New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-03
RevOlutiOniSt Pastor Must
Answer for Burning Old
Glory in Melting Pot.
CARTOON COSTS HIM
80 DAYS AND $500
Hearing on Second Offence to
Break Blackwell's Stay 9
Followers To Be Prosecuted.

The Reverend and irrevsrent Bouck
White, modern "Man without Coun-
try" slept in prison pajamas on Black
wells Island last night and dreamed Of
the day when all shall be citizens Of
the United States of the World.
There, should he pay a concomitant
fine of 800 imposed upon him in
Special Sessions yesterday for desc
Grating in cartoon the flag
which the United States still
thinks something of. the Rev. Mr.. White
will spend the next thirty days. Should
he not pay the fine. his term Of retire
ment will be extended one day for each
of the 500.
Must Answer Flag Burning.
But the thirty days-or the 13o-wili
not spell atonement. To-day, or at least
within a day or two after to-day, the
island authorities will come into pos
session of a further warrant against
White. This will charge him with hav-
ing burned, TO wit, one American flag in
his Church of the Social Revolution
melting pot" on the eve Of his trial for
Offence No |.
Having stepped from the island into
an awaiting courtroom, the man with
out country" will face a group of re-
porters and others who witnessed the
weird ceremony Thursday night, in the
course Of which the Stars and Stripes
was incinerated IN the White pot.
One witness against White will be
the Rev. Mercer Green Johnston. who
came into prominence recently through
his troubles with his parish in Newark
and who addressed the Social Revolu
tionists before the flag episode.
Urged Against Act.
The Rev. Mr.. Johnston availed him
self yesterday of an opportunity to ex-
plain his part in the proceedings.
81 had been invited to speak TO Mr..
Whites congregation he said, "snd
although | have not yet quit my charge
in Newark ! accepted.
After | had spoken | learned what
was on the programme. II was most
deplorable, as I saw It, and ] carried
protest at once 10 Mr.. White and to
Ned Ames, WHO is n sort of lieutenant
TO him, I believe. ! told them II would
offend not only me and the people to
whom we hoped 10 make an appeal, but
the general public
ITO Whites mind the burning Of the
flags seemed nothing more than SYM
bolism. In connection with II he told
the story Of the phoenix bird. which,
grown old. went into the fire and came
out rejuvcnated White said that out
of the publication Of fire the interna-
tional flag was 10 come.
Others to Face Trial
81 told him he could get his idea
over with the public. pointing out that
the flag, after all, was only cloth and
4 that it would be destroyed. ! told him
/ that if boiling water were used in the
/ cauldron instead of actual fire the
I symbolism might be carried out with
( out arousing adverse sentiment. The
/ flag, said. next TO the Cross OF Christ,
was one Of the highest symbols carried
in my mind.
"While still have a fraternal feel
/ ing toward White, ! feel he has blum
, dered.
F But at the same time ! believe he
should be punished. Perhaps my no
/ tion of the fitting punishment is not
the general public's. ] don't think the
4 offence should be dignified by another
/ prison sentence. good lecture by the
Judge before he is tried would be more
/ IN order"
{ Nine others besides White who par
ticipated in Thursday nights ceremony
are to be prosecuted. not only by Police
I Commissioner Woods, but by District
/ Attorney Swami.
Owing to the enforced absence OF
White. George Harris, who burned the
Greek flag, and who. according 10 the
imprisoned pastor, was the originator
+ OF the plan TO merge, by fire al! ma
tional flags into the banner Of lnterna-
I tionalism. presided at the regular Fri
day night services OF the Social Revo-
lutionists.
Before the meeting started Detec-
tives Gegan and DAILY, Of Deputy Police
/ Commissioner Lords staff, visited the
/ church and confscat the melting pot
and tripod used in Thursday nights
flag burning.