SPIRITUAL INDEPENDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 149, 3 October 1910, Page 5

SPIRITUAL INDEPENDENCE

CHURCH AND STATE. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright. Sydney, October 1. The Presbyterian Genera' Assembly committee on spiritual independence presented a report on the po*:tioi arising out of the case of the Rev. Mr. Fraoldeton, of Brisbane, wh<n<in the High Court declared that a civil court bad the right to review any deoion of a Church court, and that the sentence passed on Mr. Frackbton by the Queensland Presbyterian Assembly was, on bis appealing to a civil court, declared null and void. The committee submitted to the Assembly a declaration, which it 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 Cbufeh officers as distinct from. the civil magistrate. With this distinct jurisdiction the civil magistrate has no lawful rigb.t to interfere or to assume to himself any authoritative control over the same. That in all matters coming within the jurisdiction of the Church, office-bearers and membfirs of the Church are bound to abide by the decision of the Church courts. Recourse to a civil court against the decision pf the Church on these matters or against the execution thereof is excluded. A declaration was also carried affirming the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia as the supreme legislative, administrative and judicial court of the Church. It possesses extraordinary jurisdiction and the inherent and supreme organising authority commonly known as "nobile offickan.'