Evening star., 1901-06-19
SECRET SOCIETIES BARRED
STILL UNDER THE BAN OF LUTHERAN
CHURCH.
Question Was the Source of Spirited
Controversy at jamestown
Synod Meeting.

A dispatch from Jamestown, N. Y, last
night, says:
The closing session of the general synod
of the Swedish Lutheran Church here to-
day was enlivened by passionate discus
sion not unmixed with sharp personalities.
The melting cause of the discussion was
the report of the committee on revision OF
the constitution, recommending the repeai
OF the clause in the constitution or the
church providing that no member OF the
Masonic order or other secret or atheistlc
society should be entitled to membership
in the church of the synod.
The report of the committee was pre-
sented by DR.. Ranseen. the chairman.
Rev. Dr. Fremling Of Vasa, Mimi, was
on his feet in moment after the chairman
of the committee sat down. This Is not a
question of practical morality" he said
1t is a question involving faith ana doc
trine. Masonry and other secret societies
are offsprings of Deism; they are now es-
Sentially Deistic, in some cases athelstic,
unionstic, and therefore un-Christian.
Rev. Y. Setterdahl of Andover, ILL.,, was
next recognized by the presiding omcer
In his Judgment the good of the church
demanded that this matter should be agl-
tated as little possible.
The other side admits said Rev 5. A.
Linholm of Kandiiohi Minn that secret
societies are evil. Two of our conferences
have taken a decided stand against TINS
evil. VIII the synod embarrass and humil-
late them by going back of it's own adopted
rule?"
We do not propose to approve of secret
societies by adopting this amendment, and
the report explicitly says so,' exclaimed
Mr.. Appel of Peoria, Ill. member of the
committee which made the report The
church is an institution of grace. and there
fore must not exclude any moral or rep
utable person."
Rev C. E. Elwing of Omaha. Neb.. said
he regarded secret societies as idolatrous
Rev. C. J. f. Haterus of San Francisco
spoke at some length in favor of the ad-
mission of secret society members to the
church.
Rev. A. P. Mellqust of East Union,
Mimi, favored the exclusion of secret so
ciety members from the church.
Rev. Hemborg of Moline, Ill. and Rev. j.
Magny of Volga. Wis. spoke in opposition
to the committees report. The laborlng
man cannot afford to support both the Sc
cret societies and the church: therefore,
we should insist upon his leaving the
lodge said Rev. l.. w. Gullstrom of VAL
ley City. N. d.
Rev j. S. Samline of New Sweden, Tex,
spoke on the same line. The discussion
grew warmer and more bitter as 1t pro-
gressed
Rev Mr. Mindsom handed one of the
speakers a copy of the Free Masons Moni-
tor and the speaker began to read.
That's a 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 at
tention from the chair, while the house was
in the greatest turmoil. Objections were
made by many. but the chair sustained the
motion, and ordered the taking Of ballot
upon the proposition.
During the excitement Of taking the bal
lot the Rev. S. G. Swenson said that there
might be those who would cast more than
one ballot. The inSinuation was vigorously
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
proposed amendment was defeated by
vote of 81 to II. thus leaving the objection
able clause in the church creed and exclud-
ing from membership of any church within
the denomination of the members of any
secret society.