Evening journal., 1916-10-28
DIR. SIN. MORGAN, PROMINENT METHODIST,
ADDRESSES OPEN LETTER TO ]. Il. HUGHES
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viii say here that you and every other
person are to be conceded the riglS-f for
reasons sufficient 10 yourselves 10 leave
the Methodist Church and 90 peaceably
out 10 whatever other denomination you
may elect. Better and moro honorable
that than to remain and be avowedly
tisloyal either TO our doctrines or TO our
government, or TO both.
"But that is a matter entirely dis
tinct from this Of which now write you.
and you only. I have not a word 10
say about anyone else. OF about any
thing else done than what you did. and
what that involves
Il think i was correct in my recol-
lection that you we're not at the time
under review a member OF the church.
You we're, as ] have already said.
trustee OF the church, and one OF the
number selected. as provision Is made
in our church9law that one-third OF
a board OF trustees maybe, not as
member but as a gentleman OF good
repute and as being a part Of the
Methodist constituency in the com
munity. II Is regarding strictly your
action as trustee OF Wesley Church
property and as lawyer and attorney
in the time referred TO that here
write.
II now remind you what you as a
trained lawyer will know, that church
property in our denomination is not
owned by the trustees II Is not
owned by the congregation worship
ing In the church, or by any part OF
4. II is owned and controlled. in
terms specified in the deeds to the
property. by the denomination and
under the supreme authority for adj
ministration procedure OF the legis-
lative body OF the church. the Gen
eral Conference II is held in trust
BY the trustees for the use OF the con-
gregation. subject In the language
OF our church Discipline. to the pro
visions Of the Discipline and to the
usage and ministerial appointments
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church in
the United States Of America, az from
time 10 time authorized and declared
by the General Conference OF said
church. and TO the annual conference
within whose bounds such corporation
Is situated.
This that ] here quote from our
church Discipline is substantially. II
not in exact language, written in the
deed by which. Wesley Church prop
erty was held when you were a
trustee. and by which il is now held.
! read Il in the deed at the time under
consideration. You doubtless read
this deed in the terms stated and
knew the full meaning and force Of
Il. You knew il was law and could
be maintained as such. You knew
also that II puts an obligation on our
trustees in law and in ethics, inviol-
able. This kind Of deed. I may say
here. Is essential 20 the maintenance
OF our correctional existence and our
UNCONVENTIONAL autonomy; and OF our
errand as an organized and consistent
spiritual and moral force in the wide
world. II has for these supreme rea-
sons been a part Of our church law
from the beginning Our church
could not have had her doctrinal. her
governmental and administrative CO
| herence without this provision Tor
denominational control over ouI
! church property written In our deeds
. We could not have had our peerless
history OF achievements IN ever!
phase Of church errand without II.
what 7 now ask. did you as trus'
tee OF Wesley Church do with your
trust under the terms OF this deed
Of trust" that you as lawyer knew
so we'll the meaning of-knew 'ht
meaning OF as Law and as Of moral
OBLIGATION resting unon you
THAT you may be refreshed in minc
IN the present important connection
| will tell you what you did. II is Of