Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-03-30
Presbyterian Congregation of Lost
Creek VS.. Presbyterian Congre-
cation of Miffiin.
In Common Pleas of Juniata, No. 2
December Term, 1877.
In Equity.
pycEPTIoNS TO REPORT OF MASTER
pISYISSING THE BILL.

The facts are found by tn
Master 10 Wit: |. An order of survey, Q
lo,a,jon. dated S0ih March, 1861, was en-
tered in the land Office for 200 acres in I'll
name of James Patterson and James Purd '
in trust for a Presbyterian meeting hous
snd graveyard near Cedar Spring, the
Cumberland, now Juniata county, whicl
w,s located, and this title was acquired. !
cannot be determined at this day, whethe
the land was gift, or paid for; the pre-
.ump,ion is. that it was grant for a valu
ali. consderation-that the Use was abso
late in the congregation. the legal title being
vested in trustees.
II. The congregation managed TO sell and
convey the and, and make title therefor
more than sixty years ago, which has never
beeu questioned, sud the proceeds applied
to the purchase OF other real estate dedica.
led TO the same use-snd this could be
done. Grifiths vs.. Cope, 5 Harris, 96
Brepdel rs. Ger. Ref Church, casey, 424
5gright. g; I2.Harris. 81; Watts, i9S.
III. The proceeds of the said land was
divided in this way A church editice was
built al Nifiiintown, where portion of the
original Ceder Spring congregation wor-
shipred; another building vas erected al
Lost Creek, eight miles distant, where the
t.Isace Of sail congregation held their SER
vices, both under the Presbyterian faith and
form of worship. The original church edi-
ices have been rebuilt since 1887.
". As early as October, 1893, the Pres
byteries OF Huntingdon and Carlisle fur
ni.aed supplies to both Mifiin and Lost
Creek, showing that they were al that day
separate congregations.
V. About LIST March, 1907, (under Act OF
18th April, 1871, Smith Laws, 3 vol. p 2O,)
the Two congregations of Mifiiin aud Lost
Ureek were chartered, aud became 4 single
corporation-l. e., both congregation were
united under one charter, and became a cor
pOration, under the name, style and title of
The Presbyterian Congregation of Cedar
Spring. The LIST 5 of the charter declares
Ihe-style and title, and the corporation is
composed Of the congregations of Mifiiin
aud Lost Greek. The 2nd 5 declares that
the corpOrators adhere 10 the religious prin-
ciples and christian doctrines held and
adopted BY the late United Synods of New
YORK and Philadelphia, expressed by the
General Assembly of tb. Presbyterian con-
gregati1ns, in their acts and testimony Of
their christian faith and directory tor church
discipline, amongst their adherents through
om the United States of North America.
The 3rd, 4th, 5th, 9th, 7th and Sth s. au-
to receive donations, and how vacancies are
to b. supplied.
VI. The 9Th declares that the power OF
the trustees shall extend OILY to temporall-
ties OF the church-riting and selling pews,
collecting moneys, keeping church property
in repair, providing Tor paving debts, fixing
and paying the salary of the minister, clerk,
AID sexton, relieving the poor of the con
gregation-but have no power to ALLEVIATE
or lot of ground, or any land now, or here
alter claimed by the said congregation, or
dispose Of the money for any other use,
than that for which il was originally intend
I'd, without the consent OF two-thIrds OF
the congregation cOny ened agreeably TO
public notice. The 10Th, llth, l2th, 18th
and 18th S are not important, and the 18th
5 that notice Of congregational meeting
ABOUT the temporalities Of the church or any
matter not provided for, shall BE- given from
the desk or pulpit as to the design OF the
meeting, and that three days shall intervene
between the notice and day OF meeting.
The 18th 5 provides that congregational
meetings may be called, either by the trus-
tees or at the desire of any six pew holders,
and all who are entitled to vote for trustees
may vote al such meetings.
VII. From the earliest date, until the Sth
April, 1875, the two congregations acted in
concert in calling and supporting a minis
Ter, so that they were IN effect one corpora
non. Mitflin paid three-fifths and Lost
OTeek two-hfths Of the PASTORS salary, and
Tue mihlstiaiiOns were divided accordingly
Zach congregation elected half the elders.
It's own sexton, clerk and treasurer They
Treated each other as two distinct organiza-
Mons, requiring and making settlements be-
tween themselves; charging aud crediting
excess Or deficiency in favor OF or against
each other, with the exactnes IS Of merchants
on change, and, like the hard master in the
parable, demanded of each other the utter
most isrthlng. This was their status for
more than sixty years But they united in
Siec'ing trustees, calling and paving the
minister's salary, and in joint ownership Of
their property.
VIII on the 18th December, 1874, at a
meeting held by the Miftiin congregation, it
vas resolved, that it is the desire of the
congregation 10 have separate and indie
pendent organization. - Resolved further
mat 1t is our intention to petition the Pres
oy'ery, at its next regular meeting in April,
lo'o' to grant Us new and separate organ
ization, aud committee of three was ap-
POINTED, Elders Hamilton and Banks to give
Lost Creek notice Of this, and copy of
the resolutions was given to William Cav
Guy, an Elder Of Lost Greek, whereupsn
'ne Lost Greek congregation convened, and
resolved that they thought it not expedient
10 concur IN the proposed division, and no.
iinec the aiffiin committee of their non-
concurrence. The Lost Creek congregation
as early as 1872, had refused to divide.
IA. Nevertheless and Notwithstanding
'he dissent and protest of Lost Greek, Milf
mn applied to Presbytery at Perrysviile
ION Apnl, 1875. for 50 separate and inde.
penaent organization" which was granted