Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-01-10
BAPTISTS READY TO
FIGHT FOR Church
Will Oppose Condemnation
By Jury Which Will Sit
This Afternoon
MEMBER EXPLAINS
THE OPPOSITION

Members Of Delaware Avenue
Baptist Church desire to have cor.
rected what they say is an erroneous
impression gained by the public re-
garding their position in connection
with the condemnation proceedings
looking TO the opening of West Tenth
street. and the condemnation and re.
moval of the church property for that
purpose. The condemnation com.
mission, which will sit this afternoon
in the Municipal Building. comprises
A. L. Johnson William G. Taylor.
Phillip J. lsaacs and James h. Oberly
At the hearing the church will be
represented by Harry Emmons. at
torney. who is chairman OF tho board
Of trustees Of tho church and bv A
committee comprising the pastor. the
Rev. J. Y. Irwin Harry Emmons.
chairman of the board Of trustees.
and w r Hope chairman Of the
board of deacons.
In connection with the proceeding.
O. member of the church this morning
made the following statement:
The people Of Wilmington are
under wrong impression of the posi-
ton taken by the church and its mem
hers on this matter. Contrary to the
impression that has become prevalent.
this church is not opposed TO any real
public or municipal improvement for
which there is a real demand. We are
opposed. however, to the system under
which condemnation Is accomplished
| Four persons are in "a position 10
cause any property owner in the city
all kinds of worry and expense in the
! filing of claims for damages and sc
on, and then, after one has been put
to much worry and great expense. the
city can decline the whole matter. but
that does not relieve the mind or the
purse of the other fellow. This sys-
tenn might be properly applicable in
Germany or Russian or South Africa
but it is not in line with American
principles or progressiveness.
1T is not even necessary that thu
property owner should be given tn
reason for the proposed condemna
ton.
We are in a rather peculiar posi-
ton as churches go and this shoul'
be taken into consideration. This i
Baptist church, and is the Onl.
church of this denomination which is 81
located as to be in a position to min
lister to the entire East Side OF viii
mington. We are centrally locates
with reference TO our membership
which is residentially located at al
points of the compass from tn
church. We want only adequate churcl
facilities for our people.
'It strikes us rather peculiarly tina
while the city is anxious, apparently
to condemn and take over our churcl
property, which will be very eXpen
sive. it is so poor, according to an OF
acial of the Street and Sewer Depart
ment in a published statement tina
il cannot afford to clean the streets.
He had particular reference to Del
aware avenue But look out of thi
window The mud and filth in thi
street has been there since before tn
snow, but. while Wilmington has NJ
money with which to have street
flushed. cleaned or repaired 1t yet dc
sires the condemnation Of valuabl
property. in this instance at least
where there is no real demand or res
son for IT, I have interviewed nun
4 her OF representative business an
] real estate men, and not one Of the1
1 Is in favor of this movement. or ca
see any real reason. from bushes
or traffic standpoint. for such action.