The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-10-10
EVANGELICAL CHURCH DISRUPTION.
The Supreme Court sustaius the Bowman.
E-terite Faction.

L-LS-Atc hCi-OA.
At Pittsburg, Wednesday, Justice VIII
liams rendered an opinion reversing the
Berks county court and granting Rev.
Augustus krecker and others an injunc-
tion against Rev. Jones ". Shirley and
others. The case was a dispute for church
property, growing out of the celebrated
split in the Evangelical Association, at
the time that Bishops Dubs, Esher and
Bowman were suspended from their Of
fees. The court reviews the case and
Fl nds that the las, conference at Indian
apolis was The legitimate ruling power of
the church, and that the Eastern Penn
sylvania Conference was an illegally con-
stituted and rebeliious body. The prop
erty in question is the Emmanuel Church
at Reading. The court rules on seven
points regarding the trouble as follows:
First, that the General Conference OF
1891 was the regular successor of that of
1887; second, that the alleged General
Conference that met i'm Philadelphia in
1881 was an unauthorized body and its as
sumption of ecclesiastical authority was
an act of rebellion; third, that those con-
ferences, congregations and church MEM
bers that adhere to the General Confer
ence constitute the Evangelical Associa-
ton; fourth, that those who adhere to the
Philadelphia Conference are an independ-
ent and hostile association; fifth, the prop
erty which prior To 1891 belonged to the
Evangelical Association, now belongs TO
hot 4.
plaintiff, krecker, to the pastorate of the
Emmanuel Church, having been made by
a provisional body, gave him no title ca
pable of enforcement, but his subsequent
ratification by the General Conference
gave him title under the law of the church
seventh, the assignment of the defendant,
Shirey, to the same pastorate by an lille
gally organized conference of East Penn
sylvania. has no title capable of enforce
ment under the law ofthe land against the
Evangelical Association or its adherents.
The decree of the lower court is revers-
ed and an injunction is ordered To restrain
the defendants from exercising control
over Emmanuel Church and from exclud-
ing the plaintiff from the pulpit of the
church. The costs are also placed upon
the defendants.
This decision it is claimed settles the
ownership of 30 churches in Pennsylva-
mia.
THE CHURCH II DIVIDED.
\ dispatch from Reading says: The
split in the Evangelical Church, instead
of being wiped out by the Supreme Court
decision, is growing wider and will sure
ly result in the final and permanent sepa-
ration of that denomination.
The -Esher faction. which
hos won control of all the church proper
ty in the State, is decidedly in the minor
ity in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Bishops Sanford, of Harrisburg. and
Haman, of Reading, and the presiding
elders and number of clergymen repre-
senting the Dubs element of the Eyangel-
ical Church, held long conference here
to-day with their attorneys. Later busi-
hess meeting was held in Salem Evan
gelical Church. 1t was decided To hold a
conference ofthe minority in this city on
" NtAiNSNhf htNtf IL -
steps will he taken looking to reorganiza-
tion.
Ii is the purpose To keep the member
ship intac; but 10 vacate the churches
they now occupy. The trustees of the
Schnylkill Seminary, at fredericksburg.
Lebanon County, say they feel certain of
an ejectment sooner or later. but will not
vacate the college for the present.
ONE MAN GETS THE CHURCH.
Preparations are now going on TO trans
fer the 3. zoe worth of church property
in East Pennsylvania To the Esher people.
In Salem Church, Reading, s25 members
must give up their property TO about 20
people. There was but one outspOken
Esher man in the entire congregation
during the controversy, yet he wins, and
is virtually in legal possession of the
church, while the S35 Duhs members will
build new church on the opposite side
of the street. In other cases probably
from six to ten people come into the con-
troll of churches which thousands of Dubs
people built. This transfer is the most
remarkable on record in this district
Officers are on guard at many churches
tonight to prevent the removal ofchurch
property.