Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-21
ALLOWS CHURCH
TO CHANGE NAME
1T Is NOW THE WESTLAKE.
| PRESBYTERIAN
Rev. William D. Lands and Influential
Members Of His Congregation
Win Decision In the
Superior Court

BY decision handed down yester-
day by Judge Curtis d. Wilbur In de-
partment eight Of the superior court
the petition Of the Cumberland Presby-
terrain church for a change of name
was granted. and henceforth that in
corporation will be known as the West
lake Presbyterian church
The application FOR the change of
name has caused more trouble for the
congre cation of the church than any
other incident in Its history. The
church was ORGANIZED ten years ago
under the management of the Los An
geles presbytery. Last July the con.
greGation decided to enter the United
States presbytery and i'm order to pre-
vent confusion number of officers
decided that the name of the church
should be changed to the Westlake
Presbyterian church.
Among those supporting the pro-
posed change We're the minister Rev,
William d. Lands, and about three
fourths of the most influential members
Of the congregation.
Tne question of the change was voted
upon and declared unanimously carried
by the directors, but one-fourth of the
congregation banded together and re-
fused to accept the change, asserting
that their brethren were attempting to
cheat the church out of property.
The quarrel became bitter and upon
its first hearing in the superior court on
October % certain things were said by
witnesses which resulted later in q
fight in the court house corridor. Rev.
Landis parted the combatantS but the
spirit of battle still fingered and the
contesting factions fought the case two
weeks in the superior court.
Name Is Changed
One body of church directors have
already sustained the proposed
change, but the contestants have taken
the matter before the highest church
tribunal. In giving his decision Judge
Wilbur asserted that his power in the
case extended over the judicial side
only. His decision was in part as fol-
lows:
'In the above case it is shown that
by an almost unanimous vote the
church membership has agreed to
change it's name to the Westlake Pres
byterian church. 1t seems to be con-
ceded that so far as the change of the
corporate name is concerned it is a
matter of discretion with the court.
"It is shown that the matter of the
change of name Is incidental to d
change of the church from the Cum
berland Presbyterian denomination to
the Presbyterian denomination and is
in pursuance of the agreement reached
by both denominations for the union
but anticipates the final action of the
general assemblies of each church as
to the details of the union.
'The action of the local church has
been sustained upon an appeal to the
synod, but an appeal to the highest
ecclesiastical body of the church, the
general assembly, is still pending.
Notwithstanding this appeal ano
whatever weight it is entitled to un-
der the rules of the church, the fac,
is that the local church is using the
new name and there seems to be nc
good reason why 1t should not do SC
and many reasons why it should. Ii
the action of an authoritative eccle-
siastical body shall decide against the
change of name and denomination
doubtless matters will be adjusted ac-
cordinsly, including the appropriate
change.
"In view of the foregoing facts the
petition shall be granted and hence
forth the corporation shall be known
as the Westlake Presbyterian church.