The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-04-04


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PHILADELPHIA, March 3o.-In the matter of the first
Baptist Church of Philadelphia, the Supreme Court
of Pennsylvania have been occupied for several days
in hearing testimony and the arguments OF the learn
ed counsel. No change effected in the minds OF
the Judges, who heard the former argument and on
Saturday last, Judge Smith delivered opinion con-
curing with the former opinion of Chief Justice
Gibson and Judge Huston. Judge Todd delivered
second opinion, with which Judge Rogers was under
stood to concur, different from that of the Court
By the majority of the Court, the right of the mi
norty of the congregation to have Charter, under
the name of the First Baptist Church, estabished
and at the time, equal right on the part OF
the minority to obtain Charter, under the same name
was admitted and Charter for them was according
ly submitted for the certificate Of the Judges. This
decision made expressly on the ground That the
grant of Charter in the name OF the First Baptist
Church, could in respect effect the rights of prop
erty.
| After the opinions were delivered the Chief JUS
tice made some very Just and forcible remarks to the
parties, earnestly recommending to them an amlcable
adjustment of their differences in regard to property
II was evident TO him, usually the case IN these
religious disputes, that it contest for property,
carried on in an angry and bitter SPIRIT unbecoming
the christian character The decision now made
would confer no rights to property These stand as
they did before What is the rule of justice, which
should govern these parties, IS PLAIN and papabe TO
majority should continue to hold the property; but it
is their duty to make compensation to the minority, IN
proportion to the respective numbers of the parties.
This minority have not been deprived of their civil
rights, by an expulsion from the Church., by MAORI
ty exercising arbitrary power for party purposes
If the majority do not do Justice on this plain princi-
ple of natural equity, the minority may pursue their
! legal remedy, in which the Charter will only be
means of facility when it will probably turn out that
they will be entitled to their proportonate interest in
the Church property. An adjustment of this princi-
pie, should be made without further litigation. The
;I;;cv &C. those religious disputes are calculated
not only to lay waste the stanuIg '7 o"i'es' Du'
to cut to the very CORE the of the Mas
ter whom all profess with much zeal to serve Be
holders of these of strife between high profess
sors of religion would be naturally led to consider
them as the effects of that religion and to call it
into question. Since he had been on that Bench, it
had been his painful duty to witness in that the
embittered contests of Catholics and Proestans, Luz
therans and Cavinists carried with ierceness fit
only to characterize the arena of gadiators This is
not the spirit of true religion and the only true chris
tan conduct is that which recommended by the
Rev Mr. Wayland to these parties, to settle their diff
ferences amicably not to contend about name and
to make equitable adjustment of the property in pro-
portion to numbers. This the parties should endeav
or to effect There is property and room enough for
both. Settle your differences amicably and part
brothers, SAYING If thou wilt take the left hand,
then will go to the right if thou depart to the
Ia H. al. oIo11