CHURCH COURTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 1449, 3 October 1910, Page 5

CHURCH COURTS.

PRESBYTERIAN TRIBUNALS. NO RECOURSE TO CIVIL LAW. By Telegraph.—riess Association.—Copyright. Sydney, October 1. The Presbyterian General Assembly's committee on spiritual independence has presented its report on the position arising out of the case of Rov. Dr. Frackleton, of Brisbane, in which the High Court declared that, the Civil Court had the right to review any decision of the Church Court, and that the sentence passed on the Rev. Dr. Frackleton's action by the Queensland Presbyterian Assembly for appealing to the Civil Court was null and void. The committee submitted to the Assembly a declaration, which was adopted, setting out, inter alia, that the Lord Jesus, as King and Head of the Church, has appointed the government and jurisdiction in the hands of church officers, as distinct from Civil magistrates. With this distinct jurisdiction a Civil magistrate has no lawful right to interfere, or to assume to himself any authoritative control over the same ; that in all matters coming within the jurisdiction of the Church officebearers and members of the Church are bound to abide by the decision of the Church Courts,' and recourse to a Civil Court against a decision of the Church in these matters, or against the execution thereof, is excluded.