CHURCH

In lts most general sense, tu.a religious society founded and estal.i!ished by Jesus Christ, to receive, preserve, and propagate his doctrines and ordinances. E · A body or community of Christians,· united under one form of government by the profe ion of the same faith, and the observ· ance of the same ritual arid ceremonies. The term may denote either a society of persons who, profe ing Christianity, hold f 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 a emble for public worship. Baker v. Fales, G 16 Ma . 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. H The body of co=unicants gathered into church order, according to established usage in any town, parish, precinct, or religious society, established according to law, and actually con° nected and a ociated therewith for religious purposes, for the time being, is to be regarded I as the church of such society, as to all questions of property depending upon that relation. Stebbins v. Jennings, 10 Pick. (Ma .) 193. A congregational church 1s a voluntary a ociation of Christians united for discipline and worship, connected with, and forming a part of, some religi~us society, having a legal existence. J Anderson v. Brock, 3 Me. 24& In English ecclesiastical law. An institution established by the law 'of the land in reference to religion. 3 Steph. Comm. 54. The word "ehurch" is said to mean, in strictne , not the material fabric, but the cure K of souls and the right of tithes. 1 Mod. 201. -Church btµlding acts. Statutes pa ed 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 L Steph. Comm. 152-164.-0hurch 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 m· branch of Christ's church, and is also an imti- GIWETEBY. [s. 205]