Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-28
MINISTER >OF GERMAN lUTF
ERAN CHURCH AND N. HID
ATTEND CONVENTION
ADOPT RESOLUTIONS
Take Part In Meeting at Which SENT.
ments Of Gathering Toward
Shipping Ammunition
Are Expressed.

Rev. George c. Hanssler, pastor of
the German Lutheran church, and NJ.
Hid, representative of the congrega-
ton, attended the recent convention
Of the southern district Of the Iowa
synod held at Clinton, have returned.
The twenty-eight congregations In
the district announced at the gather
ing that they had raised $4,000
toward the 1917 jubilee fund to go to
the new seminary in Dubuque. The
local congregation of German Luth-
Grams have signed for about 5000 Of
this amount The convention adopted
some resolutions on the exporting OF
munitions by the United States to the
warning nations Of Europe. These
resolutions ask that the president lay
an embargo on the expectation Of
these arms and warn Americans not
to travel within the war zone or on
munition laden ships. Following are
the resolutions:
The southern district Of the
Evangelism Lutheran synod of Iowa
and other states, now assembled III
regular session at Clinton, Iowa,
presents the following appeal to thu
Christian conscience Of our president,
his excellency, the Hon. Woodrow
Wilson:
Whereas, our traffic in arms and
ammunition, while admittedly within
the law of nations, is undoubtedly a
cruel violation of higher law, namely
that Of humanity, as it spreads blood
shed, and
Whereas, there are grave doubts
existing in the minds of many con-
corning the morality Of war as such,
and while yet a certain justification
may be claimed on the part of the
belligerent nations who are or be-
lieve themselves fighting for their
national existence, no such considera-
lions on moral grounds can be pleaded
in defense Of the part taken by our
nation in furnishing weapons Of
destruction, and
Whereas it is claimed that the
cessation Of this traffic would, by an
alleged violation of neutrality, give
offense to friendly nations, on the
other hand it is fact that its con-
tinuance does offend not only another
group of friendly nations but also
daily offends to the utmost the feel
ings of millions Of our own citizens,
whose very flesh and blood are the
victims sought by these tools Of death,
and
Whereas, while it may be said, that
to lay an embargo on this trattlc
would eventually close against us the
ammunition markets of the world ia
orr own hour of distress and so force
us to arm ourselves now against such
an emergency, on the other hand it is
fact that the traffic is now turning
orr country into a vast ammunition
factory and may turn it into mill
tary camp If not force it into war.
Therefore, be. it resolved most
earnestly to request our president 70
use every means within the reach III
his high office to put a stop to this
nefarious traffic.
And, furthermore whereas it goes
almost beyond human endurance that
nation surrounded by enemies on
every hand, should permit ships
loaded with ammunition for the des-
truction Of it's own sons to reach their
destination, and
Whereas the destruction Of such
ships has caused the loss of American
lives, endangering the peace OF our
beloved country:
Therefore we request our president
most earnestly to warn our citizens
for their own safety as well as for
the preservation of peace, against
travelling within the zone of war on
ships of belligerent nations or on
munition-laden ships Of any nation.