The Saint Paul globe., 1901-06-19
AAS)NS ARE BARRED OUT.
LIKEWISE MEMBERS GF OTHER
SECRET SOCIETIES MUST STAY
WITHOUT THE FOLD
WORK OF AUGUsTANA SYNOD
Delegates to Swedish Lutheran Con-
ference Had a Hot Time Among
Themselves Before Reach
ing a Decision

JAMESTOWN, N. J., June IS. - The
most interesting question yet taken up by
the Augustana synod of the Swedish
Lutheran church was reached today. 1t
was IN reference to the relation of the
church toward secret societies. The con-
stitution of the church provided that mo
one shall become member of the church
who belongs to Masonic or other secret
or atheistic society" AT the session of
the synod a year ago committee was
appointed to recommend any changes
which might be deemed advisa bic in the
church constitution. DR.. NJ. c. Ransden
or Chicago, chairman of this committee
made his report today, recommending
that all reference to secret societies be-
stricken from the creed. DR.. Ransden
followed his report with a strong ad-
dress.
The report of the committee on revision
or the constitution, recommending that
the clause in the constitution of the
church providing that no member of the
Masonic order or other secret or atheis-
tic society should be entitled to member
ship in the church of the synod be ex-
plunged was defeated after a warm dis
cussion
Rev. DR.. Fremlin, of Vasa, Mimi, was
on his feet in moment after the chair
man of the committee sat down.
This is not a question of practical
morality, he said. TT Is a question IN
Yolvlng faith and doctrine. Masonry and
other secret societies are offsprings of
De1sm; they are now essentially Deistic
IN some cases atheistic, unionistic, and
therefore un-Christian"
The other side admits" said Rev s.
A. LinhOlm, of Kandiyohi, Mimi, that
secret societies are evil. Two of our con
ferences have taken a decided stand
egafnst this evil. Will the synod en-
barrass and humiliate them by going
back CT its own adopted rule?"
we do not propose to approve Of
secret societies by adoption of this
amendment and the proposition expressly
says So" said Rev. Mr.. Appel, of Pc
oria, Ill, a member Of the committee
which made the report THE church is
an institution Of grace and therefore
must not exclude any moral or reputable
person.
PASSED THE LIE.
Rev Mr.. Lindsom handed one OF the
speakers a copy of the Free Masons
Monitor and the speaker began to read.
That's lie," cried Rev. c. E. Foss-
burg.
There was great confusion.
Il move that the ballot be now taken"
said Rev. DR.. Swenson. who had gained
attention from the chair while the house
was III Uhe greatest turmoil. Objections
were made by many, but the chair sus-
tained the motion and ordered the taking
of ballot upon the proposition. During
the excitement of taking the ballot the
Rev. S. G. Swenson said that there
might be those who would cast more
than one ballot The insinuation was
vigorously resented and the chair stated
that it was the blackest libel that had
ever been cast on the members of the
synod.
The vote was taken. however, amid
great confusion, and the chair could with
difficulty retain any kind of order The
result of the ballot was that the pro-
posed amendment was defeated by vote
of 81 to Il, thus leaving the objectionable
clause in the church creed and excluding
from membership of any church within
the denomination the members Of any
secret society.
This was the last work of the synod
which closed in the usual form directly
after the vote was taken to meet June
IL, 1902, at some place to be determined |
by the president of the synod.