The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-20


decision in civil suit. writes to correct certain mis-
the HERALD on that He says that Judges Bar
rett and Donohue disclaimed the consideration of
any ecclesiastical matter whatever and decided in
my is) favor upon the simple fact that corporations
are bound by State law to administer impartally
and faithfully their own rules and regulations"
Now. whatever ''matter" those judges considered.
the effect ecclesiastical onenamely, to restore
to ministerial and UNCONVENTIONAL fellowship min
lister whom his brethren and peers had said was
worthy OF such fellowship. This is what the HERALD
objected to and condemned. And it makes diff
ference how many courts decide this thing las Mr..
Mccarthy says three courts have already decided
in his favor, nor whether, "as Judge Donohue
piled to Mr.. Thomas" that a similar decision would
be given for "a Catholic priest or Presbyterian
minister. the principle of undong by civil process
what recognized ecclesiastical court after trial $50
far could go unrestrained by the civil courts).
had DONE is injurious to the maintenance of religious
liberty. The Church courts of the land are recog-
nzed under the common law, and so far can he
called to mind now this is the first instance whore
civil court has undertaken to say substantially that
man is proper associate for his brethren when
those brethren have soemny declared that he is not
Under this ruling Professor Miller, of Princeton de-
posed by his Presbyterian peers for heresy can apply
for restoration to his former standing in that body.
Dr. Bauveit also get an order from civil court
and resume his standing in the Reformed Dutch
his bishop and disfeowshipped by his brethren in
the Catholic Church, can be restored to his former
standing in that church If he wants to be-
Mr.. McCarthys grievance, so far as this issue is
concerned is purely al ecclesiastical ono. And i'll
that light only the HERALD viewed it. Whatever
damage he sustained by the finding Of the Committee
on Fellowship of the State Convention OF his
denomination. his ministerial standing in this State
only was affected. His moral character remained
unspotted. His brethren did not say that he not
proper person to associate Enthusiastically or socially
with any body of men but themselves. He might go
10 9th ha m N am
Univcrsalst church whose pulpit was opened him.
He might enter any other denomination if he could.
and no doubt they would bid him God speed. But
the ministry of the Universast Church in this State
said substantially they would have no more
they must. But Mr. Mccarthy, a few years ago,
without let or hindrance walked out of his denoln
nation and Sc up an independent society. which he
called the american Free Church. and in which
he sought to groove heterodoxy and orthodoxy, uni
versal and partial salvation in the same PLATFORM His
brethren would have had right to say to him then
apostle of old said. He went ont from lis that
it might be known he was not of u.s." and have
Withdrawn their fellowship from him. But they did
The Rev. Mr. Mccarthy objects further to the
HERALD article, because 1t upholds the supremacy
OF the Church the State and State laws" The
HERALD upheld the supremacy of ecclesiastical courts
purely ecclesiastical matters like this and moth
ing more And it had the countenance and support
OF several of it's religious contemporaries in the
views it expressed And finally Mr.. Mccarthy de-
justify any less favorable opinion of the merits of his
than the HERALD then expressed But he torgets
that i'll the article OF which he complains no opinion
expressed on the merits OF his case He may
may not be prosecuted by his ministerial brethren
The courts of his Church open to him as to other
ministers in the Universalst dissemination He GER
tainly would find impartial Christian gentlemen
among them who would not knowingly nor wilfully
do him wrong. lie could have appealed to the eccle-
siastical i,licatories of his Church. He did not
this, but by civil process intcrtered with the disci
pine of his Church provided for such The
HERALD stated that fact. but gave no opinion on the
rightfulness wrongfulness OF such course Every
month almost in some church other of this land
OF discipline tried and administered by
clesiastical courts without interference from ap
peas to the civil courts II minister of the Gospel
can't trust his brother ministers N Christian de-
nomination like the Universalsts to do him justice
in any ecclesiastical matter, then there must be
something rotten in Denmark" Things not
always what they SEEM