The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-12-14
TROUBLED
WATERS
,wsuITs IN INDIANA OVER c. p.
MATTER.
,-,o,tans Case 10 to Come Up a Pc
ersbvrs in That state On the
18th Inst, and There Are
OtheeA

EVANSVILLE, Ind. Dec Sat Pc
tersburg, Ind, on Dec. Is. there viii
no a meeting of the Cumberland
presbvterians that will attract atten-
.on wherever there is a church of
that denomination. The purpose of
the meeting is a reorganization of
Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Petersburg, for years. had one Of
the largest Cumberland Presbyterian
Churches in Southern Indiana. After
the decision of the General Assembly
at Decatur, H., last May to unite with
the Presbyterian church there was a
division of the members in the Peters.
burg Church, some favoring the union
while others wanted to keep their own
church Finally the unionists won and
few days ago the church property,
including the large church and par
sonage, was decided to the Presbyter-
ian Church.
The members Of the church who
we're opposed to union have called
meeting for the 18th, and at this gath.
ering steps will be taken to organize
new church and arrangements will
be made to bring suit for the posses
sion Of the property that was decided
to the Presbyterian Church. The
church fight is the bitterest this part
Of the State has ever seen. and it is
the sole topic of discussion in Peters
burg. Lifelong friendships have been
shattered by the clash and the end is
not yet. All the members of the two
Presbyterian churches in this section
are watching the outcome of the fight
with more than passing interest. Able
attorneys have been employed by the
Cumberland Presbyterians and they
say that the matter will be carried to
the highest court in the United States.
There are several other church
fights of this character brewing in this
end of the State as the result of the
action of the Decatur General Assem-
bly, and the courts will probably be
busy for years settling litigation of
this sort.
The Jefferson-avenue Cumberland
Presbyterian Church of this city Is
strongly opposed to the union and so
voted at a recent meeting. A few
members who favored the union have
left the church and joined other
churches and now threaten to bring
suit to have the Jefferson-avenue prop.
erty turned over to the Presbyterian
Church. The pastor, Rev. Thomas
Ashburn, native of Alabama and a
preacher of strong power, recently re-
ceived a call to the leading Cumber-
land Presbyterian Church at Knox
Vile, Tenn, but ne has not accepted
and II is understood he win decline
the offer. He feels that he should re-
main in this city In view of the num-
Der OF church cases that will in all
probability be filed in the various Cir
cult Courts of Southern Indiana.
Rev Mr. Ashburn Is In close touch
with all the Cumberland Presbyterian
Churches in this end Of the State. and
says in his mind there is no question
that the Cumberland Church will win
out in its fight to retain its property. |
At the meeting Of the General Assem-
bly, at Decatur, H., he was recognized
as the leader OF the "loyalists," and !
took part In all the important de-
bates.
Two important church suits filed
at Vincennes and Washington, Ind,
have been venued here and will come
up for trial before Judge Gilchrist, OF
the local Superior Court, Dec. II. At
" ashington the Cumberland Presby- |
terrain property was seized by the |
Presbyterians and the Cumberlands
brought suit to recover. The case will |
be holly contested and the result win |
be awaited with interest. 1t is set
tied fact that the case will be APP |
pealed, 1t matters not which side
wins, Leading church members In
this section of the country say that |
the church litigation started over the |
union Of churches will last for many
years.