Warner v. Bowdoin Square Baptist Society
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Bill in equity, filed on June 15, 1887, by Ralph Warner and Henry S. Brown, pew-holders of the Bowdoin Square Baptist Society, a committee of the Bowdoin Square Baptist Church, and two deacons thereof as such and in their own right as members of the church, against the Bowdoin Square Baptist Society and the Massachusetts Baptist Convention.
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Bill in equity, filed on June 15, 1887, by Ralph Warner and Henry S. Brown, pew-holders of the Bowdoin Square Baptist Society, a committee of the Bowdoin Square Baptist Church, and two deacons thereof as such and in their own right as members of the church, against the Bowdoin Square Baptist Society and the Massachusetts Baptist Convention. The bill alleged, that about 1840 a tract of land was purchased and a meeting-house erected, partly by means of contributions from members of different Baptist congregations and partly with the proceeds of a mortgage placed upon the property ; that the…
1Opinion of the CourtHolmes, J.
The only facts relied on to constitute a trust in favor of the Bowdoin Square Baptist Church, in respect to the *404land on which the meeting-house stands, are that the steps were taken which are usual in this Commonwealth when a body of persons intend to build a meeting-house for public worship. Contributions were taken up from the members of the different congregations of the same denomination, “ for the purpose of erecting a meeting-house for the use of a Baptist church to be afterwards formed to worship in said house.” Land was bought, and a meeting-house built with the funds collected, aided…
2Cases cited2 opinions
- Old South Society v. CrockerMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1875
- Baker v. FalesMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1820
3Cited by10 opinions
- McNeilly v. First Presbyterian ChurchMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1923
- Canadian Religious Ass'n v. ParmenterMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1902
- Roberts v. BradfieldCourt of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit · 1898
- Greek Orthodox Community v. MalicourtisMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1929
- Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society v. Bowdoin Square Baptist SocietyMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1912
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