2 Mich. 115 | Mich. | 1851
Tin's ease was originally tried in the County Court of the County of Wayne. A verdict and judgment having been rendered in favor of the defendant, the plaintiff moved the record and proceedings to the Circuit Court of the same county hy writ of certiorari. The Presiding Judge thereupon reserved the questions of law, arising upon the record, for the advice of this Court.
The case is both novel and interesting, and it is to he regretted that the plaintiff in error did not appear, by counsel, and argue the various-questions upon which the judgment of that tribunal was invoked. It was the right of the defendant, however, to proceed exparte, and I shall have to declare the conclusions to which wo have come, without the aid of that light, which the learned counsel for the plaintiff might have shed hpon the questions involved in the controversy. It is proper to state' here, that it is not my purpose to notice in detail all the errors assigned upon the record’, but to confine myself to the elucidation of those points upon which the real merits of the case must turn. In- the voluminous proceedings before us it is quite manifest, that many questions arose and were decided by the Court below, either entirely irrelevant to the issue, or having little orno connection with the substantial merits of the case. These questions whether correctly or erroneously decided cannot influence ouir judgment provided the verdict can he supported hy the application of sound legal principles to the facts set forth in the record, and which are material to a full understanding of the rights of the parties. From an examination of the proceedings in the Court below, it appears, that the Rev. Mr. Haslinger, a Roman Catholic Priest, was the pastor of St. Mary’s Church, in the city of Detroit, hy appointment of the Bishop of the Diocese; that, as officiating Priest of St. Mary’s, he rented all
First, That the church to be erected on said lots should be used “ as a place of religious worship, and for the spiritual use, benefit and behoof of the German Roman Catholic Church Congregation, now in and about the city of Detroit; and of those who shall and may, from tíme to time, hereafter compose the German Roman Catholic Congregation, worshipping and to worship at St. Mary’s Church, on a part-of said above granted premises, according to the rites and ceremonies-of said Roman Catholic Church, and forming the said St. Mary's Church.”
Secondly, “ That they shall permit and suffer, whenever the said congregation shall wish so to do, a building to be erected and used and enjoyed, on a part of said above granted premises, as and for a school house for the use and benefit of the children and relations of those who compose, or who may, from time to time, hereafter compose the said congregation.”
Thirdly, That they shall permit and suffer, whenever the said congregation shall desire so to do, to be erected, used and enjoyed, on another part of said premises above granted, a house for the home and accommodation for the priest, who may from time to time, have charge of said congregation, and for no other purpose soever.”
Fourthly, “ And upon the further special trust that as soon as the said St. Mary’s church shall be fully completed, the said Antoine and: Monique may select and choose a pew in the said church, and have and
Fifthly, “ And upon the further special trusts, that the said Right Reverend Peter Paid Lefevre, at the time of the ensealing and delivery of these presents, do and shall covenant and agree for himself and for those after him, who are to have and. hold in trust the said above granted premises, as aforesaid; that after the fully completing said church, there shall be said and celebrated therein, according to the rites and ceremonies of said Roman Catholic Church, the masses following, to wit: an annual mass for the said Antoine Beaubien and Monique Beaubien during their and each of their natural lives, and after their deaths, yearly, a requiem mass for the soul of said Antoine, and for the soul of the deceased father of said Antoine, and also a yearly mass for the souls of the departed.”
The deed also provides that in the event of a vacancy in the office of Bishop, happening between the death of Bishop Lefevre and the appointment of his successor, the premises are to vest, during such vacancy, in the “Archbishop of said Roman Catholic Church of whom, at the time of the happening of such vacancy, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Detroit is then a suffragan, and with the Vicar General of such Archbishop, and the suffragan of them,” subject to the several trusts in said deed set forth and expressed. The deed also contains a covenant on the part of Bishop Lefevre accepting the trust, and agreeing “to adhere to and beep the trusts hereinbefore contained and declared;” It was shown that the plaintiff claimed the possession of pew 54, under a resolution of the trustees elected under the provisions of chapter 52. This resolution is dated 22d January, 1848. The proof further shows that Bishop Lefevre contributed about $3,600 towards the construction of the church.
Upon these facts the natural question in the case arises — Had the trustees, appointed under the provisions of chapter 52, the authority to rent pew 54 to the plaintiff; or, was this authority, either under the deed to Bishop Lefevre, or the rules for the government of the Roman Catholic Church, exclusively vested in the Rev. Mr. Haslinger, the pastor*?
