473. Society, Bishop.—A society may expel a member on due notice and a fair trial. The refusal of the bishop to recognize a fraternity organized as a Roman Catholic society, does not prevent the society and its officers from exercising the powers of a religious corporation conferred by law nor prohibit its members from maintaining their religious worship.[832]
474. Priest, Doorkeeper, Policemen, Arrest.—A priest who was in charge of a parish and had control of the temporalities consisting of pew-rents, Sunday and other [pg 245] collections, graveyard, church, school, fees, and donations, on account of disorderly behavior of members issued tickets to those to be admitted and ordered a doorkeeper to prevent others from entering the church. A woman without a ticket and talking loudly, endeavored to force her way into the church, although there were several policemen on duty who attempted to stop her. She was arrested and her husband brought suit for false imprisonment. The court held that a clergyman has a right to keep disturbers out of the church and that the doorkeepers have a right to use sufficient force to carry out the orders of the priest; but when a doorkeeper went beyond those orders by causing the arrest of the woman, he was not acting within the apparent scope of his employment and the priest was not liable.[833]
475. Saloon, Church, License.—A man owned premises that had been occupied as a saloon from 1894. In 1896 the New York law prohibiting saloons to be licensed within 200 feet of a church, except places where liquor traffic had been carried on prior to that time, was passed. In 1898 a church was built within 200 feet of the saloon in question. After the building of the church, the saloon was vacated for about ten days [pg 246] during a change of saloonkeepers, and an action was brought to revoke the license of the new saloonkeeper. The court held that the incidental interruption of the business did not bring the place within the prohibition of the law, and that the license could not be revoked.[834]
476. Y. M. C. A.—The Y. M. C. A. on account of giving lunches, lectures, and having a gymnasium, for which charges are made, is not a charitable institution so as to be exempt from liability in case of negligence. Property is exempt only when used for exempt purposes exclusively.[835]
477. Students, Vote, Residence.—Students at a seminary studying for the priesthood do not thereby lose their residence at their homes and are not entitled to vote where a college is located. The fact that they intend to remain for four years, become clergymen, and then go to wherever they may be called, does not give them the right of residence, and there is no distinction between them and any other students away from home at school.[836] However, a student of full age might become a voter in the college [pg 247] precinct if he has no other fixed domicile.[837]
478. “My Wife, Anna Jones,” Divorce, Insurance.—A bequest or devise to “my wife, Anna Jones,” is not changed by a divorce without some evidence to prove that the testator did not intend his divorced wife to share in his estate, unless the judgment of divorce made a division of the property. The same is true of a policy of insurance or benefit certificate. However, there are exceptions that weaken the rule and make its application in some States uncertain.[838]
479. Bells, Sick, Injunction.—On the complaint of an injured person, a court will issue an injunction restraining the ringing of church, convent, or other bells, at unusual hours or when their noise is injurious to the sick, or when their vibration affects other premises. As the law of nuisances applies in such cases, an exact statement of when the court should issue the injunction or whether the injunction should be temporary or perpetual, can not be given; but when the personal or property rights of others [pg 248] are affected, an injunction may be granted. The fact that the bells are chimes or part of a clock does not change the rule.[839]
480. Marriage, Impediments, Recording.—Legal marriage may be contracted only between unmarried persons not related within the prohibited degrees of consanguinity or affinity, of lawful age and sufficient mental and physical capacity. Statutes vary greatly. In some States affinity is not considered a legal objection and first cousins may marry; in others, both are prohibited and other limitations of relationship, race, and color are fixed, and registration of the clergymen and licenses to wed are required. Also, the clergyman must report the marriage promptly to the proper office. Fines, penalties, and imprisonment are usually provided for violating the law. Informal marriages may or may not be voidable or void.[840]
481. Charivari, Wedding Pranks.—Charivari, assaults, and disorderly conduct are unlawful at all times, and can not be [pg 249] justified by custom.[841] A newly wedded man who was serenaded (charivaried) by his neighbors by firing guns, blowing horns, beating pans, rattling horse-fiddles, etc., after ordering the rioters off fired into the crowd and wounded one of them. On trial for assault with intent to kill, the groom was acquitted. Shooting might not be justifiable in cases where less potent agencies, such as a horsewhip or dogs, are sufficient, or where the immediate protection of person or property does not call for it. The law should be invoked when no exigency for force exists.[842]
482. Infallibility of Courts.—When a question of law at issue in a case is duly presented to a supreme court which is the court of last resort, its decision thereon becomes “the law of the case” and is thereafter binding upon the court itself and all the courts inferior to it; and no matter how often that identical case may come before the court on subsequent appeals, the questions already decided therein will not be reconsidered. It is interesting to compare this principle of our courts with Papal [pg 250] infallibility.[843] Courts do not always adhere to the rule.[844]