Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-30
,sprc1AI rrIEenAx 10 THE DisrArcH..

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPAICH.1
PHILADELPHIA, October 29.-William
c. Mayne, the master appointed BY Judge
Mitchell to take testimony in equity pro-
ceedings involving the ownership of the
real estate left by Anna Meister. or, as she
styled herself, 81. Elimar Mira Militia, the
daughter of the Lord" has completed his
report and will file it in court at the ex-
piration of the usual ten days allowed for a
review of the case by the attorneys Of the
parties in interest. The bill in equity was
filed on April 2S, 1887, by Philip Becker,
Christine Becker, Jacob Endress, Lissette
Munzert, August Werner, Caroline Lang
and Julia Rubman against Meta Meister.
Salome Blattman, Lissette Betzinger, Cath
crime Meister. Albert Meister, Charles
Meister, Edward Meister, Rosa Kennedy,
Lena Meister, Emily Graf, Bertha Bonine,
Jacob Betzinger, David ]. Kennedy,
William Grant, Lizzie Meister, Adele
Meister, Ella Meister and George D. Brown,
the legal heirs of Anna Meister.
STORY OF THE PROPERTY.
The complainants, in their bill, set forth
that about the year 1856 they, in company
with other people, were in the habit Of meet
ing at different places to receive religious
instruction from J. Elimar Mira Militia, who
claimed to be the daughter of the Lord, and
who was worshiped as such. They formed
voluntary and unincorporated religious
association, which was supported by the
contributions of those who came to hear her.
In 1864 the complainants raised the sum OF
5000, with which they purchased the prop
erty at L. 128 South Eleventh street, as a per.
manent place of Worship. The title was
vested in Anna Meister, under her spirit
ual name of j. Elimar Mira Militia, and in
the deed no reference was made to any trust
or agency in the matter, but the complain
ants declare that there was a verbal under
standing between them and Anna Meister,
at the time of the purchase, to the effect
that
SHE WAS TO HOLD THE PROPERTY
for them and as their agent August
Werner and Lissette Munzert two of the
complainants, say that rs soon as the trans
action was completed they occupied the
premises, and continue to do SO up to the
present time. Anna Meister lived with
them in the house, and they claim that they
gas and tax bills, water rent and repairs.
j. Elimar Mira Militia died in January,
1884, unmarried and intestate. Letters of
administration were granted to her sister,
Mesa Meister, who, with other heirs, claimed
the property under the intestate laws of
Pennsylvania. Those who had contributed
the money to purchase the property also
claimed it, and the present proceedings were
begun to compel transfer of the legal title
to them. The defendants based their case
principally on the deed to J. Elimar Mira
Militia and the fact that
THERE WAS NO TRUST
created in it, and that she had during her
lifetime often declared that the property be-
longed to her personally, and she could dis
pose of it as she saw fit. They claimed that
Mrs. Meister served the association as their
religious instructor and pastor; attended
them as physician during sickness, and was
worshiped and regarded by them as the
third person in the Holy Trinity, being
looked upon as the Comforter that was to
come-the Holy Spirit; that she rendered
very valuable services, for which the money
advanced was but fair and reasonable
compensation.
William G. Mayne was appointed exam
liner on May 4, 1888, and master on June 4,
1888. A large amount of testimony was
taken on each side, and after careful sift-
ing of all the facts and the law in the mat
ter, the master reports in favor of the COM
plainants, and recommends the Court to
issue decree compelling the defendants to
make over the title to the members of the
religious association, in the proportion of
the amounts OF money con ontributed by each.