Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-18

4 IToFtr btanu.
The money taken in the opera House. I
asked for an audit Of his accounts. a conn
mittee OF three was appointed. but IL never
got an opportunity 20 meet.
Five Phliadelphians made contributions
Of $1,000 each. Three OF them were Mrs.
=. 7. stotesbury, Samuel f. Houston and
Arthur r. Newbold Joined the dssenters
because think they are unable to put the
organization on n business basis. Doctor
Stone accused me Of playing politics with
Senator Penrose. but there is no truth
In H."
Before addressing the meeting, Baxter
said the Jew organization would have 5000
members TO start with and said there would
be no objection to publicity, as no movement
could succeed without the support Of the
newspapers.
Doctor Stone barricaded his headquarters
today against interviewers. Guards stood
Church, Twenty-second and Walnut streets,
and no one was permitted to enter.
For one quick moment Doctor Stone put
his head out the door. on seeing re-
porter he slammed the door quickly.
The Rev. George Meyer was admitted to
Doctor stones headquarters after giving
thu secret knock. Later he announced that
Doctor Stone would issue a statement next
Thursday at noon as to his position and
that taken by the secessionists.
One OF the guards. who said he was
Assistant General Manager Bril-, said the
men who seeded from the Stonemen Fell
lowship did so because they could not in
troduce politics in the organization.
They wanted to get the organisation in
control Of the politicians Of this CITY," said
Bril-. I'VE would not stand for It, and
we're glad that they got out
Were glad to clean out the interruptions
politicians.
Doctor Stone cares nothing for what the
nfIblfr fbfnl<a knows n a dainQ right
and Is satisfied"
Asked II II were true that an effort was
made to get the Stonemen into national
politics. Bril- refused to make any COM
ment.
Baxter was introduced by the Rev. DR.
William II. Roberts. II want to apologize
TO your body for the actions of the Stone-
mems Fellowship pertaining to ministers. I
assure you the cause was not the work of
the rank and file of the organization. A
number OF us tried to correct conditions.
but exhausted ourselves.
I'VE found II impossible to eliminate the
highly Objectionable third degree and ad-
just matters sc that ministers could attend
the meetings where they belonged.
There has been dissenslon for the last
three or four weeks. 1 came here In behalf
Of the United Protestant Fellowship and 1
appeal 40 you 10 get behind the movement.
1t will not be favorable TO any particular
denomination. Nothing In the ritual will be
Objectionable.
'sThe rock on which the Stonemen's or
Eanization perished was the leaders, who
refused TO give recognition. We know we
have been falsely led. Thousands Of men
will now have no place TO 60 II is your
duty to preserve these men. The United
Protestant Fellowship will work hand in
hand with any Protestant denomination"
Motion was made to express the good
wishes Of the meeting for the new organiza-
tion, but II was referred to an executive
committee.
The third degree employed by the stone-
men. in which the apostolic rite OF laying
on of hands is prominent feature, is the
chief cause of the revolt according to nu-
merous prominent ministers and members.
which has disrupted the organization.
Those opposed to the degree said today
that II. together with the autocratic atti-
tude Of the Rev. DR.. Stone. founder
Of the organization. was the basis of the
trouble.
When hundreds OF members bolted the
meeting at the Metropolitan Opera House
Doctor Stone said the mutiny was due to
politics. This Is denied today by the seces-
sionist members and many prominent cler-
Kymen who have been interested in the or
ganization.
THIRD DECREE OPPOSED
Among those who share this opinion is
the Rev. DIR. Frank B. Lynch. pastor OF
the Ebenezer Methodist Church. Fifty-sec-
ono and Parrish streets
"One OF the Objectionable features Of the
crganixatloB.s he said. was the third de-
gree which included the laying on of hands.
which was yirtuallyia confirmation into the
Episcopal Church. II was contended that
this was an indirect method OF increasing
the membership of the t.pIsc Jpal Church.
Naturally II was objected TO by members
Of other churches Who Joined the Stone-
mems organisation
The secession was also due In a large
measure TO the autocratic attitude OF Doc
tor Stone. He refused to allow the finance
committee TO make a public report He
refused to allow the committee on con-
Htitution and bylaws TO make a report His
assumption OF the right to appoint and dis
charge all committees at will also aroused
great dissatisfaction. He assumed the
right 70 suspend or expel a member at will.
During a meeting he would recognize only
those whom he chose 10. lie frequently re-
fused TO hear those who rose TO address the
meeting.
''The secession Of 80 many members is
a result OF American against un-American
methods. when the third-degree methods
came TO light the ministers OF other de-
nominations contonded that II made every
member OF the stonemen's organization vir-
tually a member Of the Protestant Epis-
copsl Church
MANY believed that when this was ex-
pIained 10 Mr.. stone he would see the JUS
tice Of such an objection. lie was invited
10 mNNtluN oi Nc1L tuIlhurlpulh mlnlb-
f<rs and there asked 10 modify the third de-
kree Idea for the sake Of harmony He re-
fused
Later a meeting was held by the min
i1I<fs OF all the evangelical churches In
Arch street Church for the sole purpose
- discussing this feature Of the Stonemen's 3
orxapization, At this meeting q commit
- Naa appointed 10 caIl on Nj. Stone aud
hin associates and urge Them 70 abolish or
modify the third degree, Cp to the pres
ent time no reply has been received
The Hes Maurice Sampson, pastor OF
OlI}et Reformed Church, said: The meth
ods OF the Stonemen were In direct varl-
nnce with ite purposes. ] knew u would
1oppen There has been constant dlssen-
1Ion IN its ranks and there could have been
10 other ending l predict that the organ
<r1lion viii be dissolved. II is one-man
U|onsn Found Dead From Cut In Head