Caul v. Gibson , 1846 Pa. LEXIS 138 ( 1846 )

Burnside, J.

This action was originally instituted before a justice of the peace, on 'the following subscription :—

“We, the subscribers, do hereby, each and severally, agree and bind ourselves, by these presents, to pay the sums affixed to our respective names, unto Francis Gibson, Bernard McGee, and Dennis C. Caul, or such other persons as may be chosen by a majority of the members of St. Joseph’s Catholic church of Milton, as a building committee for the erection of a new Catholic church in the borough of Milton. One-half of the respective amounts to be paid when the said building is commenced, the balance when the building is raised and covered in.

“ Milton, Northumberland county, Penna.,” &c.

The record returned shows that the defendant below caused one hundred dollars to be subscribed; that the congregation determined on the site of the building; and that the church has been erected. This action was brought after the building was commenced, for the first half of Caul’s subscription.

The bills of exceptions to evidence have been but faintly urged. There was no error in them. The ground taken by the counsel of the plaintiff in error, seriously urged, is, that there is no consideration proven, and therefore the plaintiffs cannot recover; and the court were so requested to instruct the jury, but refused to give this instruction; but instructed the jury, that if they believed the evidence, there is a sufficient consideration to entitle the plaintiffs to recover; and in this we all think the court was clearly right.

When the inhabitants of a village or neighbourhood sign a subscription authorizing the building of a church for the public worship of God, and the persons so authorized proceed to erect the house, there is a moral obligation in all the subscribers to fulfil their engagements. A moral obligation has ever been held a sufficient consideration to support an express promise, but not an implied one. Archbold’s Nisi Prius, 19; 49 Law Lib. 54. The erection of a church is of value to all who worship in it. It is not an illegal act, but one that is meritorious, such as becomes a Christian people. All Christian communities are alike under the protection of the law. Our constitution and laws make no distinction. They give no preference to any religious denomination. I think that subscriptions to all kinds of Christian churches, school-houses, academies and colleges, when the buildings are erected in pursuance of the subscription, the highest moral duty is placed on the subscribers to faithfully fulfil their engagements. ■ ■

The judgment is affirmed.,