Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-04-20

church. don't think we differ so much
here. have probably used language lit.
tie ambiguous, not to conces. my thoughts,
but to express them. The thing itself was
cmtigaoa,. The Huntingdon Presbytery
cid divide the congregations Of Miff,intown
and Lost Greek, and they did not divide
them. That may seem q contradiction.
They did not divide them, for the civil court
says, in effect, an ecclesiastical court has
no power to divide corporation Joined to-
gether by civil law. II they had power to
divide the congregations, they had power
to divide the property. If they had power
10 divide the congregations, they had power
to say you and the many who agree with
you shall 60 with the chapel branch; that is,
they had power to deprive you of your
chartered rights without your consent,
which is contrary to common sense, as well
as common law, and the court has set aside
their act, so far at least as it interferes with
the congregations of Miffiintown and Lost
Creek who adhere to, and claim the prutec-
tien of their charter.
And Yet they did dirids. Presbytery says
so, Synod says so; the General Assembly
saws so; and you can 60 to no higher eccle-
siasticsl court to have this ecisioh revsrs-
ed. Ii is now the law OF the church. The
decision of the civil court set aside the ac-
ton Of Presbytery, Synod and General As
sembIy so far as il iaterfered with the char
tered rights of the people of Mifflintown
and Lost Creek who claim the protection of
the charter. 1t is very great pity that
Presbytery and their committee erred in
forsaking the original plan of organizing a
new church in Miffiintown. All the wrong
of the chapel branch was in trying to take
the property of the corporation with them
when they went out of it.
The question whether those worshipping
in the chapel have a regular organization
will depend on the opinion as to what con-
stitutes an organization. Taking the action
of the two courts, the civil and the ecclesi-
asticsl, together, all of the ecclesiastical
action not set aside by the civil. remains
nothing more. Now I take 1t, as there is
real separation, division, or whatever you
may call it, and the lawsuit was occasioned
by this separation, those separating them
selves are to all inteuts and purposes
church. II they had gone out of the corpo-
ration without attempting to take the prop
erty of the corporation with them, no one
would have room TO complain. The proba-
bility is, that upon strict technicality they
have never been organized regularly into
but Presbytery has recognized them
as a church. Elders have been elected and
ordained over them, and this is really an
not a division, if even they
had no organization before.
The effect of the judges decision, il it
had been given before Rev. Sherrsrd had
and while he yet occupied the old
church, would have been to stop his preach
ing in the church, ard suppose. legally,
set aside entirely the acton oi Presbytery
but as they have left the church. and have
for some time been worNhipping in chapel
Of their own, WITH other circumstances not
necessar. 20 mention, il may well be asked.
,iaim 10 be the Mifflintown branch of the
Cedar Spring Church, dlcided from the Lost
Greek branch, by act of Pr-sbytery, the de-
,ision Il the court is ag inst them. Ttey
have no existence as a church, separate
rom Lost Creek and her friends IN Mfflin-
town, ami the very chapel they have built is
1 part of the property of Cedar Spring
Church.
If, on the other hand, We consider the act
of Presbytery, not as division, which was
set aside by the court, but as equivalent TO
! separate organization, they now acquies
ng in the decision of court and relind duish-
ing all claim to any property of the Cedar
Spring Church, can you deny their right to
exist as a church, and to control their own
funds. ct lease those accumulating since the
ol
II Presbytery should accept the decision
lf the court in its broadcast sense, as set
ing aside their act, then the chapel people
are Just where they were before the diri-
sion, and all the acts of that church are
roid. Their election and ordination of ell
iers, and the calling Of the former and the
present pastors are null. 1t is painful to
think OF the evils and litgations that might
spring out of the present state of things.
night arise, are intended as reason why
here should be a reconciliation and COM
promise. ] do hepe the chapel church will
Do as ready to meet you, as you are to meet
hem. One wrong step leads to another.
Witness the evil that has proceeded from
he ssdirision."
With regard to the criticism on the Judges
opinion and decree, they are uncallsd-f0r
Ind unjust. 1t is very silly to think, not to
.ay, that his Honor endeavors to conceal
his thoughts ty bIs werds; or that he does
rot have clear thoughts and express them
clearly.
do hope the chapel church will take such
, course as will forever put it out of the
power of any one, whether member of the
or not, to bring a civil action
against them.
There is one thing more would like to call
their attention to. Let them not do any
hing TO make the position of their present
excellent pastor unpleasant, or to injure his
efficiency.
To all would say, Jesus is one; His peo-
pie are one In him. We are members of
bis body, and members one of anothsr. If
one member suffers, the whole body suffers
with it. Be kindly affectioned one toward
another, in brotherly love, in honor prefer
ring one another.
Yours, in our common Lord.
J. J. HAMILTON.