New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-01

A SALOON AFFRAY.
John Cromley warrant, and Thomas Fleming a Ia
borer drank 10 excess the liquor saloon OF william
Roach at York and Main.st on Sunday night, ana
afterward quarreled Finally they fought aud FlemDg
hurled lager-beer glass at Crowley, striking hm IN
the head John Gin OF No. II Furman-st., VINO was
present, then nterered and retaated by throWi1ga
stone matchbox at Fleming 1t struck hun Win IRE
meDdous force his mead, knocking hm TO the hoor'
bleeding and senseless. Cain was adm,i,ed u oe ca
terday by Justice Morse but Fleming Hes ID eriuc"
condition AT the City Hospital
A MOSAIC OF LAW AND CHURCH POLIIf.
A MOST REMARKABLE CoMPLAINT-A PEW-HoLDE"
SEEKS TO COMPEL rHE RESTORATION OF THE
NEITHER DUTCH SERVICES IN THE FULToN-sT'
CHURCH AND THE OLD PosT-oFFICE.
William Hastings, who announces himself
"of the City OF NewYork, and citizen OF the state OF
California" has fled in the United States Circuit Court
a volumnous and what all the lawyers who have seen
1t call unique" bill in equity. The action is brought
against the minister's elders and deacons OF the Re
formed Protestant Dutch Church Of the City OF New
York the State Of New-Y0rk, and others whose
names are unknown" TO Mr.. Hastings. the DILL though
correct in form, account OF the novelty OF us
character first regarded joke by the clerk OF the
Court, but Mr.. Hastings convinced him that he was Ia
earnest, and he issued suppenas against the defend
ants who have appeared through Geo. s. stitt their
counsel The church mentioned IN the bill is situated at
the function Of Fdlton, William, and Ann-sts, and
known as Old North Church."
The plaintiff is his own lawyer and his bill opens
alleging that William Hastings OF the City OF New
York. and citizen of the State Of California, brings
suit against the abovenamed defendants, who are
corporation doing business and having Office for the
transaction OF the in the City OF NewYork SAID
defendants being also citizens of the State Of NewYork,
except such as Aliens and also against the state OF
NewYork" being interested adversely to the other
defendants the subject matter OF the action, ana
which said State ought 10 unite as co-plaintif with
your orator. but the consent of which he cannot obtain
and therefore he makes the said State defendant"
Mr.. Hastings then enters upon the allegations upon
which are based the prayer OF his b and states with
legal teehncaity that ho Is the owner in fee, and
equitably entitled TO the possession ana enjoyment
either exclusively. or tenant in common, with the
persons calling themselves the ministers, elders, ana
deacons OF the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church OF
the City OF NewYoik and the other defendants except
the State OF NewYork, of certain pieces or parcels OF
land and the improvements thereon, situated in the
City OF New-YOrk the full description Of which he lis
unable 10 furnish because the muniments of title TO
the same well the church record of said property
are in the possession the said ministers elders, and
deacons and others as trustees Of this plaintiff"
After alleging in the usual form, adverse posses-
sion Of the property in question by the defend
ants other than the State Of New-York, the lbill
continues in substance follows: portion OF
the property consists OF a pew known as mo.
