Court Ends Two-Year Mixed Seatin g; Controversy in Mt. Clemens Ruling that "it would be in- Although the court heard tes- consistent with religious liberty for a civil court to deal with ecclesiatical questions of which it has no special knowledge," a Mt. Clemens Court this week dismissed a case against Cong. Beth Tefilas Moses of that city. The case, which had been pending for two years, was brought by Baruch Litvin against the congregation, and demanded an injunction against mixed seating in the synagogue. timony by Rabbi David Hollan- der and Dr. Samson Weiss, rep- resenting the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of Amer! ica, the defense refused to tangle in a debate in a public court- room and, instead, asked that the case be dismissed. Charles Rubiner and Arthur Rubiner, attorneys for the de- fendant congregation, entered a statement in which they charged that "ecclesiastical (matters) should be relegated to, and de- cided by, ecclesiastical author. ities, or by laymen versed in matters of this nature." They added, "We are con- vinced that a public trial by a secular 'court will result in do- ing great violence to the dignity and respect which should sur- round a religious institution. "We feel that it would be far more in keeping with the dig- nity of a synagogue to allow a minority . . . to prevail against , the expressed wishes of the over- whelming majority and preserve self-respect, than for us, the majority, to prevail." The ruling magistrate, Judge Joseph Kane, of Port Huron, sitting on the Mt. Clemens Cir- cuit Court _ bench, held that "there is nothing in the con- stitution (of the synagogue) or the deed of the land to require that it 'be an Orthodox syna- gogue. Only the word Jewish is used, and, therefore,--a sec- ular court has no right to over- rule the board of directors on a religious question." Over two years ago, the board of Cong. Beth Tefilas Moses had voted to allow mixed seating in the synagogue. Action to pre- vent the measure was taken by Litvin and two others. One of the men opposed since has died, and the second lost interest, leaving Litvin in op- position to all other members of the congregation. Proved and approved around the world and now its here for you... the 58 FORD 58 FORD HERE TODAY One look tells you. there's nothing newer in the world! • • , ;:;« ,. . .,; % $X: ::SS . • !dr...1.46,4 ht