Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-15
LIVELY DEBAT ES
Closing Scenes Of the Lutheran Synod
Of Maryland
ANIMATED PASSAGES TODAY
The Conservative Element Wins
in the Final Controversies.
THE PROCEEDINGS TO-DAY

The session of the Maryland Lutheran
synod this morning, which was brought
to final adjournment at o'clock. was
opened by devotional exercises, conducted
by Rev. DR.. w. H. Gotwails vote by tell
ers was taken upon the election of three
dill ectors of the Theological Seminary, and
the Rev. c. S. Albert, Rev. P. H. Miller
and Mr.. l. c. Slater, the latter of this
city, were chosen to fill the vacancies.
While the tellers were engaged in tabu-
lating the votes which resulted as above
standing resolution was presented by
DR.. Studebaker, providing that in all cases
where a vote by ballot Is taken the vote
shall be declared by the president to be
closed after sufficient opportunity has
been offered to those entitled to vote to
deposit their ballot, and that no ballot
should be thereafter be received by the
tellers. This action was taken because
a ruling was made by President Butler
this morning that votes could be received
while the count of ballot was in progress.
The committee on the Woman's Home and
Foreign Missionary Society showed a total
membership of 1888, the largest enrolment
in its history, and marked increase Of
spirituality and unity among the members.
Last years receipts were S3.3S1.50. Boxes
valued at S1,i55.S5 were sent to mission
aries. Pastors were asked to set apart
Il Jay LOT women Work. lie committee
recommended the passage of resolution
which in the preamble declared that the
work of the organization had been a most
valuable supplement to the board, and that
the women's societies were not less vaua
bic and commendable in training the chill
dren ana the young people of the churches
in the spirit of giving and filing homes
and missions alike with the spirit of mis-
sions, and recommending the organization
of women's home and foreign missionary
societies III all the churches. This was
unanimously passed.
Elements became Conspicuous.
The proceedings then began to be ex-
tremey interesting. Although the members
CT the synod had frequently declared that
there were no radical or conservative
elements in their body it developed that
they were very prominent nevertheless, and
in the discussion which followed over the
question of setting the debt of S13,0J0 now
resting the Theological Seminary of Get
tysburg, Pa, the animation displayed by
some of the delegates almost reached the
intensity of animosity Rev. DR.. Domer of
this city, when a resolution was presented
by the Rev. Mr.. Dunbar which recommend
ed that the debt be apportioned among the
churches, made very plain and interest
ing address, during which he stated that
there was great possibility that the Theo-
logical Seminary might lose its Lutheran
ism. He announced that he would submit
a proposition at the next Synod, if neces-
sary, to change the constitution SO as to
provide as follows:
THAT in the appropriation and distribu-
ton of funds coming from our churches for
beneficiary education recommend dis
elimination in favor of the purely denom
national colleges and Of the students at
tending such colleges and seminaries."
Rev. DR.. Dunbar made very strong ar
gument in defense of the seminary, ana
then the Rev. DIR. Parsons entered the dis
Ha ha he
MIA College and Theological College, which.
are both located at Gettysburg. comprised
virtually one institution. The college in
his opinion, was first in Importance, but
while the Maryland synod had delegates
interested in the conduct of the seminary
they had none in the college. despite the
fact that it was relatively greater and of
more Importance He said that discourtesy
had been thrown in the face of the synod
by the board of trustees of the college, and
that it had put its affairs in the dark and
refused information about them. DIR. Par
son said he had received letters from lay
men on the subject, including one from the
wealthiest man in the church. who said:
I'VE cannot give money to Gettysburg
when the president of Pennsylvania College
stands in the synod and says it is not de-
nominational."
Wanted Laymen to Know.
DR.. Dunbar objected to this personality,
but DR.. Parson maintained his right to
proceed, and continued. DR.. Parson said
he wanted to let the laymen know what
was behind all the affairs of the seminary
and the college. He had also been told by
another influential Lutheran that after the
speech of DIR. Valentine, the president of
the college, in the college board, he could
never do anything more for the Theological
Seminary.
During the discussion which followed DIR.
Domer took occasion to remark Luther
m
whether he was a Lutheran or not, and he
was somewhat uncertain about 1T himself
when he heard the Interpretation placed
upon conservatism by some of the dele
gates present.
After further discussion resolution
passed that all churches and church coun-
ellis be invited to consider the best way
of meeting the obligation now resting up
on the seminary, and authority was given
for the appointment Of an agent to visit
the various congregations and secure their
assistance.
Another Animated Debate.
Another exciting debate occurred when
DIR. Dunbar presented a paper signed by
Rev. S. A. Hedges, George M. Miller, w.
H. Dunbar, J. G.. Butler, and T. j. Yost,
stating that they had signed their names
to the report submitted yesterday even
ing. and containing the word 'conserva-
tive" with the understanding now" that
the word conservative is used in historic
sense, and not in any present partisan
application.
The names of the other members of the
committee who signed the report were Rev
M. L. Beard, Rev. George S. Bowers, and
Messrs. A. b. Albert, Cornelius Eckhardt,
Albert F. Fox, F. w. Kakle and e. H.
Sharretts This paper had been tabled
yesterday, but Chairman Butler decided
that it should be brought up. After a
very long discussion. in which the express
sions INDUCED in by the various delegates
who participated became almost bitter, the
Rev. DIR. Butler Withdrew his decision that
the paper could be considered, and the de-
bate which had been participated in by
DIR. Valentine and DR.. Garlan on one side
and DR.. Parson and DR.. Studebaker of Bal
timore on the other was brought to an end.
few matters of details were attended
to- and the synod adjourned to meet again
in Taneytown, Nd, next October.
Significance of Yesterdays Sessions.
The decisive course taken by the synod
yesterday morning in sustaining the board
Of trustees of Pennsylvania College in their
action which resulted in the removal Of
DR. Baugher from the chair of Greek, was
followed at the afternoon meeting by
still more significant episode.