The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1893-01-21
THE EvANGELIoAL CHURCH.


The numerous Evangelical Church read
-rs will pcruse with interest the following
conden-ei report of Master Richard find
ngs In the Evangelical Church controversy
At Reading. The finding of fac.s aud the
opinion on the questions of law alone
would mallea considerable volume, while
he testimony is mountainous in It's pro-
portions. The main points, however, are
here giYen:-
The master says that the Rev. }. II.
'hirey is the legal pastor OF the church,
because the conference bY which he was
appointed--the one held at Allentown IN
1891, and presided over b, the Rey. s. c.
5. Hamen-was a legal confesence, held in
accordance with the discipline ard laws of
The church, and hence It's actions are to be
recognized and supported by the civil laws.
On the same grounds, he urges that the
pretended conference presided over by
Bishop Bowman was not a legal confer
cnce, and hence that It's pretended ap-
pointee, the Rev A. Krecker. could not
claim the right to the pulpit Of the Sixth
street Cuurch, even though Shirey were
found not to be the legal pastor.
The controversy turned largely upon the
standing of Bishops Bowman and Esher.
who now assume episcopal aulhorit, over
The church and demand a legal ratification
of their actions. On this question the find
ing IS that the trial and suspension of these
'wo bishops, which took place in Salem
Evangelical Church, Reading in February,
1880, was legal and regular according 10
the discipline, aud must be sustained
lie also states that the preliminary eN
animation Of the bishops, which was held
by Messrs kiekhofer Lerch. and Umbach,
At which the charges were dismissed, and
which pretended decision was pleaded in
bar Of the trial at Reading and I'm the In
iianapolis Conference, was invalid and in
| eifeCtual as a bar lie holds, therefore,
that the bishops were legally suspended,
and are not now in the legal exercise of
episcopal functions Of the church.
The master holds that both sides are
| right in claiming that the general confer.
ence of the other side was Illegal The
conference which was held in indianapolis
10 October, 1891, was void Of no effect, be-
! cause il was not called in accordance with
! he discipline that the power to fix the
place OF holding the general conferences
| devolYed upon the oldest annual confer
enCe.
The oldest annual conference was that
of Eastern Pennsylvania. In the exercise
Of this power, il fixed upon Philadelphia,
and conference held at any othrr place
! was not in accordance with the discipline,
ald consequently illegal As TO the con-
terence held at Philadelphia, it was called
according 10 the discipline, but, as it lack
ed constitutional quorum, 10 was also
| illegal and its actions void aud OF no effect
The master further declares that, admit
/ ting that the indianapolis Conference was
legal, its pretended acsiou upon the tia
and suspensions Of Bishops Bowman and
/ Esher was not taken in a legal way, nor
] did It's action, with regard TO the pretended
! Eastern Pennsi lySnia Conference, held Al
! Allentown and presided over by Bishop
! DO gman, have any effect in legallzing the
| action OF that conference,
This case is the most important Of the
many that have been tried 10 The courts Ia
/ various parts of the country, inasmuCh as
] lt involves more Of the vital points OF the
! controversy than any other, including the
! legality Of the annual conferences and the
! suspension of tue bishops. If Il should be
| finally decided as indicated, the church
would be without legally constituted
bishops.
Both Bowman and Esher have boeu sus
pended and their subsequent reelection
and the election Of Bishop Breyfogel, who
took The place Of Bishop Dubs would be
void, while the election Of Messrs Ham
man and Dubs by the Philadelphia General
Conference would likewise be void.
il has been Intended 20 file the report
TO-DAY and these preliminary points were
handed 10 counsel as containing the prob.
able decision Of the master on the various
points, but 10 having been found that il
would be impossible 10 prepare the case
for argument i'm the supreme court this
year, the case will now toke the usuaI
course, and tho real final decision may not
be filed for several weeks yet.
In the mean time there will be further
arguments and some Of the points sboY6
given may be modified when the Gnal re-
port Is made up.