Douglas Island news., 1921-01-28
DIR. CONDIT GIVES
 VIEW OF MATTER
The Metlakatla Church Affair From the Standpoint of the
 Presbyterians

A controversy has been raging for some time at Mouakatla over Che use or thc Christian church building there for worship by different de- nominations and recently Secret tary Of Che Interior John Barton Payne ordered Che trustees Of Che church Co throw Che doors open and to permit ull sects to worship therein and Co send Co him a copy Of Che reg ulauons as to Che hours and days.
 Tho action was resented by some of Che people Of Che city who took Ia different view Of Che matter think . ng that Che Christian congregation ] which was established by Father Duncan should have thc sole rights . Co Che building
 The following letter to Che editor ! of Che Kotch.kan Chronicle. written . by Dr. J H CondIt. head Of thc prcsbytcr.aus for Alaska. sets forth . tho Presbyterian view Of thc matter !.
 "My attention has been called to| am editorial in your issue of Decem- ! bor 3lst. entitled. Crime Against Father Duncan and especially to| Che paragraph referring to Che status . Of Ono Presbyterian element there |
 It is not my purpose Go enter into ! tho discussion of Che merits Of tho !. case iu general. in your columns. in ! as much os Che issue is between the Department oi Che Interior and the trustees Of tho win Of Father Dun can. together with thc element n !. Che community layorlng Che conun- uancc Of Che Christian church under !. thc control of Che said trustees.
 "ln so far as Che prosbytery and !. Presbyterian Church is Involved J ]. would like to present Che following
 "1 The Prcsbytcry lays no claim to Che cmr.h building at Mctlakat- :. Ia and las never had Che least thought or purpose Of con6scating !. Iho building. lts advice to the members of thc Presbyterian church 1. at McuokaIa has been and is now . Go provide for their services else where The Presbyterian church has . been holding its services iu Che audi- !. torum Of che public school building . and proposes. as soon as Che way| opens. Go erect modern church building suited Go iis needs
 "2 But it is also truc that while Che members Of Che Presbyter.onI church at Mcuakaua disclaim any| purpose Of seizIug the old church l building or forc.bly occupying it| they have precisely the same cQuity| rights in Che building that Che rest Of tbe people have. lt happens that six out of the eight elders Of the. Presbyterian church were at tho| time of their election elders iu the| Christian church. elected by tho. people by public ballot There are. now Ii7 members In Che Presbytor- ian church. a fact which seems to| indicate chat more than a small ma Ioriy of the people arc identified with it and these people came with Che rest Of Che MctIakatlas from British Columbia. contributed cqual- ] Iy with Che rest m Che erection of| thc building n labor and materials . They also have had an equal part In developing Che other interests Of. MeuakaUa. own a large part Of the stock in che store and other enter priscs and are as much Che original owners u these things as are the. element adherIng to Che old system. It is also to be said that a large part af Che contributions Co Che erection of Che church building at Metlakatla were made by Presbyterian donors and thIs fact is capable of exact demonstration. However, as before said. thcy lay uo claim Co tho build ing beyond Che same equity rights which thoy have in an the other property In Mouakata In equity they are as much Che owners Of the building as anyone else.
 "8. The position Of Che Chronicle that Che Presbyterian element had right Go organize for worship and to align themselves with some evangelical body rather than Co con-
 unue under independent relations is certainly iair 10 is simply inc right ol self-determInation in religious aHars which our constitution guar
 antoes to an of our citizens"