For background read part 1 and part 2 of this discussion.

In a former letter I exposed the action of a board of trustees of a certain church. That letter was answered, or rather an attempt was made to answer it, by one of the trustees. Now I owe it to the public, to myself, and to the editor, as a local correspondent of the Free Trader, to say a final word in regard to this matter. The parties to whom I owe my information are prominent and responsible men in the town. Among them I may mention Supervisor Beach, Messrs. Henderson, Brower, Hess, Debolt and others. If Wm. A. Greenlees desires satisfaction, let him go to these men, for from them I obtained my facts and information. They stand willing, every one, to substantiate everything said on this subject. That the public may not be deceived about the affair, these parties have sent me for publication the following statements:

First. – We are prepared to prove by prominent members and trustees of the church, and by the pastor in charge at the time the church was built, who circulated the petition for aid in its erection, that it was especially understood that it was to be used by other denominations when not conflicting with M. E. appointments, and two trustees were appointed to represent the outside interests. By this means some nineteen hundred dollars were raised outside of its members, and members gave on the above condition. The word “ORthoDOX” was not made use of at the time.

Second. – Wm. A. Greenlees, as trustee, also started out with a subscription paper stating that none but Methodists should use the house. But we have not heard that he succeeded in raising a dollar on those terms. And his own subscription and labor for it do not prove him to be so much more magnanimous than his neighbors, against whom he would bar its doors.

Third. – The present acting trustees seem to be fifty years behind the times in regard to religious liberty, as the following communication from one of them would show:
Serena, March 29, ’79
A. S. Henderson – Sir: I have Been wanting to see you for some time, But have not had time. So I’ll write you and aske you if you heled out the ida thet any and all denomenations could preach in the new M. E. Church when the subscription paper was precented, or did you say ORthoDOX” Now Mr. Henderson if the Unaverseles come under the head of ORthoDOX, then I am with you and will not hesetate to say the church shal be had, but if not you have no right to make the demand you have for I can tell you thet it was expresley understood that the church could be had when not used and it was all so understood it should be to some ORthoDOX denomenations. If I am right you went to far in saying we got money under fals pretence.
plese Answer this
yours Respectfully
Peter Jacobs.

(Mr. Henderson enclosed the above letter in this statement, sent us by the parties above mentioned, and we have it in our possession at the present time.) The statement continues: “If Wm. A. Greenlees had heeded the advice of King Solomon, which he quoted, we think he would never have written his article of April 10, and we would recommend his perusal of other quotations from the same source: “The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, and He overthroweth the words of the transgressor.” “Be not a witness against they neighbor without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.”

Occasional¹

So there!

1. Ottawa Free Trader, May 3, 1879, p. 2, cols. 2-3