The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-24
A HINT FOR MASONS.

PASTOR DELIBERATELY DEFIEs HIS CoNGRE-
CATION IN REGARD TO MAsoNRY-HE DOES
NOT BELIEVE IN SECRET SOCIETIES.
The members Of the several Evangelical denom!.
nations in Brooklyn have been sorely exercised
during the past week over the sudden action Of
the Lutheran church OF Sc Paul in deposng their
pastor the Rev. Frederick Koerner, Monday
night last after q very excited meeting Of the
congregation. warm but increasing contro.
versy had been going on between the pastor and
his people since last spring; but the sudden action
Of the meeting has surprised every one, and the
questions involved and proceedings, legal aud
otherwise, likely TO arse therefrom, though not
.overshadowing the scandal, occupy full share Of
public attention.
brief resume will place the matter In Its true
light and lead to a thorough understanding OF the
consequent movements promised.
The Lutheran Synod Of Missouri, from which
Mr.. Koerner came three years ago. adopted as It's
platform an absolute hostility to all secret socie.
ties. In reference secret societies 1t instructed
the preacher who entered new fields and organ.
lied new churches, to vigorously protest against
them and decline to admit to membership u tue
church members Of any order.
In May last, at q meeting Of the officers OF the
church, it was decided TO give the children OF the
SUNDAY school a picnic, az which music should be
q prominent feature. Mr. kOerner protested first
against music, put It was carried almost unani.
mously to nave band Inc subject OF allowing
the vote was tie. The pastor then denounced
dancing as q SIN aud soul destroying evil The
German love or TerpsIchorean exercise was
aroused AT this, and almost all desired to change
that vote, so that IN lew minutes IT was
unanimously decided that dancing should be al
lowed. The breac0 thus created between the
shepherd and his flock has kept on increasing.
The shepherds next step was TO insist that. i9.
stead OF open confession OF slips or backslIdinks
made In open meeting, coupled with requests Tor
prayer, private conuding or trouole, uoubtlngs
and bacEsltdings should be made privately TO him.
This institution OF auricular concession In dis.
sentng church literally set the people BY the ears,
and It only needed little finder TO inaugurate
connagration.
The eruption came two weeks ago In q refusal
to administer the communion to q Mr.. Claus
WrediD, inasmucn as be was Mason. Mr.. Wredln
insisted tnat Masonry did not interfere with mis-
integrity as member OF the church, Dut his
pastor insisted that as Mason he prayed with y
Jew, was IN his Order the equal OF q Mohammedan.
and therefore could not address his s1ppllcatlons
TO Trlune God. The dispute growing warm, com.
promise was effected by the admission or MIR.
Wredin to communion ON the ground OF his ig-
nOrance that there was any wrong IN Masonry
The congregation called o meeting OF the OH.
GERS oil the church. At the meeting 1t was de.
clded that O minister must administer the sacra.
ment TO any member or the church, without
reference to his society connections. Mr.. Koerner
dec med to abide by this decision. and o meeting
OF tbs congregation was therefore called to adjust
the diniculty.
when the acton OF the church officers was iully
sustained by the society. Mr.. Koerner became
very much excited. lie reprenended the action
OF MS parlshiOners and perempt0rily declined to
ton or discharge was ADOPTED and three mouths
salary was voted to him, as compliance with
section OF the Church Discipline" that no mints.
ter shall be removed, set aside or deposed without
1t IL understood that Mr.. Koerner will be legally
advised "a to this action.