The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-02-04
THOMAS. J. BIGHAM,
i l.. RoUMFoRT,
JoHS VI. PoMERoY.


EDITOR HERALD in the Somerset
Democrat of Jan. 28th, there is a very in,
teresting report of what the editor calls,
IAN interesting case" 1t must have been
/ interesting TO the editor of the Democrat,
/ for he travelled twenty miles on cold
stormy day, and over very rough roads,
/ TO act as reporter for one side OF the case.
/ II is very evident, TO those who know
anything about the history or facts in the
case that the report given in the Democrat
I is given for the benefit of and in the inter
est of but one of the parties
The Reporter for the Democrat says
1t appears that over a year ago, the council
OF said church mel and in pursuance of
/ their charter. obtained from the Courts OF
the county, passed a bylaw, assessing each
male member s., 90 and each female mem-
! Der 100, toward the support of pastor
and detraying the necessary expenses OF the
church
The charter referred To was obtained
Dec. 1st 1851. and had been in possession
of the church for over fifteen years, and
no such meeting was ever had in purSu-
ancc of il, nor was this meeting hcll in
pursuance thereof We would like TO
know what the Democrat calls q bylaw.
The church council met Jan. 1lth, 1913,
and passed a resolution taxing each male
member 81 90 and each female 80 cents;
on the goth oi January 1913 the council
again met and reconsidercd the resolution
of the ilth of Jan, and amended it so as
10 tax the males - and the females 81.
The Democrat says, fourteen of the mem
bers refused TO pay this tax. Where does
hc Get this information. 1t is not one fifth
4 I Of
affirm, when We say that large majority
OF the entire church refuse TO pay it. 1t Is
true that suits have been brought against
the fourteen only. The Democrats re
porter SAYS the charter granted by the
court to this church, authorizes such
assessments to be made viii the Democrat
publish the Section which conters this
pOwery That the formula of government
of the church regires the same. Will the
Democrat publish that part Of the formula
which requires it 5? so that his Lutheran
brcibern at Friedens and at other places
may be informed, Tor if this bc the law OF
the Lutheran church we have never yet
knowA it, a..d it would seem little strange
that it should have remained TO Esqirc
Grof Gen CoffrOih, and their reporter, TO
have discovered the Divine law of the
Lutheran church. The 9th Section, Chap
ter 2nd, part second OF the formula reads
as follows, viz 4: The jurisdiction Of the
church is purely spiritual il ought TO
have no connection with the civil govern
ment, neither ought IFS decisions 10 be en-
forced by The arm OF civil power. This
we presume is not the part of the formula
referred to, although it is the part which
refers to the right and duty of the church,
IN reference to enforcing her decisions by
the civil power. We Will not now inquire
into the regularity or irregularity OF the
assessment, or whether it was necessary
Or not
The Democrat says the counsel for the
Deits. claimed that there could be no re-
covery, because the proceedings were in
violation of Art. /, Sec. 5, OF the ConStltu-
tion, which provides that 40 man shall be
compelled TO maintain a ministry against
his consent. " The counsel did rely not
only on the part of the constitution cited,
but on the whole of Section 3 Article !.
This their reporter says, ras answered by
Plaintiffs counsel, first, that the section
was not applicable 20 the case ; and second, !
that Defendant had waived all rights by
connecting himself with the church; and
in support of his position. he cited mum
Der OF authorities, 'IWill the repor;cr.please
name some of The numerous authorities
cited and give Us vol. and page, 50 that
not only we unlcarned Lutherans OF
Fricdens. but that the legal fraternity |
NAV know. that the Constitution is not
made for the conscientious upright chris |
tian man but for those who have no con-
sciences. who neither fear God, or keep |
his commandment, and that as soon as /
man forsakes his sins and turns unto God. |
and becomes member OF Church, he |
forleiis all his Constitutional rights and Is /
subject to the arbitrary rule and dictGtion /
Of the church council, without appeal or /
redress either in the civil or ecclesiastical /
courts. Ii seems to us that the absurdity |
of the proposition is lis sufficient retutation.
Justice