Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-14
LORDS DAY ALLIANCE
TO CONSIDER ACTION
AGAINST DR.. STEELE
Rev. Mr.. Mutchler Dodges Ques-
tion of Arrest of Rector of
st. Luke and the
Epiphany
CHURCH CIRCLES AROUSED

The Rev. T. T. Mutchler. general secre-
tary of the Lords Day Alliance of Penn.
sylvania, announced today that he would
confer with other officials of the orGan!aa.
ton to determine what action shall be
taken on the refusal OF the Rev. Dr. David
NJ. Steele, rector OF the Episcopal Church
OF St Luke and the Epiphany. to abandon
Sunday baseball on the church farm at
Springfield, Delaware County.
When Doctor Mutchcr protested against
what he interpreted as violations of the
law and Scriptures, Doctor Steele retail.
ated in a letter by callirg the minister and
his fellow workers "a pack of fools" Cow.
ardly" and "detestablc" were some of the
vitriolic adjectives contained in the com.
municatton, and Doctor Mutchler appeared
today TO be in n highly nervous state as
the result of the attack made upon him by
the prominent Episcopal clergyman.
"I don't know yet what we shall do" he
said Il shall confer with the State ofti-
Gals. as we'll as the head of the Lords Day
Alliance of Delaware County, Mr.. Wait
Then we shall determine our course of
action.
'I read in the newspapers last Tuesday
an interview with Doctor steele, dCscrib.
ing games played at his church farm on
Sunday.
Doctor Mutchler said today he sent the
copy of the law of 1894 and his letter to
Doctor Steele In the belief that the clergy
man would mot be willing to lend his in
nuence TO anything that would encourage
IA disregard for the laws of our Common
wealth"
"As the law OF the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania prohibits Sunday sports, and
as the Superior Court Of Pennsylvania
handed down an opinion on July 21, 1915,
that the playing of baseball on Sunday Is
M ntayfu that IL but "A friendly
act to send Doctor Steele copy of this
decision along with a marked copy Of the
law" he said. The section of the law
that was marked was Section 4, which is
the Mode of Conviction and specifies how
the law Is to be enforced and the penalties
that are to be imposed upon those who vio-
late 1t.
MY thought in sending this to Doctor
Steele was that he, beihs Christian min
lister. would be very glad to have this In
formation. and as there had been an effort
put forth In Delaware County to have Sun
day baseball stopped l was confident that
he would not be willing to lend his influence
to anything that would encourage disre-
gard for the laws Of. our Commonwealth.
/ felt that with copy OF the law in his
hands and with the decision Of the Supe-
rior Court before him, he would he in
position to decide wisely what should be
done at his Fresh Air Farm and that he
would certainly see TO il that the law of
our Commonwealth is respected and
obeyed."
"Are you going TO have Doctor Steele
arrested?' Doctor Mutchler was asked
II can't say yet what we shall do" was
the reply,
The verbal encounter between the two
clergymen has aroused great interest in
religious circles as both ministers are
prominent Doctor Steele opened the farm
last Sunday. The church, at 18th street
below Spruce, OF which he is rector, Is in
course of repair and services are mean
while being held at the Delaware County
place Pray and play" Is the slogan OF
the young people of the church.
''I am going to wait and see what they
do before take any action" said Doctor
Steele. I'VE are not breaking the law we
are not violating the Sabbath. Some Of
our young men are playing quiet games,
not charging admission and not disturbing
the, peace. But in the meanwhile Doctor
MutchIers organization must keep alive
by having something TO do"
ITS not my fight" said Oliver N.
Wait, president OF the Lords Day Alliance
Of Delaware County. ITS a matter be-
tween Doctor Steele and Doctor Mutchler,"