church

A society of persons who profess the Christian religion. 7 Halst. (N. J.) 206, 214; 10 Pick. (Mass.) 193; 3 Ea. St. 282; 31 Pa. St. 9; 9 Barb. (N. Y.) 95. The place where such persons regularly assemble for worship. 3 Tex. 288; 9 Barb. (N. Y.) 95; 160 111. 579.

A society of persons who pro- 10 Pick. (Mass.) 193; German Reformed Church v. Com., 3 Pa. 282; St. Johns Church v. Hanns, 31 Pa. 9. The place where such persons regularly assemble for worship. Blair v. Odin, 3 Tex. 2S8. The term church includes the chancel, aisles, and body of the church. Hamm. N. P. 204; Blair v. Odin, 3 Tex. 288. By the English law, the terms church or chapel, and church-yard, are expressly recognized as in themselves correct and technical descriptions of the building and place, even in criminal proceedings; 8 B. & C. 25; 1 Salk. 256; 11 Co. 25 b; 2 Esp. 5, 28. Burglary may be committed in a church, at common law; 3 Cox, Cr. Cas. 581. The church of England is not a corporation aggregate; but the church in any particular place is so considered, for the purposes at least of receiving a gift of lands; Town of Pawlet v. Clark, 9 Cra. (U. S.) 292, 3 L. Ed. 735; Lockwood v. Weed, 2 Conn. 287; Stone v. Griffin, 3 Vt. 400; Wilson v. Presbyterian Church, 2 'Rich. Eq. (S. C.) 192. See Rice v. Osgood, 9 Mass. 44;, Sawyer v. Baldwin, 11 Pick. (Mass.) 495; Proprietors of Town of Shapleigh v. Pilsbury, 1 Greenl. (Me.) 288; Blair v. Odin, 3 Tex. 288; African Methodist Bethel Church v. Carmack, 2 Md. Ch. Dec. 143. As to the right of succession to glebe lands, see Terrett v. Taylor, 9 Cra. (U. S.) 43, 3 L. Ed. 650; Town of Pawlett v. Clark, 9 Cra. (U. S.) 292, 3 L. Ed. 735; Mason v. Muncaster, 9 Wheat. (TJ. S.) 468, 6 L. Ed. 131; or other church property, see Wheaton v. Gates, 18 N. Y. 395. As to the power of a church to make by-laws, etc., under local statutes, see Com. v. Cain, 5 S. & R. (Pa.) 510; German Reformed Church v. Com., 3 Pa. 282; Vestry of St. Luke's Church v. Mathews, 4 Des. (S. C.) 578, 6 Am. Dec. 619: Perrin v. Granger, 30 Vt. 595; Farnsworth v. Storrs, 5 Cush. (Mass.) 412. Acquiescence in and use of a constitution for over 50 years makes it valid and binding on the society; Schlichter v. Keiter, 156 Pa. 119, 27 Atl. 45, 22 L. R. A. 161; Bear v. Heasley, 98 Mich. 279, 57 N. W. 270, 24 L. R. A. 615. See Religious Society. A municipal corporation may stipulate, under its charter authority to contract for a water supply, that churches be furnished with water free of charge; Independent School Dist. of Le Mars v. Water & Light Co., 131 la. 14, 107 N. W. 944, 10 L. R. A. (N. S.) 859. In a statute limiting the height of buildings the exception of churches does not deprive owners of private property of the equal protection of the laws; Cochran v. Preston, 108 Md. 220, 70 Atl. 113, 23 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1163, 129 Am. St. Rep. 432, 15 Ann. Cas. 1048.

In its most general sense, tue religious society founded and established by Jesus Christ, to receive, preserve, and propagate his doctrines and ordinances. A body or community ot Christians, united under one form of government by the profession of the same faith, and the observance of the same rituui and ceremonies. The term may denote either a society of persons who, professing Christianity, hold certain doctrines or observances which differentiate them from other like groups, and who use a common discipline, or the building in which such persons habitually assemble for public worship. Baker v. Fales, 16 Mass. 498; Tate v. Lawrence, 11 Heisk. (Tenn.) 531; In re Zinzow, 18 Misc. Rep. 653, 43 N. Y. Supp. 714 ; Neale v. St. Paul's Church, 8 Gill (Md.) 116; Gaff v. Greer, 88 Ind. 122, 45 Am. Rep. 449; Josey v. Trust Co., 106 Ga. 608, 32 S. E. 628. The body of communicants gathered into church order, according to established usage in any town, parish, precinct, or religious society, established according to law, and actually connected and associated therewith for religious purposes, for the time being, is to be regarded as the church of such society, as to ali questions of property depending upon that relation. Stehi bins v. Jennings, 10 Pick. (Mass.) 193. A congregational church is a voluntary association of Christians united for discipline and worship, connected with, and forming a part of, some religious society, having a legal existence. Anderson v. Brock, 3 Me. 248.

In English ecclesiastical law. An institution established by the law of the land in reference to religion. 3 Steph. Comm. 54. The word "church" is said to mean, in strictness, not the material fabric, but the cure of souls and the right of tithes. 1 Mod. 201.

