The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-18
APPEALED TO THE COURTS
Members Of Greek Catholic Church Of
Old Forge Ask for Relief.
BEGIN EQUITY PROCEEDINGS
Action of the Polish Members of the Con
srcgatiou In Closing the. Church
AGAINST the Pastor Is Held
TO Be Unwnrrauted.

Proceedings in equity were begun In
court yesterday afternoon by Attorney
f.. C. Newcomb for Joseph Derevyanka
and Maik Dankolitz. who represent the
faction that is supporting the pastor
in the church war among the Greek
Catholics of Old Forge. The pastor Is
Rev. Valentine Balough, who was. by
the action of the entire congregation
duly installed In charge of the congre-
cation on Nov. 10, 1894.
The defendants named in the peti-
ton asking for an injunction are kost
Rusin, Roman Gambal. John IIeschin-
ski, Samko Ilchak, Petro Hoisak. Mikito
Matchbox, John Haragonitz, Mikifor
Voczak. Yaczko Mariana, Isaac Malma
and Victor Kriniczky.
The plaintiffs say that they are mem
bers of the Greek Catholic church OF
Old Forge township. which church Is
a part of an incorporated society known
as the Society of st. Michael Archangel.
The pastor and the people OF the con-
gregation have the lawful right to use
and occupy the church for religious
worship according to the rites and
ceremonies of the Greek Catholic relig-
ion, but the defendants have undertaken
to dispossess the congregation and ex-
clude the pastor.
Locked the Pastor Ont.
They have got possession of the keys
and have locked the church, so that on
Sunday, June z, the pastor and congre-
cation were prevented from entering
and they seemingly propose to keep
the church locked until the pastor Is
removed and one to their liking SUPER
sedes him. The defendants have
threatened violence If any attempt shall
be made on the part of the plaintiffs
to enter or make further use of the
church for religious worship.
Judge Archibald granted rule to
bring the matter up for argument in
court. There will be a hearing Wednes-
day, July a. at a. m, upon deposit
tions both for and against the injunc-
tion. The depositions of the plaintiffs
must be filed before those on the part
of the plaintiffs need be taken.
The root of the trouble Is CLEANED
from the following history OF the case
as taken from the affidavit Of Danko-
htz, one of the plaintiffs: The ground
on which the church stands was pllr-
chased in 1891 from the New York,
Susquehanna and Western Railroad
company, the money being raised among
the Polish and Hungarian residents Of
the Greek Catholic faith Of Old Forge,
Taylor, Duryea. Rendham and the Sib-
ley. The church was completed in Oc-
hn
about 600 people organized. OF this
number only $50 are Polish, the re-
mainder Hungarians.
Was Installed Last November.
The Rev. Valentine Balough was reg
ularly and duly installed without n dis
senting voice on Nov. 10. last year, and
from that time had been in charge of
the congregation, administering the
rites and sacraments. and performing
all ard singular, the religious services
that are ordained and required to be
performed by pastors of the Greek Cath
olic church.
The pastor Is a Hungarian, and the
defendants are Of the Polish part Of the
congregation: there Is no hostility to-
ward the pastor among the Hungarian
members Of the flock, who constitute
by far the greater majority. But there
seems to be some unfriendly spirit to-
wards the pastor on the part of the
Polish members. On Saturday, July
6, he received from the defendants the
following notice written in the Polish
language:
1.-THE church congregation has de-
cided to give notice: Inasmuch as work
is so slack we cannot maintain the pas
tor, now we say to you that you must
seek another pastorate, because we are
not in position to pay you"
The above notice was signed by the
defendants named in the present equity
suit. The sequel to the notice was n
locked church on Sunday, June Z. when
Father Balough appeared to celebrate
mass.
Action Was Unwnrrnntcd.
The plaintiffs state that this action
by the Polish members of the congre-
CATION was unwarranted by the large
majority of Hungarians, who are ready.
able and always willing to pay the pas
tor his salary. They say that the main
| tenance of their church and the work
| of the pastor has been of great benefit
| to the Greek Catholics, and to be de-
prived of the privileges of the church
and the services of q pastor would be
decided injury.
CAMPBELL BRINGS SUIT.