Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-09-19
TAKES BROTHER
CLERIC TO TASK
FOR WAR VIEWS
Pastor of Orange German
Church Writes Open Letter
to Bloomfield Clergyman.

Rev. DR.. Herman C. Gruhnert, pas
tor of the First German Presbyterian
Church. of Orange, has written an
open letter to Rev. DIR. William l.
Wilcox, pastor of the Westminster
Presbyterian Church, Bloomfield,
taking the latter to task for his
unfavorable comments on Germany
in a sermon on the European war.
The letter in part follows:
Having been born in Germany
may be pardoned for having still in
my heart a natural affection for my
fatherland and her people, though
/ claim to be as loyal and thorough a
citizen of the United States, for forty
three years my adopted country, as
any one can be. What | have read Of
your utterances constrains me ir-
resistibly to address a few lines to
you, as brother minister of the
grand Presbyterian church, for infor-
nation and enlightenment.
For in these days when in regard
to this deplorable war passions are
running high even in our neutral
country. and when those passions are
by a certain part of the English press
sedulously dashed almost to a white
heat of fury against every and any
thing that Is German, we as ministers
of the Gospel of the Prince of Peace
must consider it our foremost concern
to practice and to inculcate upon our
audiences that fairness and modera-
ton which our wise President Wilson
so strongly urges upon public writers
and speakers, as you yourself state
and profess to approve of.
Asks for Information.
However you have made, if you
have been quoted correctly, certain
statements implying a most formid-
able arraignment of the German ma
ton which cannot fail to arouse Bit
ter partisan feelings, instead of lead
ing people to remain calm and be
careful and unbiased in their
opinions at least as long as matters
are in progress, and as long as nobody
is able and should attempt to sit in
judgment. For the sake, and in the
interest of truth and justice, 1 there
fore turn to you for information as to
certain points brought forward in
your statements, for which you must
be able to adduce valid reasons. And
1 trust you will kindly answer me a
few questions. though I realize fully
well how much l by this encroach
upon your valuable time
But am sure you yourself will adj
init that the matter in question is of
enough Importance to be made clear
to all concerned. l hope you will be-
lieve me that it is only from a desire
for information that / write to you,
and l would be understood further
more that do not for moment en-
terrain thought of enlisting your
sympathy for the Germans, or of try
ing to influence your own opinions in
the matter; 1t Is only information and
fairness which l have in my mind.
My questions, based on your stat &C.
ments, are the following:
II. What reason, based upon facts
OF the later history of the German
people and-if you want--the German
emperor, can you adduce for your
charge that this war has been started
Tor personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
"How About the Frenchso
"2 Assuming, however, that you
would point to a certain recent ac-
QUESTION of territory, on the part Of
Germany, in China, Africa and the
South Seas for an answer to my first
question, what reasons can you give
me why the same charges might not
be raised against England or France,
e. g., in regard to their territorial ac-
quisitions,> respectively, in the East
Indies, in Africa, China, ETC., not to
speak of the notorious opium war
against the Chinese, or the war of
humiliation against the Beers in
South Africa?
20. Can you give me a valid reason
why your allegation that the Ger
man people are obsessed with the idea
that they are the predestined head of
the human race to rule the world for
culture and civilization may not be
applied with equal, or even greater,
farn 10 h. srl, 4. I.
latter of whom have long claimed
ito march at the head Ca la tete) of
! civilization
"A. Touching those German atroci-
ties in Belgium, which you are 50
careful to specify, can you testify to
them from your own eyesight, or
from that of indisputable witnesses,
other than paper reports?
90. AS to the same matter, have you
/ never had an opportunity of reading
certain denials of them, made e. g., by
five American press agents, and have
you never read of equally grave coun-
ter charges made against Belgians,
not only by Germans, but also by OBJ
servers from other nationalities, e. g.,
Americans? If you have read such,
have you been really careful In
weighing facts as an unbiased judge
would do, before making charges?
&C. Have such Germans as you may
have met, ever created in your mind
an impression of so cruel and bar
barous a disposition and training as
must be implied ty your imputing
such atrocities sweepingly to the
German nation?'
Trusting that you will give this
your kind Consideration, and thank
ing you in advance for a kind reply,
! am, yours very truly,