Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1842-11-18
AN IMPORTANT JUDICIAL DECISION RE-
LATlVE TO THE AUTHORITY OF PA.
RENTS OVER THEIR CHILDREN.

LATINE III THE AUTHORITY VI IA
RENTS OVER THEIR CHILDREN.
We find in the Lycomng (Po.) Gazette the re-
port of singular cast, hch called forth judicial
EXPIRE of opinion on one of the most interesting
and important relations known in society. The
facts in the ease were briefly as follows:
A young lady of II, brought up in the
| PRESBYTERIAN doctrine had become convinced
by the preaching of a Baptist clergyman,
aud desired to be received into the Baptist
Church by immersion. To this her father
was inexorably opposed, as she had been
baptsed in the Presbyterian Cburch-prob-
ably when an infant. The father forbade
the Baptist clergyman to administer the rite,
Threatening him with personal injury if he
did-and at one time declaring that he
would shoot him The clergyman, howev-
or, conceving his duty toward the girl TO be
of higher authority than the prohibition Of
the father, did receive her into the church
by immersion, without her fathers knowl-
edge.
When he heard Of il the father was very
much incensed and followed the clergyman
through the street, uttering such threats as
induced the latter to apply TO the County
Court for an order requiring the father TO
give security for preserving the peace.
In the way of granting this order there
was of course no difficulty as the defendant
had no right to take the law into his own
hands. however much he had reason to com.
plain Of the Rev. gentleman's proceedings
But another question then arose, the solu
ton Of which involved the necessity of con
} sidernr the relation above referred to-
namely, that of parent and child, with ref
terence to the power and authority of the for
mer to control the religious feelings and ac
tions of the latter.
This question was, whether the complain
ant. the county or the defendant should b,
= mulcied in the costs of the applcation-th'
Court being required by the statute TO maxi
order in the premises. Hence IT became
! necessary to inquire into the conduct of tn
parties and ascertain whose wrongful &C
originated the difficulty.
The opinion of the presiding Judge, tn
Il Hon. Ellis Lewis, is published at length i
;, the paper from which we obtain the facts
|. and il is against the Rev. clergyman. Th
presiding Judge discusses at great length
and with signal ability, the foundation an
extent Of parental authority 10 educate hi
child, to regulate her conscience, and to
all that his conscience prescribes TO him I
essential for her bodily and spiritual welfare
until she has arrived at the proper age I
determine matters for herself
What that proper age is, 1t would be vel
difficult, perhaps impossible, 10 determine
the abstract the Courts ofjustice, therefor
must be governed by the rule of law, whic
prcscribes the age OF twenty-one as the Sc
IN sou of lawful majority or legal emancipato
)" from parental control.
h. Our readers will perceive that the que
,e ton here presented is one of exceeding nc
I'd ty aud Importance One very difficult for
u Judge to decide TO his own satisfaction, al
u on which opinions will probably be We
H. much divided