New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-01-30
The COVENANrER CHURCH CASE.

F,o- r.s Pss,bsyss Co-.<rrssi J5sra1i jas s
The iuterestipg alisirg oat Il the division that
took place nearly % yeSrf ago In the Reformed pres-
byi,risn Church, generally known a. Coyenanters,
which has been on trial 10 the District Court Of Ale
sherry County tef,r Judge Niihsms and jury, re-
sultd yesfercsy in VERDICT and Judgment 10 fsvcr
OF the defendants the suit Sas brought oy the lrus-
tees Of the Pittsburgh and esheny Ccnreg ation OF
Coveparters a. sinst be Trustees OF the Pittsburgh
Cong alton of Coveu snters TO recover toe lot snd
n. citing house in Pitisbargh, known a. DIR. Black
Church The Pittsburgh cor gregaton ws founded
sbont the yesr lsOO slth the Rev. John SLACK M
until his death.
Tie Pi,aburgh and Allegheny Copgre CATION wM
founded 10 September ls3s, With the Rev Mf Sproul
a. its pastor the membSrs consisting chiefly OF per-
sons ho until the div ison that took place AZ TIE or
garz6iion Of the general synod in August, 1885, bad
been IN, mbers OF In, Pittsburgh Congreg t'ion This
suit Mss brought IN le52 agaioet the P'ttsh1ga Con-
gregsriop, the ground that Doctor Back and
those DO remained in his congregation, comprising
two thirds or more OF the body, in connection with
D. Mcleod of Ne- York, DR., Wyie, Of Pailadei-
piis a. other ministers and congregations OF the
tovepauf- Church bad departed from ne true faith
ard Doctrine, ia Ia the sstons OF the church
W III the Government Of the United States aud the
several States in The foloN ing respects, viz
Ttsf church uenosrs srfe r. fnt-d % oie a.
Tbs, they permitted 90 81, UPON J7Fies IN Courts Of
That they were allowed u take the Oaih' Of allegiance
Tbst ,aey we're Slowed held civil ofi's: under the
GrVttr IT. tale cAfhs 70 support We Nonsusuoon
Of he Tinted STATE and the several states
Tie plaintiffs caiusd that thsse acts were contrary
20 the faith and dcc;rioes IT tho Covenant Church,
snd N. refore that the Pittsburgh congrg s,lou sad
its pastor had depsied from the true faith, and for.
f.it,d fh.r right to the Church property. SevorA
dii -ipg uis he'd oivinss 81 the CDvsnsusr Courcn,
an oug whom wer- Dr.. John Neal Mcleod, OF New
York and DIR. Wils0n of Cincinnati, wefe Ia a'tend'
sbce emo exsmined =. witnesses upon the ri
The defendants claimed, Let. That thu proeiOes OF
the y,uanf Church not hostile 70 the Consitu
ton of the United States, nor 10 the Cons'rulDn OF
The Stste cf Penny wanna, and thai membership IN
that Church xas hot inconsistent witn allegiance 10
the Gov.rom-nrs aud performance of cav, nights or
duties ecrors jurors, public officers or nau'aked
citizens 20 That Il there had been deptrturo
from the former d0ctri' of the Church tia PLAINTIFF
thereby acquired right TO the property II the Pitts
burph Copgr, ga'ion. To- case which was conducted
by Mes-rs Jones Black and Willisms for The plain
tits and by Mr.. Marshall aud nr. S.antoo, Tor
the defendants. decided upon the second
point IN favor Of the defendants. The court
Instructed The Jury that tue plaintiffs had shown
10 risht In then selves TO the prope ~ Ia DIS
pute; that this being conclusive Of the action Il Wa
unnecessary or sd.r the question OF faith AMI doc
irne and that their verdict should be in favor of tho
defe rdanis Upon this instruction, the verdict was
Immediately rendered by the Jury, without leaving
the box