Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-18

Rev. DR.. J. G. Butler.
except in a pastoral letter last fall in
which he said that if there were any
persons in the church whose presence did
not edify it they would find that the
swinging doors of the church allowed an
exit as we'll as an entrance. This was
directed at the heads Of the members who
were opposed to him and his friends and
evidently stirred up a tempest.
A member of the church said this morn
ing that the most active members who
sided against the present administration
of the church affairs made house to
house canvass to enlist supporters. The
ill feeling became so distasteful to DIR.
Butler that he did not attend the last
council meeting.
designations Offered January 10.
Sunday. January 10. Messrs. Heitmuier,
Barclay and Wurdeman handed DR.. But
Ter their designations Just before he en-
tered the pulpit Dr. Butler did not read
them to the congregation until yesterday
morning. when they were accepted by a
large vote. DR.. Butler said this morning
that one of the three approached him
after the service January 10 and de-
manded TO know why the matter had not
been brought to the attention of the con-
gregation.
Dr. Butler replied that the matter would
be attended to i'll time. after he had con-
sidered it, His friends claim that the
resignation was presented on that date
as a test of the strength of the faction
opposed to DR.. Butler, and had it been
read then II would have brought forth a
| much stronger vote in opposition to it.
After comforting with his friends in the
congregation DR.. Butler read the resigna-
tons without comment yesterday morn
ing.
There will evidently be an after clap at
+! the two meetings which have been called
of February | and February t. The first
! OF these meetings is called by Anton Heit-
muller. whose resignation was accepted
yesterday and who has signed the notice
president of the council. 1t is assured
that the members who were not present
or who did not vote yesterday morning
will be at this meeting. the notice for
which reads as follows:
BY the council of the Memorial Evan
gelical Lutheran Church.
Washington, d. c., January ii. 1903
Whereas al i m. Sunday. January 10,
1909. the designations of three members
| OF this council were handed to the pastor
Rev. j. G.. Butler. ID. D., follows:
Washington. ID. c.. January .. 1909
ITO the Members of the Memorial Evan
selical Lutheran Church. Washington
ID. c.:
"Greeting-We hereby tender our resig-
nations as officers of the Memorial Lu-
theran Church. and request that such
designations be accepted at the earlies,
| possible date by the congregation. Very
respectfully.
1SigneD ANTON HEITMULLER,
II. X. BARCLAY.
| .FREDk. c. WURDE,MAN.'
Be II resolved, therefore by this coun-
ell assent ed. That a congregational meet
ing be called. to convene in the church
parlors at pm. Monday February L
acceptance of the designations above
stated and for the election Of successors
to the offices which may thereby be made
vacant for the consideration of the f1nan-
cial affairs of the church. and such other
ma tiers may be pertinent to the future
welfare of this organiza ton: further that
800 copies of this resolution shall be print
ed for distribution in the church before
the regular services on the nth, 24th. and
31st days of January. 1900; further. that
a committee of two members be appointed
by the council to have this resolution
printed and distributed as provided for
above.
ANTON HEITMULLER,
President Of Council.
Attest ALBERT d. SPANGLER.
Secretary.
Consider Action Irregular.
The meeting to be held February has
been called by DIR. Butler to elect new
members OF the COUNCIL, so as the lnaltef
now stands the three members who are
prominent in the matter believe that
their designations were not accepted at
a regularly called meeting of the church.
and the other side is ready to move along
without their help.
Just at present. DR.. Buffers friends
consider that they have the upper hand
| in the controversy. DR.. Butler Is nom
commttal on this point, but makes a very
strong statement that he is confident the
matter will be adjusted peaceably
Prior to the difficulty the church coun-
| Gil consisted Of the pastor, an ex-off1cio
| member: George Ryneal. an emeritus
member: President Anton Heitmuller. AL
| bert. D. Spangler. l.. F. Randolph. F. r..
Barclay and F. c. II. Wurdeman. The
standing of the three members whose
| resignation has caused the trouble is to
be decided in the future.
When seen by a Star reporter, Mr..
Heitmuller declined to make any state
ment until the return to the city of r. H.
Barclay and then only after the meeting
| of the congregation called for February
IL. He said the statement made that the
sole aim in this affair is to get red of DR..
| Butler is untrue