Bowden v. M'Leod

The Vice-Chancellor. Before I proceed to examine the grounds upon which the injunction is asked for in this case, I deem it necessary to state how far the court of chancery can take cognizance of a case relating to a religious corporate body, and .to show upon what principles and to what end its jurisdiction can be invoked. The reformed presbyterian church or congregation in Chambers Street is a corporate body. It was originally founded for religious and charitable purposes ; and incorporated by a law of the state. The property or temporalities are to be managed by persons constituting the consistory; who are also trustees. Now, over them and the property, considering it as a trust estate, this court has jurisdiction. It will interfere to prevent any abuse of the trust; can compel the trustees, in other words, the consistory, to discharge their duties fairly with respect to the property ; has power to remove them, if found necessary; will preserve the temporalities and appropriate them to the original object of the institution—in short, see that the trusts are faithfully performed and executed. It is to this end the power, which is a common law one and inherent in the court, is used. Besides this, it has powers conferred by statute over corporations and their directors and managers; 2. R. S. 462. and 466 ; but those statutory powers do not extend to religious corporations. [592] Except in connection with the property and temporalities' of,a religious society, whether incorporated or not, and upon the principle just stated, this court has no jurisdiction and cannot interfere. It has nothing, immediately, to do with their spiritual concerns, church government, discipline, faith, doctrines or modes of worship. These are matters which are to-be left to the regulation of their own peculiar tribunals and the' ecclesiastical judicatories of each church. Nor will this court interfere to restrain the free exercise of religion in any man according to the dictates of his own conscience. It disclaims" all such power and authority. And yet, it must be admitted, there are cases in which this court has power to enquire into tenets openly and publicly expressed in reference to the place in which they are promulgated. The task may be a difficult and painful one;' but equity can do this, whenever called upon (in connection with it) to execute or administer a trust. As, for instance, where a religious society is formed, a place of worship provided and either by the will of the founder, the deed of trust through which the title is held or by the charter of incorporation, a particular doctrine .is to be preached in the place and the latter is to be devoted to such particular doctrine and service. In Such a case, it is not in the power of the trustees of the congregation to depart from what is thus declared to be the object of the foundation or original formation of the institution and teach new doctrines and set up a new mode of worship there. At least, this cannot be done without the consent of all the members of the church or congregation, because it would be an infraction of the will of the founder, be contrary to the spirit of the deed or act of incorporation and a perversion of the original object and design of its institution. Upon the complaint of any party aggrieved, it may be made the duty of this court to enquire into the doctrines taught: with a view to ascertain whether there is such a departure and to restrain and bring them back to the original principles of faith and doctrine, if they will continue to worship in that place. This has been- repeatedly done by the court of chancery in England ; [593] see Davis v, Jenkins, 3. Ves. & B. 151; Attorney Gen. v. Pearson, 3. Meriv. 353 ; and Foley v. Wontner, 2. Jac.& W. 245. In the last mentioned case, the doctrines which originally, by agreement were to have been inculcated were not adhered to by all the congregation; for some of the members had changed their religioús opinion. Lord Eldon acknowledged the difficulty of acting in such a case: yet he took it to be settled, by a case in the house of lords on an appeal from Scotland, that the chapel or place of worship must remain devoted to the doctrines originally agreed on. It is to be observed, there is nothing in the exercise of this power to restrain the liberty of conscience. Those who change their opinions can secede and form a new congregation or society and worship elsewhere in the way which may best comport with their own religious belief. Having thus explained the views which I entertain of the jurisdiction and authority of this court in relation to these matters, I proceed to examine the grounds on which it is sought to bring the present case under its cognizance. The first ground alleged in the original bill is, the obtaining the special act of incorporation, contrary to the established doctrine of the church. Much has also been said as to the impropriety of the manner in which it was obtained. This ground entirely fails the complainants. It is shown there was no impropriety in it. The affidavits expressly, aver its being procured with the consent of the elders and deacons and that the complainants themselves were instrumental in obtaining the act of incorporation. But, even were it otherwise, still this court could not interfere. It was an act of the legislature ; granting a franchise : which cannot be disturbed, except upon a violation of its terms. If it has. been improperly obtained, the remedy must be found elsewhere. The next ground is, that the Rev. John N. AI’Leod was permitted to officiate as minister by the authority of the defendants1 against the will and remonstrance of the complainants. It is contended that he, from having been suspended by the direction of the eastern synod, could not lawfully be permitted to [594] officiate or be a trustee, in oilier words, one of the consistory j and that, consequently, it was necessary for this court to in- , - . , . J teriere in relation to the temporalities. With regard to the suspension : much depends upon the effect of it. One party says it is irregular; that it operates' against Mr. John M. M’Leod only as clerk of the sub-synod, and not as minister; that it was a resolution and not a sentence ; and that it has been disapproved of and regarded as a nullity by the western presbytery to which he belonged, as well as by the Philadelphia presbytery under whom the church, was subsequently placed. It is also shown to be in a train of investigation before the higher judicatories of the church. On the other hand, it appears that the suspension has been approved of by the southern presbytery within the bounds of 'which the church was contained; and that it has justified the complainants in adhering to and being governed by this act of the synod. Under these circumstances and seeing that the result of the investigations in the higher ecclesiastical tribunals is yet uncertain, it can hardly be expected of this court to come to a decision upon them now. As these are questions of church government and discipline, it is proper and discreet in the court to wait for the final result of the investigation. It will then be fully competent to decide on the matters. Another subject, which has given rise to much discussion, is the pastoral letter, published in phamphlet form. I shall not go into this enquiry at present, nor attempt to settle the ques. lions arising from it. It is unnecessary for the purposes of the 'present motion. When I recur to the circumstances before noticed and look to the matters of the supplemental bill, I am confirmed in tide opinion that I must wait the result of the higher judicatories of the reformed presbyterian church before I undertake to decide definitely whether John N. M’Lood is to be regarded as one of the regular consistory and a trustee and also whether his adherents in the consistory have forfeited their right to be thus regarded. The general synod, when they convene, must certainly possess competent authority to correct whatever abuses [595] or irregularities may have occurred in any part of these transactions. I can only lament, in common with the friends of religion every where, that such things should have happened. The cause of religion generally suffers by such feuds and schisms. It is to be hoped that when these matters come to be investigated, where I shall leave them for the present, the parties now before me may forget their asperities towards each other and be again united, as they have hitherto been, in the bonds of Christian fellowship. In the mean time I shall interfere to a certain extent. Under the present circumstances it is not right that one party should have the entire use of. the temporalities of the church to the exclusion of the other. So long as they continue to disagree and until the questions which agitate this congregation can be determined by the general synod, I shall order that the complainants and their adherents bo permitted to use and occupy the church one half of the time, that is, alternately with the defendants and their adherents; that each be at liberty to employ such person to officiate as minister as they mayjhiak proper ; and that the defendants be enjoined from disturbing the complainants in such use and enjoyment of the temporalities of the church. And, if necessary, a receiver of the. income and pew rents can be appointed, to be held subject to the further order of the court.