The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-16
Lutherans Take Exception to Recent Letter as Regards the Roman Catholic
 Church.
ASK WHERE HE STANDS
Letter from Conference Declares Ba- sic Principle of Church Opposed to Republican Institu-
 tons.

New York. Nov 15.--In an open let ter to President Roosevelt the original of which, 1t Is stated was mailed to the president Saturday night, and a copy of which was made public here today, the New York city members of the Synodlcal Conference of the Evan gellcal Lutheran church of America, take issue with the president over the letter, made public a week ago, In which he denounced es "unwarranted bigotry" any refusal to vote for q for high office because of such candidates membership In the Roman Catholic church.
 The letter it is announced, was au- thorlzed at a recent meeting of the To- cal Lutheran conference. when a com mlttee of two was directed to address the president. The letter to the pres ident declared that it was "subyerslve of the basic principles of real sep aration of church and state to permit the religious belief or n0n- belief of any candidate for public office 10 de- termine the casting of ones vote for or against such candidate, except when tho very religious belief pr non- belief antagonlzes the principles of the separation of the church and the state."
 Thus they agreed with the president on that those citizens are Co be se- verely criticized who voto against a man merely because he is a Unitarian, Jew, a Methodist, or any other re- ligionist.' But for centuries, the letter went on, the Roman Catholic church had denounced as wrong, and a condl- tion only to be tolerated so long as lt could not be hanged, this separation of church and state, and also full re- ligious liberty, freedom of conscience, speech and the press.
 Are we not then compelled 10 maln- tain that a loyal Roman Catholic who fully understands the allegiance re- qured of him by the pope can never sincerely subscribe 10 the federal con stltution nor if hc does subscribe to it, never can be expected to abide by 1t, enforce and defend it9' asked the let ter,
 How could the subscribers 10 the doctrine Of separation of church and state, the letter went on consistently help to elect to tho presidency a Roman Catholic so long as that church does not officially revoke lts "dlametrically opposed declarations the letter ended.
 Are tho two million and moro Lutherans of this country, not Co speak of tho millions of other protest ants. who take this position for the reasons stated, 10 be accused of bieotry or fanaticlsm because of such their stand, aye, to be denounced as being dlsloyal American citizens? We protest that 1t is neither personal feeling nor religious antagonsm which determines our attitude in this matter but solely our disagreemcnt with the Roman Catholic church on AilAo bdolF lL lliNl blFI IL ulCdR lttlll'u growing out of tho rejection and de- nunclatlon by the Roman Catholic church of that very principle which you admonlSh all faithfully Co uphold, not only in theory, but in practice
 eve have considered 1t to be oui duty not 10 keep silence fin this mat ter, because in our judgment, that would have heen an net of cowardIce nor do we wish to do any one an in. justice, nor in any manner traducC any man or body of mon.
 "Gf, therefore, in aught wo have said we arc laborMg under error, we shal be pleased to have you enllehten us and with us the millions who occupy the same position, and shall be sin cerely grateful 10 you for such en. lightenment.
 But if we are right in our conten- ton and position. we ask you to show your unquestloued sincerity and cour- age by an acknowledgment of the cor rectness of, our contention and the at- tltude based thereon"
 The letter is signed by Rev William schenfcld, pastor of Emmanuel church. and Rev. Martin Walker, pastor of St. Matthews church, also the members of the conference committee.