The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-06-08
The Right OF Trustees TO Dismiss the Pastor
OF Church.
BROOKLYN CITY COURT,
Before Hon. Judge Culver.

Before Hon. Judge Culver
JUNE 2-7he People against Sampson White and ohsrs
The defendant White coored pastor Of the Colored Bap
list church Concord street. The trustees and deacons be-
came dspeased with his minstratons and dismissed him
On the first Sunday in May Methodist layman named
Harrington assembled the pulpit, by consent Of the rus
tees, and commenced the services The congregation
made such noise that he could proceed Mr.. White
entered the church meanwhile and prevented from
going into the pulpit He le procuring the services
Of two policemen elected Mr. Harrington and forcbe
aer wa thus put tne trustees and
congregation who aided him, with the policemen the
charge Of assault and battery Tho examination took
dence delivered the following decision, which will be
found Of interest to the Baptist community, generally:
After full and patient examination OF tho facts pre-
scented by the evidence in this have arrived at
following general CONCLUSIONS
l. That in the Baptst denomination the church and the
church alone can call, settle or dismiss pastor.
2. That the deacons a. SUCH have no DO Wer beyond
that of any other member, in settling Diminishing
pastor nor can they or either Of them call extra
church meeting They mere servants Of not officers
over, the church. They have power TO originate
committees, deal with members dictate to the pastor
They are the mere amoners Of thechares OF the church
and the fewer their number In each church, generally
the less will be the strides Of petty despotism
8. Trustees can neither settle or dismiss Baptis,
pastor They can only apply the funds arising from the
the temperatures of the society TO the payment in
whole or in part of the minister called and settled by
church.
The act Of the the trustees and deacons in assuming
TO dismiss Mr. White without the authority, and n mani
fest opposition to the wishes OF the Of the church.
was nuilty both in Law and 10 Baptist usage, did
not in anywise effect his relation to the church
pastor
g. The church meeting called by one Of the deacons
without authority Of church pastor irregular and
its proceedings were held null and void.
o. Rev. Sampson White, being the regular settled
and officiating PASTOR had the right to enter and occupy
the pulpit, and his church and friends violated law
sustaining him in his pastoral ILLUSTRATIONS
T. Harrington, the Methodist laymap. introduced into
the pulpit by the deacons tn the exclusion of the regular
pastor was himself intruder and both Harm gon and
the deacons who sustaining him in fact the
dsturbers OF the meeting and were righally removed
by the police.
bir. White, and the majority Of the church who
tanned him, and the policemen who aided him in main
tanning the public worship, have not any view OF the
case have been able TO take violated any but ust
be discharged from the arrest this complaint,
pastor Of the church. the defendant Sampson White must
be left in the peaceabe and undsturbed occupation
church and pull pit until regularly dismissed by vote of the
church. The defendants are discharged.