, 1866-12-08
A CHURCH DIFFICULTY,
Disagreement In the Pittsburgh Lu.
tlleran Ch0rcl-The Matter Before


LILO k4NNUufH0
tlaeran Church-The Matter Before
the Court.
From the Pittsburgh Commercial, December 81
A difficulty has arisen between the men-
bcrs Of the First English Lutheran Church,
in this city. which promises to be the cause
OF considerable litigation. The disagree
ment appears to have arisen out Of some ac-
tion taken In reference to the organization of
the Synod Of PENNSYLVANIA, composed Of
the Lutheran Church. Those members Of
the church In favor Of connecting them
selves with the Synod Of Pennsylvania
are headed BY Messrs. William Lang
and Y; B: Beele5, while Messrs;
ssSe ss s5s ose Aaa opnoe wss1s sd
solving the relations with the General Synod.
On the c1eniug of the 21st Instant, after q
meeting Of the congregation had been dis
missed, Mcssrs, Newmeyer and Sefbert OBJ
tanned possession Of the Keys Of the church,
in consequence Of Which the congregation
has been debarrcd from the privilege Of
using the building for religious or consrega-
tfonul purposes. As demand made by
Messrs. Lang and Beeler for the surrender Of
the keys to the sexton was refused by Mr..
Newmsyer, proceedings 16. Il equity we're co.u-
3Iessrs. Kuhn and shiras, attorneys for the
former, filed bill setting forth their COM
plants at length. The plaintiffs In their bill
claim to have been legally elected Trustees,
and as such have charge Of the house
Of worship. and other buildings bclongingto
the church. They further complain that af.
Ter the congregation had LEFT tie church on
the evening Of the 2lst Of November, Jacob
L. Newmeyc CT fraudulcntly and sutrcptitiOus-
ly obtaiEcd possession Of the keys Of the
building. and that he and others confcdera-
ling with him, nailed down the windows to
prevent ingress by that means ; that Adam
Wnnrar nf,+ n
them In demanding the possession Of the
keys from Scwmeycr, that they believe he
is conniyins with him to retain possession Of
the same, and thus exclude the congregation
from the customary md rlghtful use Of the
church. The colnplainants deny expressly
that Newmcyer, or those confcderating with
him have any authority for inter-
fering, and aver that bis conduct Is contrary
10 the rules and regulations Of the church,
and calculated to provoke o breach OF the
peace, as we'll as TO bring contempt and re-
proach upon the good maine of the church.
The complainants therefore ask for decree
declaring that Sewmcycr has no lawful
right TO Interfere with them In the exercise
oftheir legal functions, aud directing him to
return the keys forthwith. They also ask
for preliminary or special, and hereafter u
fiual Injunction against Newmeyer aud
from interfering with complasnants' lawful
custody and control of said church building,
or from preventing its use By the congrc-
| t1on.
The hearing of the motion for prclimt-
| nary injunction was fixed for yesterday, be.
fore Judges Hampton and Williams, Of the
/ District Court, at which time Mcssrs. Kirk
| patrick aud Mellon, counsel for the defend
| ants, filed m answer to the complainants'
hill. The defendants, Paul Seibcrt, Adam
| Weaver and j. 8. Ncwmcyer, aver that they
are members of the Church Council, and, as
l tim constitution of lIo
have entire control over the temporal Affairs
of the church. They further aver that the
complainnnts, sand other disntIected and
schismatic persons" arc cndeavoring to
| sever the connection Of the church
,, fEem, the "Genefai &c in,os,.o synoa,% unde; .,
ratcd, and form connection with the
Synod Of Pittsburgh, >'schlsmutic ant
disaGectcd body" costrary to the cxpres:
provisions Of the constitution md bylaws
The conplainants have, contrary to the pro
visions OF the same law, elected, as fur q:
with the General Synod. That it was to pre-
| vent the use OF the church for the ratiiica
tion Of the Illegal proceedings Of the meet
ing Of the 2lst Of Nayesnher, for which I
meeting had been sailed on the 9TH instant
that. The keys were taken, hut the,
laudulcntly or surrertftiouslY taken. The.
further aver that at the meeting referred to
action WIS taken making vital and importan
departure from the simple form Of worship
recognized and established by tho Genera
Synod. ln order to show this departure NOR
fully, the defendant asked more time, an
the Court accosdingiy fixed Saturday, DC
cenber 18TH, for q hearing on the motion 70
| Injunction.
In the tncantlme tic Conrt directed tbs
the keys be placed in the hands Of Thoma
Il. Lane, as custodian Of The Court, undo
whose direction the church shall be opene
and closed for the usual meetings of th
congregation, and at the request Of citl.t
complninants or respondents, un:il the qnc
tfon as 10 The legal right OF either party
them is settled.