New-York tribune., 1901-09-28
LUTHERAN BREACH GRO WS
EXMAY0R SCHIEREN SAYS GERMANS
TREAT THE ENGLISH UNFAIRLY.

II is probable that the English Lutherans OF
this synod Will arbitrarily withdraw from that
body. The ministers and laymen of that branch
have sent petition to the Rev DIR. George c..
Haas. the president of the synod asking for let
ters of dismissal. Their contention is that mem
bership in the synod has hampered rather than
facilitated their work, and they wish to be free
to establish English speaking churches of the
Lutheran denomination wherever they find they
are needed. On the other hand the members
OF the German branch feel that they have fos-
tered the English branch and assisted it in it's
work, and consider themselves aggrieved by the
action Of the English branch in desiring to with
draw. The next regular meeting of the synod
is nine months distant. 1t is probable that be-
fore that time the English branch will either
demand an affirmative answer to their petition
withdraw without consent.
member of the German branch, who is also
officer of the synod last night deplored the
action of the English branch, but appeared to
feel that the request ultimatum and
would be so considered by the parent body Il
regret exceedingly" he said. that the trouble
should have reached such a stage. Friction is
bound to come in all new movements. The
movement to tablish English churches in this
district is only about five years old. If we
could have worked harmoniously for a few years
longer the corners would have been worn off
and would understand each other better
We have helped the English from the start, but
they are not satisfied. There is opposition
on the part of the German branch to the estab-
lishment of English churches"
Ex-Mayor Schieren of Brooklyn, who is
active partisan of the English branch. believes
the position taken by them is right, and openly
says that its members have not been treated
with consideration Mr.. Scheren has been
lively connected with this branch since it's be-
ginning, and has provided from his private
means. he says, without the assistance of the
parent body. for estab blshing Lutheran churches
where sermons shall be preached in English eX-
clusively.
Il am not identified officially with the move
ment," said Mr.. Schieren, but interested
In IL. The difficulty is that the German Luther
ans do not want English speaking churches
esta ablished the German churches. | am
especially interested in the English churches be-
cause furnish the money to build and establish
them. 1t frequently happens that the children
of German Lutherans do not speak German. AS
churches where German is spoken exclusively.
What. then. do they do? They attend no church
and their religious education is altogether neg
lected. We must look to the youth of the
country for the future of the Christian religion,
and If they are not taken care of concerns
their religious educate the work will be ma
terially interfered with. To illustrate what the
usual action of the synod u.s. 1 will tell you of
recent / wished to establish an English
Lutheran mission at Bay Ridge, because there
a real need for it-indeed, the same need
obtains to-day. The minister OF the German
Lutheran church there absolutely refused his
sanction to the establishment of such mission.
and the synod supported him. AS a consequence
there is English church there.
IF the separation be pshed the mis-
sion service of the Lutheran Church will not be
interfered with The interests of the German
and the American missions separate. We
have never asked the German people for a cent
and have never reciVd contribution from
them / fail to where any serious conse-
quences Will result to either body from formal
separation, because they are now separated In
thought and deed"