Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-24
A CHURCH SECEDES.
An Allegheny Congregation
Alters Allegiance
FOR MORE INDEPENDENCE.
The Cumberland Presbyterian De-
nomination Deserted
ON A QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT.
Union Will be Made With the Congrega-
tional Association.
FOR MORE INDEPENDENCE.
ON A QUESTION OF GOVERNMENT.
TIE CHANGE WAS LONG CONSIDERED

The First Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, located at the corner Of North and
Grant avenues. Allegheny, has decided to
transfer its allegiance to the Congregational
denomination.
The church was organized about seven
years ago, as an independent religious So
ciety, by Rev. j. II. Barnett. That gentle
man vas educated for the Methodist
Protestant ministry, and began work in that
denomination about 20 years ago. Ten
years ago he came to Allegheny, and for q
time labored as an evangelist. Shortly
after the present church was organized by
him, overtures were made for the reception
of the congregation into the Cumberland
Presbyterian connection.
Rev. Barnett said last evening: ut was
represented to us that our connection with
the Cumberland church would be very bene-
fetal to this body. In this we have been dis
appointed. We were led to believe that the
Cumberland Church was congregational in
its government, We have found it to be
ecclesiastical. Our church adopted the
creed and government of the Cumberland
Church, and was received into the ALLIE
gheny Presbytery. was ordained q minis
ter in that denomination, and have been
such for six years."
The Cum perland Presbyterian Church
differs from other PRESBYTERIAN churches in
rejecting the doctrine of election. and there
fore refuses to subscribe to the Westminster
confession of faith. Its form of government
is Presbyterian. Each church is governed
by the session consisting of the minister and
the elders. Above that is the Allegheny
Presbytery. There are three Presbyteries in
Pennsylvania - the Allegheny, Pennsyl-
vania and Union. They comprise the
Pennsylvania Synod, which is tributary to
the General Assembly.
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.
The Allegheny church has been occupy
ing pretty frame building on the Denny
estate, at the northwest corner of North and
Grant avenues. This property could be
bought for IS, 900, and the congregation was
promised aid by the Pennsylvania Synod.
At the session of the synod held at Hope
we'll, Fayette county, last September, the
synod promised to furnish the Allegheny
church with 81 500 if the church would fur
nish the same amount, to make the first
payment on the property. OF this sum
s., 900 was to come from bequest made by
the late Henry Alexander, of Washington
county, and $500 from the sale of property
at Connellsville.
A gentleman connected with the church
said yesterday: Last December and six
other gentlemen, composing a committee
from this church, met the committee of the
synod at the Home Hotel here They
promised that the s., 800 would be
ready for us by April 1. At
that time we had raised our share of
the money, but heard nothing from the
Synod. April &c letter was written to the
Synod officers, and they replied that the
best they could do was to let us have 5000
by August l and S400 on September TO-
August 1 came and we heard nothing. This
financial matter is not the only thing in
which we have been disappointed in our
connection with the Cumberland Church."
Alter general talk among the members of
the church, who number about 20, at was
decided to dissolve the charter as a Cum
berland Presbyterian Church. During two
successive Sundays notice of this intention
was given from the pulpit. Last Wednes-
day evening at business meeting it was
voted without dissent to dissolve the char
ter. Notice of the intended action had been
given to the other churches in the Allegheny
PresbyIery. Of the entire membership only
two men dissented, and have asked for their
letters of withdrawal One of these has
been Presbyterian for 40 years. and the
other is a Scotchman who expects soon to
return to his native land.
THE REORGANIZATION.
The reorganization under the Congrega-
tional system will be effected at a meeting
to be held next Wednesday evening. The
Office of elder will pass away, and there will
be elected three deacons, a clerk, treas
urer, and probably seven trustees. A body
of doctrine will likewise be adopted, and, If
the charter is ready, it will also be adopted.
The name of the reorganization will be the
Union Park Congregational Church. The
church building stands on the site Of the en-
trance to the old Union Park, a portion OF
which is now occupied by the baseball
grounds.
At later date, probably within two
weeks, a local council of the Congregational
churches of Allegheny county will meet in
the Union Park edIfce to receive the new
body into its fellowship. This council will !
consist of minister and deacon from each
congregation in the county. The members
will be enrolled as Congregationalists, and
any new members who may appear will be
received with hearty welcome. The act of
receiving is simply recognition of fellow
ship with the other congregations of that |
denomination, and is not yielding of any |
authority by the local church. The meet |
ing of this council NAV be delayed by the |
illness of Rev. DR.. II. E. Thomas of the |
Welsh Congregation in Soho, vino is living |
sick at lakewood.
There are six Congregational churches in |
the county-three English and three |
Welsh. The First Congregational Church, |
OF Allegheny, of which Rev. A. M. Hills is |
pastor, is the best known. There are also |
English congregations in Braddock and |
Sharpsburg, but without their own houses !
of worship. |
Rev. Barnett said last evening: "The |
cause of Congregationalism has not been |
pushed in these two cities. In nearly all |
otner large cities of the North it is strong. |
Congregationalism is republican church |
government. Each church is Independent. |
The body of doctrine is very broad and |
flexible, except on the radical points of |
Christian faith. The Congregational Asso- |
citation of Pennsylvania has adopted IL |
articles of belief. They are very evan
gelical and Biblical in their composition. |
Our congregation must adopt creed which |
shall not contradict those articles. Bevond |
their limitations, each congregation may
alter its doctrines at pleasure. Each con-
gregation manages its own affairs, and con-
trolls absolutely its own property. 1t is,
therefore, purely APOSTOLIC in its forms.
DOCTRINES THE SAME.
"There is no essential difference between
the doctrines of the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church and those of the Congrega-
tional Church. Our separation is simply
matter of church discipline, and has nothing
IN do with points OF belief"