1844 AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Rare Church Scandal at Bethel Church in Baltimore.

Very rare 1844 document related to an early financial scandal at one of the founding churches of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Mother Bethel Church of Baltimore, Maryland. 

Early A.M.E. church history reflects a variety of challenges from the larger black experience that found expression in local congregations. There was a legitimate desire for black leadership in the growing network of A.M.E. churches, but black clergy who had effective training were scarce in the early years. There were ongoing power struggles and idealogical tensions between sustaining white congregations who wanted to maintain some sense of "stewardship" of their "investment" and the local black congregations who were struggling for sovereignty and often felt this white oversight as a continuation of the infantilization of the black community in broader culture. And there were internal struggles, as with any emerging, developing organization. 

One theme that seems repeated early on is scandal or disunion involving finances. This tendency was likely heightened by the fact that the giving base of the emerging churches was a combination of outside support from largely white supporters and a much smaller internal income from black laborers, with the black middle and upper class being comparatively small in the 1840's. Defaults on loans, lawsuits, and cases of embezzlement were more frequent than we would see as the movement stabilized during the later 19th century. 

The present document relates to one such scandal [and it is not the only one at least one of the participants would be involved in]. It involved charges that the previous Treasurer was "in arrears." We suppose this to be a euphemism for his having skimmed from the books. The amounts he was accused of taking ranged from $40 to a whopping $800.

This important document not only provides insight into internal workings of the A.M.E. at the period, but involves Rev. Darius Stokes, a prominent early leader among the A.M.E. and sometime Pastor of the Bethel Church at Baltimore. He was a delegate of the A.M.E. to the American Colonization Society meeting where he was physically attacked by other Black Americans who claimed he was a paid stooge of the ACS and part of a plan to engage in mass involuntary deportations to Liberia. This was in 1852 and likely led to his acceptance of the pastorate of the new A.M.E. church in California [1853], where he published, "A Lecture upon the Moral and Religious Elevation of the People of California: Delivered before the Congregation of the African Methodist Episcopal Church of Sacramento City, June, 1853." Stokes would interestingly become embroiled in another financial scandal with the A.M.E. Church in in California. This one would go to court and can be seen HERE. 

The present also involves A.M.E. pioneer, Rev'd Henry C. Turner [d.1846]. He had previously been minister at Mount Zion A.M.E Church in Trenton, New Jersey [1840-1841], was then minister at Bethel Church, Baltimore, and finally at Old Israel Church in Washington D. C, where he was buried. His dear friend, Rev. Daniel Alexander Payne preached the funeral sermon.

The full text below. 

To the Male Members of Bethel Church Baltimore the undersigned respectfully begs leave to communicate the following facts,

Whereas according to the Books and papers of the undersigned at the time he submitted them to the Church, he was then according to the statement of the person whom he employed to examine them, found to be Seventy Dollars and fifty-six cents in arrears to the Church. While the Secretary prior to this had in Church announced the Treasurer to be only forty dollars or somewhere thereabout indebted to the Church. But subsequently at a meeting of the male members Mr. Darius Stokes rose and stated that the Treasurer was then Eight Hundred dollars in arrears to the Church. This assertion without the least shadow of evidence was assiduously reported not only by Mr. D. Stokes and his reckless party, but there is sufficient evidence that the Revd H. C. Turner contributed also to the circulation of the same much to the prejudice and damage of the Treasurer.

His Books and Papers have been submitted ever since the latter part of last February the undersigned consider that the Church has had sufficient time to have collated his Books and Papers with the Secretary's and to have stated authoritatively to the Church the true amount due by the Treasurer to it. Whether it be the amount as at first stated by the Secretary - the amount reported by Mr. Stokes - the amount stated on the Books by his Accountant, or the amount to which the last Committee appointed by the Church to examine the Books and Papers arrived at, he thinks it due to the Community in which he resides, due to the Church for whose prosperity he has long and arduously struggled, and due to himself as a man who has hitherto sustained a reputable character. 

And inasmuch as it was in the Church where Mr. Stokes asserted that the Treasurer was then Eight Hundred Dollars in arrears to the Church, he wishes that report either confirmed, or contradicted in the same place whence it was issued. He wants nothing covered up or concealed; and if upon evidence he has been found guilty of the delinquency asserted by Mr. Stokes, let it be authoritatively given to the world, let the odium rest upon his head and follow him down to an ignominious grave. 

Aware that he shall soon have to stand before the dread tribunal of Almighty God, where the inmost recesses of all hearts shall be laid open, the most hidden motives of conduct made known, where prejudice, envy, calumny, and malice shall be forever put to silence, he therefore asks for nothing more than the truth to be told and justice done to him; and if not done him in the Church, he shall as a last resort sue for at another tribunal. 

The Report in circulation about his saying that he should have the Ten Day enforced against the Revd H. C. Turner is erroneous, he has nothing to do with that, he has no such intention.

He seeks no undue advantage over him. Neither do he complain of his having read him out of Church. How much soever it might have pained him under other circumstances, under the existing he feels not the least uneasiness. He has no desire to come into the secret counsels of the Revd H. C. Turner or to "let his honour come near him." 

All that he asks of the Church, to which he yet feels bound to by more than a thousand ties, is to do him justice. He asks no more. 

Should this be denied him, he shall be compelled as aforesaid to resort to other measures for redress.

Yours with the highest respect and consideration.
Perry Young. Ex. Treasurer of Bethel Church, Baltimore
June 18th, 1844. 

In generally very good condition with a fold tear and partial textual tear present on the rear sheet, not affecting text.