The Washington herald., 1909-02-15

The insurgent members OF Luther Place
Memorial Church. who seeded following
their differences with the venerable pas
tor. Rev. Dr.. J. G. Butler. have rented
a room IN Confederacy Hall. Vermont
avenue. between n and o streets north
west and are holding their religious sew
ices there.
With compact ranks. seveuty-two
strong. they met yesterday without =
man OF the cloth 20 guide their devo-
tons Or person Of holy orders 10 min
lister to then. Two services have been
held in the haII-yesterday. and last Sun
day morning In the absence CT q clergy
man. the services were conducted in an
Informal fashion, the more prominent
members Of the faction rising In sAs.-
places and expounding portions OF ths
Gospel, and making short exbortationx-
Committee IL Named
Their tenure OF the room. they say. fs
only temporary. pending a definite de-
cision as 70 their future actions They
have appointed q committee 10 outlIua
their course
whatever procedure they zdout. II vas
intimated last night. they would sct a. 3
body, rather than scatter into different
churches about the city.
Their committee is expected 70 make
report this week. Members Of the faction
refuse 10 divulge the names OF the Per
sons or IL
Anton Heitmuiler. when requested over
the telephone for information. replied:
A newspaper interview with ne Is
worth 81 word"
Others were not 50 high priced. ana
While ali were resent, II was gathered
that the present intention is not BY any
means 70 make over1ures toward & re-
turn 20 the Luther Place Memorial
Church II vas denied that the fact that
none OF the seeding faction has asked
for papers OF transfer 70 other coasre-
cations means thsy VIII eventually re-
enter the fold. One member Of the Con-
Hall congregation explained
that letters Of transfer we're merely q
fOTlality. and not necessarily required
To emphasize his point. he said two OF
the secessiOnists had asked To have their
names stricken on the rolls Of the Lu-
ther Place Memorial Church. and had
expressly stated they did not care <or
letters Of transfer.
Ministers May Take Action
At the same time the stand pat'a mem
bers OF the congregation were worshipirg
in the church in Thomas Circle and the
band Of seventy-two was meeting n
Southern Confederacy Hall. 8 number Of
Lutheran ministers OF the city were won
dering how they could bring the varrsnz
factions together. While they have ar
rived at no decision as body. they ara
awaiting developments. and should q pro
pitiOus occasion arise. they viii probz-
bly, unite 10 bring the unseemly quarrel
TO al end. 10 outward appearances az
least. Five Lutheran ministers held an
informal meeting Saturday, AZ which the
question was discussed. The opinion was
expressed that for the sake OF the church
n the city. some sort OF reconciliation
ought to be effected.
DR.. Butler said iazt night he had not
heard Of any such meeting. He seemed
% be affected IN no way by the news.
The whole thing is a closed incident.
70 ne" he said. These persons have left
he church, and the church IS getting
along without them. I don't know II i
s because ether members have joined the
congregation, but I can't even see thzs
heir absence Is noticed much
4 Significant Text.
When asked If his sermon yesterday
morning, in which he spoke from the
ext He that is not with ne is against
ne. and If his remarks 70 the effect
hat a neutral party Is not worth a great
eai IN the 6eciding OF great questions
eferred to the trouble in the church, Dr..
Sutier answered:
Ny sermon was perfectly SenersI ora.
nd applied as much 70 national and 10
tical issues as 20 snyth' else. In fact
90 not believe was thinking OF the
ecent u1Dleasantness In the church n
H."