established
Society of tho Church of the New
Jerusalem in another part of the county
Mr. Smith accepted tho invitation. an,
the trustees opened the church TO him
locking out Mr.. Bicheil
The latter asserted his authority ovei
the church property. and retained Henr,
r. Lewis as counsel. who sued out
writ of injunction restraining Mr.. Smitl
from the use Of the pulpit and the use o
the church for religious services othe
than those prescribed by tho Methods
discipline Thereupon the members rente'
for Mr. Smith a room i'm the town ant
continued the Swedenbor"ian services.
At the time the injunction wa
granted the trustees. by Albtrt G. Tow
ers. by way of answer. set up that III
deeds under which the property was he'll
bv the Mothodists were defective, an
that the property had reverted TO III
heirs at law OF the original grantor, Sen
ator Arthur John Willis.
In 1891 the heirs at law Of Senate
Willis conveyed the church property 1
the trustees and pastor Of the Willisto
circuit and their successors in trust 70
, the benefit OF the Methodist Episcopa
Church OF the United States. As thi
deed did not have the sanction of tn
Legislature. as prescribed by the Bill
OF Rights. and the trustees were not in
corporated the Willis heirs we're in posi-
ton to claim the property. The interest
, OF nearly all Of them arc now held by
son-in-law ex-senator Willis. b. Goote
Stevens. Recently proceedings were IN
stitutcd for sale Of the property b
, Mr.. stevens. but this week the difficult
, was ended by the payment TO the coun
r sci for the conference authorities Of
r sum of money for their equitable inter
y est "a the church building, and II no'
becomes the undisputed property Of MI
stevens. II is said that the church wi
hereafter be allied with the swedenbor
gian denomination. and that most OF tn
NIethodists viii identify themselves there
=, with.