Evening star., 1909-08-18
IN THE CHURCH
Luther Council. Sends an Ulti-
matum to the Seceders.
FOLD IS STILL OPEN
Gives Them Until the Middle of
Next Month.
INCIDENT IS THEN CLOSED
Prominent Members Among the
Recalcitrants Are Loath to Talk
of the Afair-Views Of One.
INCIDENT IS THEN CLOSED

| members Of the Independent Lutheran
| Church congregation today. 1t grew out
| OF receipt by the members OF the new
/ congrega ton of letter this morning
| from the council of the Luther Place Me-
mortal Church. laying down the terms
| upon which members of the seeding ele-
| ment may return to the parent congrega-
| tion The letter. which is signed by w.
j. Showalter, secretary OF the Luther
| Memorial council, is in the nature of a
notice that unless the members of the in
dependent congregation appear before the
council of the mother church on or before
/ the second Tuesday of September. to show
cause why it shall not be done, their
names will be stricken from the rolls of
i the parent church. 1t adds. however,
that it is the belief of the Luther Me-
mortal council that there are many in
| the new congregation who ought to re-
| turn to 1he parent church, and declares
that they will be welcomed back if they
| will return in the right spirit.
Tone of the Letter.
| 1t is also clearly brought out in the
letter that if the seeding members do
not wish to return TO the mother church
the members of the Memorial Church
will help. rather than hinder, them in
building a church of their own.
In the opening paragraph of the letter
| it is recited that as the members of the
| independent congregation did on Feb
ruary I, 1909. leave the Luther Menloria
Church in a body, and since that time
/ have neither attended its services, con-
trtbuted to it's support nor acknowledged
| its discipline as in due and regular form
! administered, but, on the contrary, have
participated in the organization of an in
| dependent congregation, il has been re-
! solved by the Luther Church council
| that in so withdrawing from the mother
| church and in organizing and participat-
! ing in the services of an independent
congregation the seeding members did
| withdraw from all rights and privileges
| of the Luther Memorial Church. accord
| ing TO both civil and ecclesiastical law.
| II is declared that the Luther council
has further resolved that unless the MEM
bers so withdrawing do. on or before the
| second Tuesday of September. appear in
person before the council OF the Luther
Memorial Church and show cause. their
the parent church.
To Heads of Families.
| The letter is addressed to the heads of
houses in most instances, and near the
center 1t Is pointed out that the order
for the seeding members to appear be-
fore the church applies TO the other
members of the family whose names are
/ inserted, az we'll "as others not here speci-
fled, but included in the resolution. In
/ the closing paragraph the letter recites:
/ "You will kindly take notice of the
above resolutions. The council VIII meet
i in the parlors OF the Memorial Church the
| last Tuesday of August and the first two
| Tuesdays of September. at 1870 O'Clock
| pm, to hear any who. shall desire to
| show cause why such action should not
be taken. II there be those who desire
ps41 <1,A
| council will be glad to take that matter
UP with them individually on the above
dates. Each person appearing before the
| council will be given private hearing.
| the church, and they will find a spirit OF
conciIiation should they return in like
spirit. The action of the council is not
intended to. be harsh or unjust but is
| made necessary in order that the rolls Of
| the church shall disclose a true list of
| it's present membership. If it be the de-
sire of those who have withdrawn to
build another church elsewhere in the
| city the council and the congregation Of
the Memorial Church shall do nothing to
| they can, in the furtherance of such an
| effort.
"And may God add His blessing
May Remain Independent.
| When several of the members of the
independent congregation were seen to-
| day they simply stated they had moth
ing to say relative to the matter. A num-
Der of the members of the seeding body
| it is said, desire to return to the mother
church. but the leaders of the independ-
ent body will try to hold their forces in
| line against such a return.
| prominent Lutheran. who professed
| today to be aware of the plans of the
independent congregation. said that the
| members do not intend to ask for admis-
! sion to the Maryland Eynod Of the Lu-
| theran Church in case they make their
| temporary organization permanent.
| In the new constitution which it Is un-
| derstood they have drafted the members
| have assumed the name of the Independ-
ent Lutheran Congregation. A number
| OF synods. 1t is said. have made over
| lures to the new congregation, among
them synods which do not aff1liate with
| the General Synod of the Evangelical
| Lutheran Church. Z.