The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-05-06

tion, and the anti-union forces I'm the
Presbyterian church, being led by
President Patton OF Princeton Serni-
nary, and the union forces by Presi-
dent Moffat Of Washington and JEFF
ferson college. Practically all the Of
f7cials and the better known ministers
OF the Cumberland church came into
the union
The antis or loyalists refused to
unite. and laid claim to the title and
property of the Cumberland denomi-
nation. The most potent sources OF
their objection are said to be the Sec
tional one (the Cumberland Presby-
terian church being found chiefly In
the SOUTH, and objection to the fact
that negroes are to be found in the
northern church.
This minority has proved to De very
much more numerous and formidable
than was at first thought. Some of its
leaders claim II is a full half of the
original Cumberland member ship; the
officials of the united church say that
II really has only 80 per cent, or, by a
most liberal estimate, S5 per cent Be
that as 1t may the state OF Tennessee.
been decided, Is the stronghold OF the
old denomination and Of the anti
unionists. In the Reel-Foot Lake re-
gion, 1T is estimated that four -fifths
of the membership has stood out
against union.
Two Million pillars Involved.
The general property of the Cum
berland Presbyterian denomination is
in Tennessee, which fact gives more
Importance to the decision of the
state courts than to many other
state decisions upholding the union.
The Cumberland Presbyterian Pub
fishing house at Nashville, which since
the union has been issuing the Sunday
school lesson helps for the whole
Presbyterian church is valued al $780,
900. The university and theological
seminary at lebanon are said TO be
worth more than $3.50, 900. Local
| church properties throughout the state
are estimated as being worth S1.500,-
900. The case before the supreme court
was that of the congregation at Fay
| etteville; the decision is accepted
| (there being no appeal from a state
ecourt when purely intrastate questions
are involved) as binding upon all the
other congregations in Tennessee. AL
ready a number of the church build
| ings have been vacated by the union
lists.
| Authorities of the Northern church
say that both the publishing house
and the university and seminary car
probably be kept outside of the scope
of the decision The former has al
ways been held by a board of trustees
residing i'm several states; this makes
possible, they claim, an appeal TO tht
| United States supreme court. Like
wise, they declare that the educationa
institutions are safely theirs, because
three months prior to the union, the
board of directors, foreseeing some
such complications as have arisen
voted the control into the Northern
assembly.
These biggest ecclesiastical ans
property questions which the religious
press will thresh out for weeks II
come are of less human interest thar
the hardships entailed upon individua
congregations and persons. Whert
IHe early uecisiohS nave S"he osaih9
the loyalists they have lost the houses
of worship which have become en-
deared to them through years of wor
ship. Now the unionists must expert
ence the same suffering. Whereve
of the big and wealthy Free churcJ
denomination. -
There, 1t is to be hoped, the analog
ends, for the Wee Frees have show
no ability to manage their suddenl.
acquired wealth; and have grown mar
rover, more sectarian and more bigot
ed with each passing year. At present
their course Is almost a scandal II