19 Wash. 455 | Wash. | 1898
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This action was brought to foreclose a mortgage on certain lots in the city of Seattle. The complaint alleges that the plaintiff was a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Hew York; that the defendant, the First Presbyterian Church, was a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Washington; that the defendant, Walter Morgan, was doing business as Walter Morgan & Co.; that on May 12, 1893, the First Presbyterian Church of Seattle made and executed, by proper authority of law, its mortgage on the
It is contended by the respondent that the demurrer was properly sustained for the reason, (1) that it appeared from the complaint that the cause of action — the consideration of the mortgage — was barred by the statute of limitation; (2) that the mortgage was void because of its covenants being contrary to public policy and in restraint of alienation; (3) because the time when the debt was supposed to become due was vague, uncertain and indefinite; (4) because there had been no breach of the conditions and no right to foreclose appeared. There are many answers to the first contention, viz., that the debt, which had been contracted several years before the mortgage was given, was barred by the statute of limitation, but it is necessary to mention only two. In the first place, a pleading of the statute of limitations is a privilege which is accorded by the law to the defendant — in this case the Presbyterian Church — and it can avail itself of that privilege, or answer upon the merits, or default, just as it pleases. It is not a right which defendant Walter Morgan can receive the benefit of. Second, it was not pleaded in the court below. The demurrer interposed was upon the ground and for the reason that the complaint did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. This is the sixth cause of demurrer which is specified by the statute. The seventh is that the action has not been commenced within the time limited by law. This objection may be taken by demurrer when it appears upon the face of the complaint. Otherwise it may be made by answer. But it is not comprehended within the sixth clause which provides for a demurrer when the complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, and the question cannot be raised under the sixth objection
The next contention is that the covenants of the mortgage were contrary to public policy and also in restraint of alienation. We do not think there is any alienation in this mortgage at all. It is true that where an estate is conveyed in fee simple, a proviso that the grantee shall not convey, or shall not convey without the consent of the grantor, is held to be void as a restraint upon alienation, because it is repugnant to the estate which has been created by the debt for the benefit of the grantee. But no estate was created by this mortgage. The title to> the land, both legal and. equitable, remained in the mortgagor.
We have examined the cases cited by the respondent, upon which he so confidently relies, and we do not think they are in point at all. The principal case, and one in which the authorities are collated, is DePeyster v. Michael, 6 N. Y. 467 (57 Am. Dec. 470). In that case there was a lease of lands in fee, and in addition to the annual rent the lessor reserved to himself, his heirs and assigns, the right to purchase the premises, in case the lessee, his heirs, etc., should choose to sell, on paying three-quarters of the price demanded, the lessee covenanting to make the first offer to the lessor, his heirs, etc., on those terms, but in case the offer should be declined, then the lessor reserved to himself, his heirs, etc., one-fourth part of all moneys which should
It is also contended that the mortgage is contrary to public policy, for the further reason that it provided that the debt should become due if the church should cease to be connected with the General Assembly; that this is a restraint upon religious belief, and a court of equity should not uphold such contract. "We do not see any merit in this contention. There is no restraint here upon any one’s religious belief. The board of church erection has a right to invest its money for the promotion and benefit of the Presbyterian churches in the United States, if it sees fit so to do. Presumably low rates of interest and liberal time are given by this association for the purpose of promoting the interests of the church, and favorable conditions are obtained which could not be obtained from any one else; and
The third objection is that the mortgage was void because the time when the debt was to become due was vague, uncertain and indefinite. We think this is a provision of the mortgage which the mortgagor cannot take advantage of. 2 Jones, Mortgages, §§ 1183-84-85. Where the debt is made payable upon the happening of a contingency and no time for payment is mentioned in the mortgage, the mortgage is good. Fetrow v. Merriwether, 53 Ill. 275; Belmont County Branch Bank v. Price, 8 Ohio St. 299; 3 Pomeroy, Equity Jurisprudence, § 1188.
It is in the fourth place contended by the respondent that no breach of the conditions of the mortgage has been shown, and that consequently a foreclosure could not be had. A number of authorities are cited by both appellant and respondent, as to when the legal title passes and as to whether the legal title to land passes upon the sale or upon the confirmation of sale. It was said by this court in some of the cases cited, notably Hays v. Merchants’ Bank, 10 Wash. 573 (39 Pac. 98), that the discussion of the title proposition was a discussion of a theory and did not affect the practical questions in that case; and so we think concerning that technical question here. This mortgage provides that in case the mortgaged premises be alienated or be abandoned as a house of worship by the party of the first part, except for the building or purchase of a better one, the mortgage
The judgment will be reversed.
Scott, C. J., and Gordon and Reavis, JJ., concur.
Anders, J., not sitting.