— Church building acts. Statutes passed in England in and since the year 1818, with the object of extending the accommodation afforded by the national church, so as to make it more commensurate with the wants of the people. 3 Steph. Comm. 152-164.

— Church discipline act. The statute 3 & 4 Viet. c. 86, containing regulations for trying clerks in holy orders charged with offenses against ecclesiastical law, and for enforcing sentences pronounced in such cases. Phillim. Ecc. Law, 1314.

— Church of England. The church of England is a distinct branch of Christ's church, and ls also an iristitution of the state, (see the first clause of Magna Charta,) of which the sovereign is the supreme head by act of parliament, (26 Hen. VIII. c. 1,) but in what sense is not agreed. The sovereign must be a member of the church, and every subject is in theory a member. Wharton. Pawlet v. Clark, 9 Cranch, 292, 3 I. Bid. 735.

— Church rate. In English law. A sum assessed for the repair of parochial churches by the representatives of the parishioners in vestry assembled.

— Church reeve. A church warden; an overseer of a church. Now obsolete. Cowell.

— Church-scot. In old English law. Customary obligations paid to the parish priest; from which duties the religious sometimes purchased an exemption for themselves and their tenants.

— Church wardens. A species of ecclesiastical officers who are intrusted with the care and guardianship of the church building and property. These, with the rector and vestry, represent the parish in its corporate capacity.

— Churchyard. See Cemetery.

A house appropriated to Christian worship and the performance of religious services; a body or community of Christians, united under one form of government by the profession of the same faith, and the observance of the same ritual and ceremonies.

In English ecclesiastical law. An institution established by the law of the land in reference to religion; a benefice, which includes the glebe, parsonage and tithes; in strictness, not the edifice, but the cure of souls and the right of tithes. Church building' acts: statutes passed in England in and since the year 1818, to extend the accommodation afforded by the national church. Church rate: a rate imposed upon the parishioners of a parish for the repairs of the church. Church reeve: a church warden; an overseer of a church. Church wardens: guardians, overseers or keepers of the church. Parochial officers annually appointed by the parish, whose province it is to take care of the church, that is, to see to the repairs of the church, and to have the care of the goods belonging to it

In its most general sense, the religious society founded and established by Jesus Christ, to receive, preserve, aud propagate his doctrines and ordinancea., A body or community of Christians, united under one form of government by the profession of the same faith, and the obseryance of the same ritual and ceremonies. The term may denote either a socicty of persons who, professing Christianity, hold ‘yho use a common discipline, or the building in which such persons habitually assemble for public worship. The body of communicants gathered into church ~rder, according to established usage in any town, garish, precinct, or religious gociety, established according to law, and actually connected and assoelated therewith for religious purposes, for the time being, is to be regarded as the church of such ‘society, as to all questions of property depending upon that relation. 10 Pick. 193. See, also, 3 Me. Babe. A congregational church is a voluntary association of Christians united for discipline and worahip, connected with, and forming a part of, some religious society, having a legal existence. 3 Mo, "24S.

In English eeclesiastical law. An institudion established by the Jaw of the land in reference to religion. 38 Steph. Comm. 54. The word “chureh” is said to mean, in strictness, not the material fabrie, but the eure of souls and theright of tithes. 1 Mod. 201.

[Sax. cyric, ciric, circ; Lat. ecclesia; Fr. esglise.'] An edifice appropriated to Christian worship and the performance of religious services.* A house consecrated to the worship of God among Christians. Webster. In English ecclesiastical law, a church is otherwise called a benefice, and includes the glebe, parsonage and tithes. 1 Crabb's Heal Prop. 77, § 90. To entitle a place of worship to be adjudged a church in law, it must have administration of the sacraments and sepulture annexed to it. 2 Inst 363. 1 Wooddes. Lect. 188. See Ecclesia. A body or community of Christians, united under one form of government by the profession of the same faith, and the observance of the same ritual and ceremonies.* Webster.

In English ecclesiastial law. An institution established by the law of the land in reference to religion. 3 Steph. Com. 54. For the American law under this head, see U. S. Digest, Church. U. S. Ann. Dig. 1847, 1848, h. t.

In a moral or spiritual sense, this word signifies a society of persons who profess religion; and in a physical or material sense, the place where such persons assemble. It is not within the plan of this work to give an account of the different local regulations in the United States respecting churches. References are here given to enable the inquirer to ascertain what they are, where such regulations are known to exist. 2 Mass. 500; 3 Mass. 166; 8 Mass. 96; 9 Mass. 277; Ib. 254; 10 Mass. 323; 15 Mass. 296; 16 Mass. 488; 6 Mass. 401; 10 Pick. 172; 4 Day C. 361; 1 sae 3, 440; Kirby, 45; 2 Caine’s Cas. 336; 10 John. 217; 6 John. 85; 7 John. 112; 8 John. 464; 9 John. 147; 4 Dessaus. 578; 5 Serg. & racter, by which some number is noted; a figure, for example, 1776. Ciphers ought not to be used to express the sums mentioned in a contract; but it is usual to date all simple contracts with ciphers; deeds and writs should be dated by words at length. Vide Figures, and 13 Vin. Ab. 210; 18 Eng. C. L. R. 95; 1 Ch. Cr. Law, 176.