Case Name: The People of the State of New York ex rel. Wayman D. P. Wilson, Appellant, v. The African Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church, Respondent
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1913-04-30
Citations: 156 A.D. 386
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York ex rel. Wayman D. P. Wilson, Appellant, v. The African Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 156
Pages: 386–389

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York ex rel. Wayman D. P. Wilson, Appellant, v. The African Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church, Respondent.
Second Department,
April 30, 1913.
Mandamus — practice —■ granting alternative writ does not determine merits—peremptory writ — ecclesiastical corporations — election of trustees — notices of election containing other matters:
An alternative writ of mandamus is in the nature of an order to show cause. It affects no substantial right because it determines nothing for. ' or against either party except questions as to -the jurisdiction of the court. The writ and return thereto are in substance pleadings upon which issues of fact or law arise according as there may be demurrers or denials of the facts alleged. Upon these pleadings the issues are to be determined, and no substantial right is affected until such determination. Hence, an alternative writ of mandamus cannot be quashed or set aside upon motion for any matter involving the merits.
Where affidavits presented in opposition to a motion for an alternative writ of mandamus are received without objection, and the questions involved are argued upon the merits before the Special Term and upon appeal to the Appellate Division, the proceeding may be treated as an application for a peremptory writ.
An ecclesiastical corporation will not be compelled by mandamus to call a new meeting for the election of trustees on the sole ground that the notice of the prior meeting which was in accordance with the statute also contained a notice that a class meeting would’ be held on the same day in connection with the meeting for election of trustees, there being nothing to show that the rights of any persons entitled to attend were affected.
Mandamus does not lie to review the validity of a corporate election.
Appeal by the relator, Wayman D. P. Wilson, from an order of the Supreme Court, made at the Kings County Special Term and entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Kings on the 18th day of March, 1913.
Francis F. Giles, for the appellant.
Julius L. Mitchell [Wilfred H. Smith with him on the brief], for the respondent.

Opinion:
Burr, J.:
Upon a petition signed by him, but not verified, and on three accompanying affidavits, relator gave notice to respondent that he would apply at a Special Term of the Supreme Court for an alternative writ of mandamus requiring The African Wesleyan Methodist Episcopal Church and its pastor to call a corporate meeting of all of the members of said church for the purpose of electing trustees of said'corporation to succeed those whose terms of office expired January 6, 1913, and for such other and further relief as may be just. Upon the date specified in said notice respondent appeared and submitted seven affidavits in opposition to said motion, and the court thereupon proceeded to determine the matter upon the merits. From an order denying the application, relator appeals.
If this could be considered as an application for an alternative writ of mandamus, it may be that the order should be reversed. An alternative writ of mandamus may be granted without previous notice of the application, unless the court otherwise requires. (Code Civ. Proc. § 2067.) Issue in such a proceeding is joined, not by affidavits, but by the filing of a return in the office of the clerk of the county designated in such writ, within twenty days after service thereof, or by a demurrer thereto. (Id. § 2072, 2074, 2078.)
An alternative writ of mandamus is in the nature of an order . to show cause. It does not affect a substantial right, because it determines nothing against the respondent or in favor of the relator except questions as to the jurisdiction of the court. The writ and the return' constitute in. substance-pleadings upon which issues of 'law or of fact will arise, accordingly as there may be demurrers to or denials of the facts alleged. Upon those pleadings the issue, whatever it may be, will be determined, and until súch determination no substantial right of any party is affected.. (People ex rel. Ackerman v. Lumb, 6 App. Div. 26; People ex rel. Levenson v. O'Donnel, 99 id. 253; People ex rel. Ruman v. National Slavonic Society, 144 id. 674.) An alternative writ of mandamus cannot be quashed or set aside upon motion for any matter involving the merits. (Code Civ. Proc. § 2075.) As we have pointed out, affidavits were presented in opposition to the motion; they were received without objection, and without objection the questions involved were argued upon the merits at Special Term, and again upon the hearing of the appeal in this court. This could only be upon the ground that relator waived his application for an alternative writ of mandamus, and, under his general application for "other and further relief," sought to sustain the pro7 ceeding as an application for a peremptory writ. So considered, this order must be affirmed.
Eelator attacks the validity of a meeting for the election of trustees of the respondent, held on January 6,1913, upon the ground that in connection with the notice given of the corporate meeting an additional notice was given that a class meeting would be held on the same date in connection therewith. The notice of the corporate meeting, which was made a part of the record, is strictly in accordance with the statute (Rel. Corp. Law [Consol. Laws, chap. 51; Laws of 1909, chap. 53], §. 194), and makes no reference to such joint meeting. Even if it were the fact that both meetings were called for the same hour and at the same place, this would not affect the regularity of the corporate meeting unless the rights of some persons entitled to attend and participate, therein were affected. This does not appear to be the case. In his brief the learned counsel for the appellant attacks the validity of the election for trustees, concededly held at such meeting. It is a sufficient answer to objections made upon this ground to say that this is not a summary proceeding to review a corporate election. (Gen. Corp. Law [Consol. Laws, chap. 23; Laws of 1909, chap. 28], § 32.) Mandamus is not an appropriate remedy to review such a proceeding. (People ex rel. Putzel v. Simonson, 61 Hun, 338.)
The order should be affirmed, with ten dollars costs- and disbursements.
Jenks, P. J., Thomas, Carr and Rich, JJ., concurred.
Order affirmed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements.