The Washington times., 1903-11-16
Lively Discussion of the
Charges Against Him
at the Conference.
FRIENDS ARE STEADFAST
Subject Ruled Out of Order
by the Chair and Routine
Business Taken Up.

Like lightning from a clear sky came
a resolution from the Rev. Dr. Butler,
pastor of Luther Memorial Church, at
the meeting OF the Eastern conference
of the Lutheran ChHrcn this morning
The resolution referred TO certain al
legged additional charges which rumor
says are unofIicialy lodged against the
ministerial and Christian character of
the Rev. F. W. Moot, former pastor or
st. Pauls Lutheran Church, where the
conference is meeting today. DR.. Butler
presented his resolution asking that a
request should be made to the president
Of the general synod not to grant Mr.
Moot a letter of dismission until such
charges had been passed upon by a
committee of the synod.
A Storm of Protest.
DR.. Buffers resolution stirred up a
storm of protest and the regular busi-
ness Of the conference outlined for to-
day was entirely forgotten in the chaotic
discussion that followed
At the last meeting Of the general sy-
nod certain charges were preferred
against Mr. Moot and the synod deprived
the minister Of his right 70 perform any
religious duties until he had redeemed
himself. The charges ii is said. were 10
the effect that he had borrowed money
from his parishioners and brother min
isters and had failed TO make return.
Time was granted him in which to re-
fund the money borrowed, and in the
meantime. his resignation from the pas,
torate Of st. PauTs was demanded and
given.
Charges From Johnstown.
Mr.. Moot left Washington. and the
whole matter promised to die out. whea
suddenly copies Of a Johnstown IN. y
paper were received by numerous per.
sons in Washington. The paper printed
a story recounting the action of Mr..
Moot In telephOning from Schenectady
to Johnstown asking that the proceed
ings of the Maryland Synod, dismissiug
him from the ministry, be suppressed
there. It was subsequently learned. ac-
cordins to this same paper, that Mr.
Moot had performed a marriage cere-
mony and had so broken faith with the
general synod and his brother minis
ters. The laws Of New York make the
marriage legal. and go much apprehen-
sion on the part Of the couple and their
friends was aIlayed- The paper contin-
ues. in a rather broad way. 70 assert
that Mr. Mcot's forced resignation from
St PauTs, Washington. was the result
of his propensity to tempt fortune
through the channels of the stock mar
ket
Question Warmly Argued.
Friends of the former pastor in Wash
ingtOn vigorously protested at today's
proceedings. and II looked for some time
as If the real business of the confer
ence would not come up. For two
hours the question was argued that in
asmuch as the general synod had dis
posed of the matter and refused &c
refer 1t TO the Eastern conference. the
latter body had no right whatever to
reopen the matter. Extracts from the
formula of government OF the Lutheran
Church were read in support Of this
statement, and DR.. ParsOn. pastor OF
the Church of the Reformation. vail
antIy disputed the right of the confer
ence to such Interference. DR.. Miller.
DR.. Dunbar of st. Marks Church, Bal
timore: J. Granville Meyers. of the
council OF St Paul's Church. and sew
eral others took active part in the dis
cussion, anc matters continued to get
even more complicated as the hours
went by.
Ruled Out of Order.
A ruling on the privilege of the con-
terence
finally called for, and DR.. Bell. of the
First Church. Baltimore. who occupied
the chair, declared it the opinion of the
chair that the conference was wholly
without authority 10 take action In the
matter The only course open to those
who desire TO have these rumoreG
charges investigated will be for mem
ber of St PauIs Church council or
some one from Washington to formally
present the same to the president Of
the general synod and have the latter
appoint a special committee of five to
come to Washington and thoroughly
sift the matter. Whether this will be
done remains a question.
DR.. Buffers activity In the matter
and mis- intention in presenting it again
to his brother ministers was the result
of what the ministers believe TO be a
breach of faith on the part OF MIR Moot.
The latter was suspended until he could
settle his indebtedness. and was deprived
OF the rights of his office. These 1a-,S he
Is accused OF violating in performing
the marriage ceremony at Johnstown.
1t is for the purpose of preventing him
from further performance of such rites
that the protest was lodged today.
Ii is the belief of many ministers here
and everywhere in the Eastern confer,
ence that Mr.. Moot will make no further
attempt to take his place in the
Lutheran ministry.
A few minutes before noon the bust
ness of the conference was taken up
This consisted Of short addresses on re-
Iigious subjects by ministers in attend
ance. A business session viii be held
this afternoon, after which the confer
ence viii adjourn,
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