Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-02
DIsUN1TFD BRETHREN.
Another Chapter by Bishop Holt Abo
the Seceders

the Seceders.
, EDS. RECORD UNION: Your issue of Oc-
| tober 30tb contains an article from Rev. H.
]. Becker, in reply to one previously pub
| lished from myself, to which brief re-
Spouse is desired Whatever this last pub
lished article contains would be correct, if
either one of the following propositions
were true: First, that the fifteen persons
seeding from the General Conference were
the United Brethren Church; or, second.
that Rev. II. J. Becker were the aforesaid
| church, and the umpire TO decide what is
constitutional, and when the General Con-
| ference violates the constitution of the
church. But neither of these propositions
are true, and can not be true, because of
the following facts:
First-The General Conference of the
United Brethren Church is the highest
! legislative, judicial and executive body in
the church. That body, in 1871 fifty
two years after the organization of the
church,, framed constitution in the name
of the people, without their instruction to
do so, and without submitting it to the
people for adoption. In it were placed two
clauses which have given the church great
unrest They are: There shall be no
connection with secret combinations, and
the other practically forbidding the consti-
tuition ever to be changed.
Second-The General Conference of 1885,
| by almost two-thirds majority, after
| thorough discussion, decided that the two
clauses of the constitution adopted in 1S41
viz: There shall be no alterations of the
foregoing constitution unless By request of
two-thirds of the whole society,"" and mo
rule or ordinance shall at any time be
passed to change or do away with the con-
ference of faith as it now stands were IN
their literal Interpretation, too far.reaching
and impracticable, to be maintained as
constitutional law. This the conference had
a perfect right to do.
ence set itself above the constitution and
transcribed its authority" This cannot be
correct, for the General Conference was be-
fore greater than the constitution, as HE
that buildeth the house is greater than the
house"
Third-The amended constitution and
improved confession of faith were adopted
by the people last November by two
thirds majority, even counting petitions
and protests as negative votes, though it
was in evidence before thee eneral Confer
ence of 1889 that many of the petitioners
after signing the petition voted for the doc
uments submitted. The General Confer
ence of 1889, by vote of 10 to 20, while
the secedefs were yet members of that
body, adopted and approved the documents
approved by the people.
Fourth-The General Conference did not
60 into " new organization, but " con-
tinued BUSINESS at the old stand,n pre-.
sided over by the same Bishops, and with
the same Secretaries and committees, while
the fifteen seceders went into another hall,
in another part of the city, elected Secre-
taries, and formed new organization.
Fifteen is not q quorum Of body COM
posed of $780,
Ffth-The Courts of our country recog-
nize and sustain the action of the highest
ecclesiastical tribunal in any church of a
general organization, such as the United
Brethren.
Sixth-Two cases involving the title to
property have been decided. One at Lee
compton, Kan, where we have flourish
ing college, was overwhelmingly disastrous
to the seceders. The other at New Lexing-
ton, O., was handled by the ablest attor-
neys the seceders could secure, and after
patiently hearing the case and taking seven
days to consider, the Court sustained every
point claimed by the church, as set forth
above and rendered decree in favor of
the church. The case claimed by Mr..
Becker in favor of the seceders was at
Walla Walla, over an old Conference Jour
nal. The petty Court allowed the former
Secretary to retain it, as no Conference had
convened TO demand it, and as he was up
10 that time the proper custodian of it. and
because he made affidavit that ne was the
proper owner, and represented the Confer
enee and church in the case. We did not
carry it TO the higher Courts, because we
preferred a case squarely involving the
question OF trust and property right.
Seyenth-It has been shown, and sus-
tanned by the decision of the Court, that no
essential change has been made in the con-
fe=sion of faith-none which is in any sense
violation of property trust.
Eighth-Every preacher of the California
Conference who had a charge last year,
with single exception, remains with the
Church. Mr.. Becker's pseudo confreres were
composed of few persons who have never
been regularly in the work of the ministry,
or had for different reasons fallen out of the
work years ago. Brother Becker and the
seceders have perfect right to cease to CO.
operate with the United Brethren Church
and organize under any ancient systems
but they have no right to church property
or its uses, even if they may be charter
members after they have gone off from the
Church. This were a country of strange
religious liberty if a few discontinued per-
sons could separate from Church because
they disliked its legislation and could then,
contrary to the highest authorities of the
Church, appeal to the Courts and by their
aid, though g mere faction, carry off the
property of the denomination and drive
the ministers of the Church from their pull
pits. J. W. HoTT.