In giving a construction to the deed, and in ascertaining the true intention' of the grantor — the duties to be performed by .the trustee— and the rights of the cestui que trusts, we shall, necessarily, be led to inquire, to some extent, into the rules of faith, and form of government of the Roman Catholic Church. The leading and primary object of the grant, was to secure to the Germans of the city of Detroit and its vicinity, professing the Roman Cotholic faith, a church in which to celebrate Divine Worship, according to the “ rites and ceremonies” of that church. By a stipulation entered into between the counsel of the parties respectively, it was agreed that the volume containing the decrees of the Provincial Council of Baltimore should be admitted as authentic and as evidence of decrees therein contained; and that the Provincial Council is the highest Ecclesiastical Judicatory of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States; and as such, has authority to prescribe decrees or laws as aforesaid, for the government and discipline of the church within its proper jurisdiction, and that the State and Diocese of Michigan are within its territorial limits; and it was further admitted, that the Canon law and the decrees of the Provincial Council in conformity therewith, constitute the rule of church government in the United States? so far as they are not controled by the municipal law. The standard authors on the Canon law, it was also agreed, might be read as evidence on the trial. . This stipulation, with others entered into between the parties, narrowed very much the field of discussion and enquiry. What then, appears from the evidence in the case, to bo the law of the church in respect to the control and possession of buildings consecrated and set apart for the celebration of Divine Worship, and administration of the Sacraments ? It is not my purpose to analyse all the testimony adduced on this point, but to separate from the mass, such portions as appear to bear more directly on the question. The Rev. Mr. Kenderkins, Yicar General of the diocese of Detroit and Professor in the Theological Seminary, stated that he was educated for the church — had
The defendant offered in evidence the acts of the 1st Provincial Council, from which he read the following decree: “Whereas, lay trustees have frequently abused the rights granted to them by civil authority, to the great detriment of religion and scandal of the faithful, we most earnestly desire that in future, no church be erected or .consecrated unless it be assigned by a •written instrument to the Bishop in whose diocese it is to be erected, for divine worship and use of the faithful, whenever it can be done.” This decree was passed in 1829, and was approved in 1830 by the Pontiff, or Council at Rome, of which he is the head. From the date of its ajrproval, Mr. Kenderkins states, it became obligatory on the Bishop, and upon the faithful. If disobeyed before promulgation by the faithful, they would not be deemed guilty of sin, being ignorant. The testimony in this case shows it was promulgated on the 20th April, 1843.
From the statutes of the diocese, a diocesan decree was read, as follows: “Adhering to 5th decree of 1st Provincial Council of Baltimore, we have decreed, that henceforth no church shall be built or consecrated in this diocese, unless previous to that, we shall be made the sole trustee and administrator thereof.” This decree was promulgated as early as 1841. Mr. Kenderkins further testified that the Bishop refused to recognize the church as Roman Catholic, or consecrate it, unless it was deeded to him in accordance with the laws for the government of the church. The testimony of Mr. Kenderkins touching the law and usages of the church, in respect to church property, was corroborated by other witnesses.
But my present purpose in adverting to the evidence on this branch of the case,, and to the verdict of the jury, is to enable me to pass a more enlightened opinion upon the .true interpretation of the deed from Mr. and Mrs. Beaubien to Bishop Lefevre.
Does the deed, then, upon its face, and construed with reference to the laws prescribed for the government of the Roman Catholic Church, contemplate that the legal estate and a continued possession of the St.. Mary’s church shall vest in the Bishop and his successors in office l And first, with respect to the deed. It does not simply vest property-in one person in trust' for, or for the use of another, but a trustee is* interposed for the purpose of executing certain things, specially pointed-out. In the language of the books the trustee is not the “mere passive depository of the estate,” but under the covenant in the deed, and the nature of the trusts, he “ is bound to exert himself actively in the execution of the settler’s intention.” The trustees elected under the State, are authorized to take into their possession and custody all the temporalities of the church. Such -possession is utterly inconsistent with the whole scope and object of the deed from Mr. and Mrs. Beaubien to the Bishop. It would put it in the power of the statutory trustees to prevent the execution, by the trustee appointed by the deed, of the intention of the donors. It is the duty of this Court so to construe the instrument as to enable the trastee to perform the duties, with which he has been entrusted, and the failure to perform which might either work a forfeiture of the estate, or render the trustee liable upon his covenant.
