Evening star., 1909-04-28
.D|SUN|Oh AFTER UNION
Saints in the South Scrap Just
Like Sinners.
CHURCH PROPERTY ROWS
Secretary Dickinson Now Owns Fa-
nous Belle Meade Farm.
LIKE A BARONIAL ESTATE
With Forests, Parks, Game Preserves
and All the Comforts Of
Home, Sweet Home.
BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
Chicago Record-Herald.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. April 26, 1909.
Three years ago q union was enected
between the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, which prevailed very largely In
the central southern states. and particu-
larly along the Cumberland river, and
the Presbyterian Church of the north.
Both denominations professed practically
the same creed, but for reasons too nu-
merous and complicated to be explained
in the narrow columns of newspaper
each had an Independent organization.
The union was under negotiation for
many years, and was finally accomplished
with considerable enthusiasm, although
minority of the Cumberland Church
dissented. and still maintain the old or
ganization and claim the ownership of
the property.
The presbyterian Church South al
though protesting the same creed as the
PRESBYTERIAN Church of the United States
and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
has refused to unite with either OF the
denominations, notwithstanding the Ter
vent prayers and persuasive arguments
an outsider ii seems very odd that there
should be presbyterian Church South,
and a Methodist Church South,' and
other independent branches of great re
ligious denominations, whose Master ad-
monished them to dwell together in
unity; and for many years the northern
Presbyterians have been trying to unite
the three branches. The plan Is favored
by the Presbyterians of Nashville, At
lanta, Birmingham. Memphis and other
hIYf Il
tion of fully three-fOurths of the mem
bers of the denominations is so deter
mined that an amalgamatlon seems I'M
possible, in this generation at least, un-
less God should soften the hearts Of HIS
stubborn and uncompromising servants.
Otherwise the members of tile Presoy-
terian Church South will have the privi-
lege of finding their own way to salvation
without any Yankee company.
They Are Too Independent.
The real reason for the refusal of the
southern Presbyterians to unite with
their brethren of the north is fear
THAT they will be outnumbered in the
general assembly and thus be forever in
"a hopeless minority, subject 10 an obll-
CATION to accept the will of the majority.
They value their present independence
too highly to relnquish II. and the risks
involved are too great. Furthermore, as
one reverend gentleman expressed II:
There Is lack of sympathy between
the northern and southern people upon
many topics and irreconcilable differences
of opinion upon vital questions that are
not involved in the theology and are NOT
alluded to in the Westminster catechism
JAS the Presbyterians of the north ana
the south differed on the slavery question
before the war, they differ upon the
problems that have grown out of the
abolition of slavery. A union Of the two
branches would result in an interminable
controversy over negro education, negro
churches and negro delegates to synods
and general assemblies. Thus you Will
recognize that the two branches or the
church are better apart, for as long as
they remain SO there can be no con-
troversy.''
Trouble to Follow Union.
The union Of the Cumberland church
with the northern Presbyterians Is likely
to be productive of much litigation over
property rights. The minority OF the
former, who refused to assent to the
union, have followed the example of what
is known as the "Wee Presbyterian
Church" in Scotland, which is composed
of thirty or forty clergymen and their
CONGREGATIONS. They refuse to recognize
the amalgamation of the Free Presoy-
terians and the United Presbyterlans OF
that country, and claimed the ownership
of all the property of the denomination,
the missionary endowments, the trust
funds. all the houses of worship, schools,
parsonages and everything OF vaiue. ne
courts of Scotland recognized their claim
in law, but at the same time recognized
the equity belonging to the other MEM
bers Of the church, and appointed COM
mission to apportion the property.
Several suits were brought by the nom
unionists Of the Cumberland denomlna-
tion In Illinois, ,ta kentueky aa. ana otner hnn,
hy the lower courts. The non-unionists
of Fayetteville, Tenn, however, made an
appeal from the county court to the su-
preme court Of the state, which reversed
the Judgment Of the lower court and
recently rendered decision entirely in
favor of the minority and against the
union. The opinion is very long. 1t re-
ouired ninety-two pages OF legal cap 10
express the views of majority OF the
dissented. 1t is impossible to obtain the
text of the decision at this moment. but
1t will be printed in full by the CumDer-
land Presbyterian Banner of Tullahoma.
Tenn, in pamphlet form, and sold Tor oO
cents a copy The opinion will have
far-rea aching Importance. as setting forth
the law and the equities concerning the
amalgamation of religious organizations.
Court Threw It Down.
court of Tennessee declares that the union
is not effective, because 1t is not unan-
imous: that the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church still remains "a vital and inde-
pendent organization. OF which only q
norton have dissolved their connection
and have united and identified them
selves with other different ecclesiastical
bodies.'' BY leaving the old organi-
zation they voluntarily relinquish own
ership and control of all property be-
longing to it, and cannot transfer that
ownership without the consent of all
concerned majority vote of the joint
owners OF a piece of property cannot
deprive the minority Of their rights of
ownership and control. If a majority
voluntarily abandon and separate them
selves from an organization holding the
title to certain property they cannot
carry that title with them. 1t remains
vested in the organization to which it
belongs
This. in short, is the opinion of the
highest judicial tribunal that has passed
Judgment on the questions involved. and
while 1t does not directly affect the prop
erty rights of the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church in other states, it gives
the non -unionists, who refused to unite
with the northern church, all houses of
worship, parsonages, schools and ceme-
teries in Carroll, Davidson and Weakly
counties in the state of Tennessee, in
GLIDING the publishing house at Nashville
and the theological seminary at Lebanon.
The opinion will naturally have an indi-
rect effect upon the church property out
side this state, although the local courts
of Illinois, Georgia. Kentucky and Texas,
like those of Tennessee have already Ge-