Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-09-11
SAVED THE CHURCH.
Peculiar Legal Incident in the East
Ind Platform Contest.
FIVE DIVORCE SUITS ENTERED.
. Inigmatical remarks Construed as Threats
} by the Judges.
THE NEWS OF THE COUNTY COURTS

The trouble arising out of the promulga-
tion of the famous east End platform, %
for which o. B. Milligan, of this city, and
others were suspended from the Reformed
Presbyterian Church, will not down.
The words of a member of the
Presbytery at which action was taken
against the ministers, held July 10, 1891,
were prophetic. On that occasion Rev.
Dr. Thompson said: 1.-THE ultimate result
of this action of the Pittsburg Presbytery,
indorsed by the Synod, will be stampede
from the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
There will be no attempt to establish an
other church. Instead, those Withdrawing
viii connect themselves with other
churches."
Not only has this been the case, but, it is
asserted, legal action was necessary to pre-
vent the dissentors from not only at
tempting to divert a portion of the spirit
ual affect to the use of another denomina-
tlon, but also all the right, title and interest
to certain valuable estates-in fee.
An Attorneys Trip to New York.
In order to prevent them securing prop
erty valued at $50, 600, Attorney j. p Hun
ter went quietly to New York City this
week, and just in the nick of time bought
up the mortgage indebtedess of the First
Reformed Presbyterian Church of that city.
The facts of the case are of great interest
: j. & j. Milllgan, pastor of the First Re-
formed Presbyterian Church of New York
City, was one of the leaders of the Lib
erals" After the suspension of the pro-
mulgstors of the East End platform in
june, 1891, he connected himself with the
United Presbyterian Church, but the con-
gregatlon did not follow. The board of trus-
tees, one of whom was son of Mr.. Milli-
gan, although Liberal remained in the
church In the course of time theSessions were
Of the opinion an attempt was being made
TO divert the church from Reformed Presby-
terrain purposes to those of the United
Presbyterian Church. Charges were made
against the liberal members and they were
suspended on that ground. They appealed
from this decision to the New York Pres
hytery, and the appeal is still pending.
Bought Up the Indebtedness
In the meanwhile the Citizens Board of
Trustees, the financial agents of the Re-
formed Presbyterian Church, came TO the
rescue of the church and purchased all
its floating Indebtedness, and on Thursday,
In order to clinch the matter,
and secure to the church its valuable prop
NANSSS " - dtsOTnCy III tuls anu
the East End church trouble for the church
board of trustees, went to New York and
purchased the mortgage indebtedness for
$20,o ,o00 The regulars are now in q posi-
tion to prevent any diversion of the prop
erty from the uses of the Reformed Presby-
terisn Church; for nothing can be done
with the property contrary to the interests
of those holding the mortgage. The prop
erty is situated on One Hundred and Nine
teenth street, in the city of New York, and
Is valued at $50, 000
They lost a valuable church in BROOKLYN |
by the liberals pursuing the same tactics |
alleged to have been attempted in this case, |
and which, but for the prompt action of their |
attorney, would have been successful.
The legal fight over the East End Church |
is in the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny |
county, and the decision. when rendered |
will dec,ds the legal status of all the
churches S9t win be argued probably next
week.