The execution of the legal powers with which trustees elected under the statute are clothed, would be in direct conflict with the execution of
The views I have expressed touching the construction of the deed from Mr. and Mrs. Beaubien to Bishop Lefevre and of the provisions of the statute, dispose of this case, and make it unnecessary to express any opinion respecting the validity of the organization by a portion of the congregation of St. Mary’s Church, by virtue of which the trustees undertook to assume the control of the church edifice. The question, however, is directly presented by the record, and it may subserve the interests of this church and restore harmony among the members, that the opinion of the Court should be made known upon that precise question. It was insisted in the -Court below, that any church might organize under the provisions of the statute, and that lay trustees elected pursuant thereto, might assume the control of the temporalities of the church, notwithstanding the administration of such temporalities is, by the form of government of the Roman Catholic Church, committed exclusively to the clergy. I cannot think this view of the statute is sound. It cannot be that in this country, where religions liberty is enjoyed and protected by constitutional enactments, the Legislature of this State intended to vest in lay trustees, a power which would close the doors of every Catholic chinch in the State. If I am to believe the testimony of witnesses, it is clear that when the control of the church edifice is wrested from the clergy and placed in the hands of laymen, it ceases from that instant, to be a Roman Catholic Chiu-ch. This must
A congregation, professing to be Roman Catholic, must not only hold the same faith, but must render submission to the government and discipline of the church of which it is a-branch. Obedience to the laws of a church by its members, is as" essential to its harmony and existence as obedience to the municipal laws is essential to good order and the existence of civil government. The duty of every member, connected with a church, to uphold and submit to its government and discipline is self-imposed; and if the obligations, voluntarily assumed, become burdensome, or his opinions undergo a change, he is at liberty to withdraw, in the mode prescribed by its constitution or laws. But no member of a church has the right to thrust upon his fellow members articles of faith to which his assent has never been given, or prescribe rules for the government of the society to which he never submitted. These principles, so obviously just and reasonable, could not have been overlooked by the legislature in adopting the chapter relating to religious societies; and it will now be my endeavor to show that the statute contains no provision in conflict with these principles.
The first section, makes it lawful for all persons of full age belonging to any church, congregation~or religious society, to assemble at the church or place where they statedly attend Divine worship, and to elect not less than three nor more than nine trustees to take charge of the estate and property belonging to such church.
The second section, confers upon such church, congregation or religions society the authority to choose their minister to be the president of the corporation. It is manifest that many churches could not become incorporated under the provisions of these sections, without violating the constitution or usages prescribed for their government. For instance, the temporalities of churches in connection with the Protestant Episcopal Church of the U. S. are administered by Wardens and Vestrymen; now it is clear, that under these sections there could be no capacity to establish
Prom a careful examination of the statute, therefore, I am led to the conclusion that its provisions are not mandatory, butpermjssive, and that no church-can become incorporated, provided the powers conferred by the statute upon the corporators, is by the constitution, laws, or usages of the church, lodged in another body. If it be true, as the jury have' found, that the powers conferred upon trustees by the statute, are by the constitution, laws, or usages of the Roman Catholic Church, exercised , by the Bishop of each Diocese, or under him, by his Vicar General, or Pastor of a particular chinch, then under the provisions of section 23, such Bishop, or Vicar General, or Pastor, may become incorporated, and the powers exercised by them in their capacities as Bishop, Vicar General, or Pastor, by virtue of the laws or usages of the church, would be exercised by them as a corporation. The administration of the temporalities of the chinch would be committed to the same persons, deriving however, then powers from different sources. If then, in the language of the statute, the constitution, rules, and usages of the Roman Catholic Chinch, constitute then minister or ministers trustees, clothed with the powers conferred upon them by statute, then it would seem to follow, that tile powers claimed by the lay trustees, chosen under section 1, to administer the temporalities of St. Mary’s Church, cannot be upheld, for the reason, that the statute declares that those powers are to be exer- ' cised by a distinct body of men. Their acts would be as nugatory as those of a minister of the Presbyterian Church, who might become incorporated under section 23. The attempt on the part of any such minister to execute the powers conferred by statute upon religious corporations, would be irregular, because by the constitution of the Presbyterian Chinch those powers are conferred upon laymen, whose exclusive right it is, to administer the temporalities of the church, and who^ alone can become incorporated under section 1.
In this, as in cases of a like nature, involving the right to control real estate, granted or devised for religious purposes, Courts do not enter the wide field of theological discussion, for the purpose of determining the soundness or orthodoxy of the faith professed by any denomination of Christians. In a contest between persons, touching the control of church property, it frequently becomes necessary to determine what are the tenets, and what the discipline of a particular church, in order to give full and complete effect to the benevolent intentions of those who dedicate their property to religious or charitable objects. This is the line which indicates the boundaries of our powers.
In the ease before us, the principal object of the giant was to secure the erection of a Roman Catholic Chinch, for the Germans of this city and vicinity, in which divine service was tobe celebrated according, to its-rites and ceremonies. The grantors manifestly intended that the church to be erected should be a branch of the parent stock; united to it by a common faith, and by those rules which are prescribed by the highest judicatory for its government and discipline. Any act of the congregation by which a faith different from that taught by the Church is promulgated, or any attempt to overthrow its government, would be to defeat the intention of the donors; and the powers of a court of equity might be successfully invoked for the purpose of administering the trust according to the true intention of the donors. It is not sufficient, to preserve the connection between St. Mary’s and the mother church, that there should be a mere identity of religious faith or belief, but its members are bound to submit to the discipline ánd government to which they have impliedly pledged submission and obedience.
From the views I have taken of the legal rights of the parties under the deed, and of the statute relating to religious societies, it does not become necessary to examine other questions in the Court below,- as
It must be certified to the Circuit Court of the county of Wayne, as the opinion of this Court, that the judgment of the County Court .should be affirmed.