Chapter XV. Church Records
189. Evidence, Entries, Minutes.—The record of the proceedings of a religious society is evidence as to its doings, both in its own tribunals and the courts of the State. Such record consists of entries required to be made by the laws or rules of the society, the laws of the State, and the minutes adopted by the society. Therefore, it is of the greatest importance that it be kept with great exactness, omitting nothing that is important.[348] Also, the minutes of all the meetings should be correct before being duly adopted. All erasures and interlineations should be certified by the clerk and then signed by him.
190. Uniformity.—Every entry required to be kept by the laws of the State as well as the rules of the Church, should be kept as to births, marriages, and death. Every diocese should have uniform record books in all parishes and every pastor should keep blanks printed in the form of a page of the record book, to issue certificates when required.
191. Marriage, Death, Baptism, Birth, Church Records.—The church records duly kept in accordance with the discipline of the church, are admissible in evidence to prove marriage, death, and baptism. Where the record is incomplete, as giving the date of baptism only, it is not admissible in proof of date of birth. But if it gives the date of birth, it is prima facie proof thereof.[349]
192. Certified Copies.—Under statutes, certified copies of the record made by the custodian thereof are admissible in evidence in any case where the original would be admissible. Also, one who had compared a copy with the original record may testify to the same. The rule, as given, substantially prevails under statutes in the following States: Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin; and also, in Ontario, Manitoba, and the Dominion of Canada.
193. Rule of Admissibility.—A certified copy of the record of a baptism taken from a church register by the parish priest, when admissible at the place where such record is [pg 113] kept, as in Ireland, is admissible to prove the same fact in the State of Missouri.[350]
194. Proper Record.—A book kept by a minister, which contained a regular statement in proper form of the admission of members, choice of officers, and transaction of business of the church, which was the only book kept by the parish, is the proper record of the church.[351]
195. Name, Record.—The author would like to emphasize the importance of correct records. Frequently we find no Christian name given in the records of birth, which practically makes the record worthless. When a child is born it is entitled to a name, immediately, which should be given and be correct. At least the first Christian name should be correct; a mistake in a middle name is not material. This is true of deeds and records of all kinds, but practically of births, deaths, and marriages.[352]