&c ON the ground floor of the church edice known
the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, or Old North
Church. william, F1ton, and Aunsts," IN this city,
(Which said pew your orator is desOus of possessing
has been prevented from doing by the defendants
"Aud your further shows that he is DESTROYS of
becoming stated nearer OF all doctrines Of the ancient
faith as given 10 the Saints and of having divine service
held according to the true VIII and intent and faith OF
the founders Of said church and also DESTROYS that its
temporalties and prtualltes shall be administered in
accordance with the will and intent Of its patrons"
and in conformity with the terms and conditions " OF
the trusts upon which Messrs Stamwick and Harpen,
dch the donors, endowed sald cnurch ana Dequeahed
the land upon which stands The bill then sets forth
in the following words the condition" referred to-;
THAT the aud form OF divine worship, well as
the ordinances should be those OF the Church OF the
Netherlands. and the services to be conducted in the
language OF the Neither Dutch that the permanent
resident membership of said church should be CON
stany increased by conversions TO the tah OF persons
Of regular stated worshpers be e0ngreeated IN tne
church edices said land from Sabbath 20 Sabbath 10
and practice OF said Neither Dutch Church, and in the
Language OF said Neither Dutch church, That the mem
beers of said church and the congregation thereof he
built up iu the faith and made the means OF grace 10
others the salvation OF many souls preserving and
building up strong, unwavering Christian characters
which shOGld be recognized by all mankind as
standards Of purify IN morals and ana aevont,
youth the members of said church and CONGREGATION
DO brought in the fear love, ana adnontlOn OF the
Lord that Of Christianity, according TO the
enes OF said faith, be greatly strengthened ana It's
frlehds ana patrons increase City OF New-York
that vice, immortality, and irrelgion through prOmu
CATION Of said faith and by means of practice
ssteut with its preeepts and by means OF an increase
In the membership of said church as Aforesaid and the
other means OF grace be kept from increasing in the
CITY OF New York; and that the temporalties OF said
church be administered solely for the purposes aOre
said, and not for the purpose OF serving any personal
proane or mercenaIy END whatever" $50
Then comes folio wing extract from the will of Mr.
Harpendich, made Feb. :. 1723 81 the SAID John Hdr
pendch do hereby give devise, aud oequeah unto the
said ministers, elders, and deacons of the Reformed
Protestant Dutch Churchof the city OF New-York, ana
forever the sh0emahers hed or land
ON the southeast side of MiIen-lane or path which
leads into certain street called Queenst, Pearl
St. the which sand tract contains G acres being upon
Manhattan Island in the City of New-York."
Mr. Hastings then refers the Court for further iufor
nation relative TO the alleged trust created by Hrpen
dchs will the complaint in the old case OF Lew 5.
Chatfed. AttorneyGeneral OF the stae OF NeW-York,
the relation of Nicholas D. Maiselus ag'.
the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church Of the
City OF New-York'" aud alleges that the prop
erty OF the church is worth many millions
OF dollars and that 1t yields an annual income, by way
OF rental aud otherwise, OF about SjOlO" Then comes
tue allegation that the plahtln mas an equtlOle inter
est coupled with legal claim 10 such property, and TO
share in the rents ana prohs ,hete0 anu thai the de
PENDANTS not havingth AZ OF Goa before thcr
and being enemies, not friends OF the faith, have
diverted the church from sacred 20 proflne use"
wasted It's revenues ano suffered wee rreIglon m
morality and intdehty to grow ana o'ershadow The
cause of true religion"
After few more general charges Of perverson the bill
saws that church has been devoted % the profit Of
few rich and pharasaical church hoodums" 70 the ex
cuson OF the poor and detected and That the defend
ants entirely failed properly to discharge their
duties as officers OF the church.
The prayer OF the bill that the plaintiff may be put
IN quiet possession OF the pew referred 10 III ais bill
the trustees OF tGc clFch DC coeIeu 10
account for the money derived from the rent OF It's
buildings that the "fatn may be taught in conform
ty with the conditions expressed in the bill; and
pending the suit receiver may be appointed for
the church property.
The building where the PostOfice is now situated is
the property OF the society known as the Reformed
Protestant Dutch Church. 1t leased TO tine Govern
ment by the society," and the bill also prays that the
lease may be Cancelled, and 1.-The building renovated
and purified ana rededicated TO the service OF God"
Judge Woodruff of the United states Circuit Court is
one OF the officers the Reformed Protestant Dutch
Church. and Mr. Hastings asks tha that account. he
faIf In % III
or an answer Nj. Hastings's bill Will Dc fled III few
days.
GERMAN HOLIDAYS.