The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-04-13
Number SO.

| oihSS WV SNsh HAoyS AOOO9 NAOtNlalhR hnu
did still exercise the franchises and privi.
eyes of corporators without lawful authori-
ty, viz: the franchises and privileges of
trustees of certain corporation called and
known by the name Of "Trustees Of the
General Assembly Of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States of America;"
that on said 24th May, 1898, the relators
were duly elected trustees of the said cor
poration, agreeably to the provisions OF the
act OF 2sth March, 1899, incorporating said
body. but Notwithstanding said elect on tho
defendants still usurped said Office, and
praying for process of law &c.
On the Slst July, 1898, the defendants
put in separate answers that of Asahel
Green asserted that he was one of the or
iginal trustees and had ever since acted as
such and denying the election Of the Rela-
tors,& claiming that his right as trustee had
never been vacated determined or abridged;
and that Off. Bradford, alleging that on the
9th May, 1922, he was duly elected by
the General Assembly trustee, and had
ever since acted as such; also denying tho
election the rela!ors and asserting his pres.
ent right.
On the 10Th Oc.obsE, 1898, the reIator
replied to the plea Of Asahel Green, that
true it was he was originally a trustee of
she General Assembly, but that by an ac.
Of incorporation, the corporate body had
power to change one third of the whole
body Of Is trustees, as often rs they should
hold their sessions, and that, in exercise of
such authority, said body did on the l7sh
May, 1888, at an Assembly held in this
city, duly elect James Todd in place of the
Asahel Green, and the said James Todd ac-
cepied said Office, and thereby the said
General Assembly avowed, DISTINGUISHED
and discharged the said Asahel Green, &c.
and thus replied to the plea of Thomas
Bradford, in like form alledging that George
W. MClelland was duly elected in his
place, &c. In like form, the relator as-
serted that Thomas Fleming was elected
in lieu Of Cornelius c. Cuyler, and Will
liam Darling in lieu of Solomon Allen
William Latta was not summoned, and his
fright, opposed to that of p. A. Rsybold, is
only incindentally in question. In the
Pleadings the several parties appealed to
thc country, viz jury trial, and the issue
of fact became ripe for trial on the 9TH
Nov. 1888.
Accordingly, jury was empannelled on
the second Monday of March, 1889, and
charged to enquire of the matters of fact
contested in the pieadings. The relators
were represented on the trial by Josiab
RandaH, ". NJ. Meredith, g. George
Wood, EsqrS.-the defendants by F. w.
Hubbell, J. r. Ingersoll, John Sergeant
and w. G. Preston, Esqrs.
The facts of the cause covered much
ground, and were extracted from the course
and proceedings Of the General Assembly
during long period Of years, but the most
striking, interesting and important points OF
consideration were the Ercision of May,
1897, and the Secession of May 1898.
II seems that the organization of the
Presbyterian Church as to government, is
this. First, tte session, composed of pas
tor and elders who enjoy life tenure; meet,
in rank the presbytery, consisting of all
The pastors and one elder from each session
within particular district; ne1t. still high.
er, the Synod composed of number Of
Presbyteries not less than three, within
prescribed district in which, as in the Pres.
bytery, all the pastors and one elder from
each session hold seats; and last the highest
tribunal is the General Assembly, composed
of pastors, and delegated elders from all
the Presbyteries.
In 1888 the presbyteries of Oneida, Alba.
ey and Columbia, N. Y. composed the sy.
nod Of Albany. In 1921, this synod having
increased in numbers, was divided into