The Washington herald., 1909-02-08

The breach in the Luther Place Ne
moral Church, 1t IS feared. wiz not be
mended-
Without tremor IN his voice, Rev. Dr..
J. G. Butler. pastor Of the church. de-
clared IN his sermon yesterday morning
that there are children Of the devil in
the church
At the same hour the dissenting faction
broke OF religious relations which they
have enjoyed for years, and left the
church's shielding wins. They VIII seek
church homes elsewhere. They DO not
stand together as a faction, but are dis
persed and divided in their opinions, and
no one knows what his neighbor VIII do
Leaders OF this following sco1 at the
idea that q new church wiz be formed
There are somewhat more than fifty in
volved IN the secession Their numbers
are not large enough to make a separate
congregation. but many OF each side
freely predict that the schism wiz cut
deeply into both the revenues and the IN
huenee Of the church
Several Officers Resign.
The Junior Christian Endeavor Society
has already disbanded. as the result Of
designations and OF loss OF membership
The superintendent OF the society, Mrs.
". F. Gross, and the treasurer. Miss
Marion HeitmuIler. have resigned
Two officers have resigned from the
Senior Christian Endeavor SOciety-G.
Loehler. the treasurer. and Z. Besson.
treasurer Of the missionary society Of
that body. Miss Amy Lerch. secretary
OF the intermediate Christian EndeavoT,
has also forsaken her Office.
Many statements are made that the
Sunday school also has been demOralized
by the disaffection- Both the secretary
treasurer and the assistant secretary
treasurer. Walter Locke and John G..
Lerch. have forsUOrn further connection
with IL, and four teachers-J- Russell
Alden, Miss Grace Alden. Mrs r r.
Barclay. and Mrs. Walter LOcke-have
resigned. Il is said that the attendance
was far below the average yesterday
morning, and that q stiH greater seces-
sion Is 70 follow
VIII Ask Transfer Letters.
The formal seve-slg OF relations with
the Luther Place Memorial Church viii
come in a united request for letters OF
transfer to other ecclesiastical turis6ic-
tons. No trouble Is anticipated on this
score, although Rev. Dr.. Butler may re-
fuse 10 issue them. There Is no recourse
for the opposing churchmen II he should
take this stand It is known that he is
bitter over their action, and regards their
behavior as un-Christian. Acting IN this
HIGHT, he may therefore decline TO recon-
mend them 10 any other congregation
The letter Of transfer Is merely 2 form
OF the church" said q leader OF the
dissenrers yesterday. and Il vii not be
a matter Of great Importance whether We
are given Il or not There viii be no
difficulty about being given q place II
other Lutheran Jurisdictions. I think It
can be safely said that our absence from
church was felt yesterday morning. and
that our departure IS not altogether g
matter OF congTatulation TO the supporters
OF Dr.. Butler"
While We slept. the enemy had been
sowing tsres.~ said DR.. Butler 20 the
congregation yesterday morning. There
are children OF the devil in the church.
We have the sheep and the goats among
Us. Examine yourselves this morning
and see where you stand.
Those who stand aloof and out of the
church al this time OF factIonaI disrup-
ton VIII stand q small chance before
the judgment seat There were factions
and schemes IN the old church at Coripth.
and the Apostle Paul rebuked those Tor
rebeiling against God