Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-20


planned by Rev. DIR. Charles E. Guthrie,
pastor. backed by the congregation
of the Hamllne M. E. Church, who was
prevented by park policeman from
holding services in the park at Iowa
Circle yesterday evening.
The conflict OF authority between the
District police authorities and the super
intendent of public buildings and grounds
| will be called to his attention. He will
be asked to take steps necessary to pre-
vent the Humiliation and modification"
of an established church.
81 think the authorities who ordered
us like common trespassers from the
park at Iowa Circle yesterday were more
intolerant than was necessary said DR..
Guthrie to Star reporter this morning.
1--WE held services in the park two
weeks ago. There was much publicity re-
garding it and the men guarding that
park must have known of it. We an
nounced our services in that park last
Saturday. They were advertised in The
Star.
1.-The Waterman evidently knew in adj
vance that we were going to hold serv-
ices there. He was ready and waiting
for us when we arrived.
Might Have Pointed Out Mistake.
1T would have been easy for the super
intendent of public buildings and grounds
or some one connected with his Office to
write us a letter saying that permission
to again hold services in Iowa Circle must
come from him. But they waited until
we got on the ground and were ready to
open the service
I'VE are not irresponsible persons. We
represented a church, established for
forty years within two blocks Of that
circle. We had a permit from the super
intendent Of police to hold meetings at
several points, including Iowa Circle. 1
think they could have been tolerant for
thirty minutes last night, owing to our
misunderstanding. I asked the officer to
do that, but he would not yield at ALL
workers were about to begin religious
services at $40 o'clock yesterday even
ing in Iowa Circle Park Policeman A. d.
Thomas stepped up to the crowd, in
formed the pastor that his permit from
the chief Of police was not worth the pa
per it was written on, SO far as allowing
them to hold meeting in that park, and
ordered the leaders Of the service and the
congregation out to the curb.
Text Of Police Permit.
The permit under which DR.. Guthrie
thought he had a right to hold a meeting
in the park at Iowa Circle was in the
following form:
metropolitan Police Headquarters.
District of Columbia,
Washington. D. c., July Is, 1908.
Permission is hereby given Rev
ices Sunday, July 10. 1905 at the places
named in attached paper in conformity
with section 5, article III, Of the police
regulations of the District of Columbia.
between the hours of $40 o'clock pm.
and 1880 pm. July 10, 1905.
ssprnxid06 stand 1nY ho YPe1
or other obstruction Is used SO as to OBJ
struct the street, alley, sidewalk or other
public space: that the sidewalk and street
are kept clear of obstruction by persons
infammatory language and no public
complaint.
RICHARD SYLVESTER.
Major and Superintendent of Police.
Iowa Circle northwest, 921 p street
northwest. Columbia street and Rhode
Island avenue northwest. engine house. r
street between 9th and 10th streets north
west; Business High School. r street be-
tween 9Th and 9Th streets northwest; 643
p street northwest and at 9th and +
streets from 7:3O pm. to S:15 pm"
This permit was issued. Saturday by In
spector Swindells at police headquarters.
Maj. Sylvester, in discussing the matter
today. declares that the request for a
permit was made by telephone and that
the permit issued granted the privilege
to hold services at Iowa Circle in the
street, but not in the park, which was
not in police jurisdiction.
Bromwell Justifies Waterman.
In the opinion of Col. Bromwell. engi-
neer officer in charge Of public buildings
and grounds. the trouble which Rev. DR..
Guthrie Of the Hamline Church had with
the Waterman at Iowa Circle was simply
the result of misunderstanding between
the minister and the police authorities.
The watchman has not yet submitted any
report of the occurrence complained of
by Dr. Guthrie, but undoubtedly will do
SO during the day.
Col. Bromwell says in the absence OF
official information on the subject he
could not express judgment as to the
merits Of the controversy. From what he
seems that what DR.. Guthrie supposed
x,rox,a,.- L., hol Sery,i1as i,