The Washington times., 1915-05-17
PRESIDENT PRAISED
BY CLERGY OF CITY
"Too Proud to Fight" Remark
Arouses Much Admiration In
Churches.

and Judgment In crises arising as the
result of the European war, and es-
pecially Of his remark There is such
a thing as a nation being too proud to
fight" marked the sermons delivered
by prominent members Of the citys
clergy yesterday.
In response to an appeal sent out
earlier in the week prayers for the VIC
Tins of the Lusitania were said AT prhc-
tically every church service in the DIS
trict The sinking Of the great inner
and the European war came in tor COM
ment in many sermons. Reference to
particular nations. which mght nave
The Rev DR.. c. Everest Granger, pas,
tor of the Gunton Temple Memorial
Presbyterian Church, commenting on
the, Presidents too proud to ngnt,
declaration, declared that America
ideal of civilization Is higher than that
Of any other nation in the world.
Conception Highest.
"Our conception of our responsible
ties, our appreciation of our opportunities
for world service and our attitude to-
ward weaker nations have shown that
we are in the lead" he said. with tho
possible exception of our conduct to-
ward Colombia, we have treated all ma
tions with fairness
DR.. Granger said the American policy
the cause Of wor Id peace.
"What we desire Is a nation of poise
rather than a nation in passion" said
DR.. Granger Freedom of speech Is
ministers as we'll as political leaders
can say what they please, even in
times Of extreme tension, but 1t Is
generally expected that those who
not become agitators when the coun-
try Is facing a crisis. In the present
situation there has been an absence Of
uprising, and calmness, characteristic
OF America, has prevailed everywhere.
"Our flag means less outside the
United States today than ever before In
the last century" declared the Rev. DR..
Lucius c. Clark, in sermon on Con
line Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr.
Clark urged calmness but f1rmness. He
asserted that in his belief the American
people no longer felt secure under their
risk their lives on vessels going into
foreign waters, and declared they risk
their country as well.
BOSS Butchers"
The Rev. John MacMurray. at the
Union NJ. L. Church. in a peace sermon
"to Mrs. Grundy." declared that kings
snd emperors who allowed their sub
5ects to slaughter each other in war
are no more than boss butchers
DR.. MacMurray also took occasion to
praise President wilson's too proud to
fight" remark.
The United States needs an army for
the same purpose that a policeman
needs club. said DR.. MacMurray. The
bigger the policeman, the smaller the
club need be. he concluded.
memorial service for the victims of
the Lusitania disaster was conducted by
the Rev. ]. Henning Nelms. pastor of
the Episcopal Church of the Ascension.
last night.
Praises Federation.
DR.. Nelms praised the action of the
Federation of Women's Clubs in ap-
pealine to the churches to have special
services held for the victims OF the
Lusitania.
Other ministers who preached yester-
day on the Lusitania and the efficacy of
prayer for the victims Of the disaster
were the Rev. T. E. Davis. Westminster
Church Memorial, the Rev. Robert w.
Coe. First Congregational Church, DIR.
Charles Wood, pastor of the Presbyte-
rian Church Of the Covenant. the Rev.
Edward Is. Harden. Mount Vernon Place
Methodist Episcopal Church South. DR..
Lucius c. Clark, Hamline Methodist
Episcopal Church. DIR. James Shera
Montgomery. Metropolitan Methodist
Episcopal Church. and the Rev. d. l..
Blakemore, St: Paul's Methodist Epis-
copal Church South.
BALTIMORE, May 17-As an evil
dence Of the absolute loyalty of tho
German-Americans of Baltimore to the
United States and Of their unshaken
and steadfast confidence In President
Wilson and his ability and courage to
pilot the nation safely through its pres
ent crisis with the German government,
tho German Catholic Union at it's an
nual meeting addressed the following
memorandum to the President:
While proud Of our German an
cestry, we know only one flag. the
flag of our country. and we tender
to you, the standard bearer, our un-
divided loyalty.
We have every confidence In your
cool judgment. honest purpose and
brave manhood, and are convinced
that you would rather be right than
President. That God may guide
you is the prayer of the German
Catholic Union of Baltimore and
vicinity.
President Paul ]. Prodoehl. of the
union. today forwarded the message to
President Wilson. and behind 1t is the
unanimous sentiment Of S.202 German
Catholics of this city whose names are
on the roll Of the union
Adopted With Enthusiasm.
The meeting was held in the parish
hall Of the Church Of the Fourteen Holy
Martyrs and was largely attended. The
resolution proposing the communication
TO the President was brought forward
and passed with enthusiasm The only
difficulty experienced was in so word
ing II as to make it as forCefully con-
vincing as possible Of the answering
LOYALTY of the German Americans OF
Baltimore to the land of their adoption
and to its present leader.
1t has been the policy of the union
since the beginning of the war to avoid
whenever possible any contention or
controversy over the war. Its members
have been COnsist emily advised against
writing controversial letters to the
newspapers, making controversial or
tnflammatory speeches for or against
any Of the helligerents. and making any
show of violating the spirit of President
wilson's proclamation of neutrality. The
advice has been followed, as far as
known. almost universally by the mem
bers of the union and their families
Unanimity of Spirit.
There was such a unanimity Of spirit
in this matter of loyalty to and trust
In President Wilson at the present acute
crisis with Germany that the discussion