The Detroit times., 1917-02-10
lNGER Of
MAR STIRS
/ ECHURCHES
|u1pits Ring With
Moral Aspect of
Crisis
HEIR ATTITUDE
is Underlined
vhether They Are Pa
cifists Or Not Is
Unknown
n TNg RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.

- delicate and Intricate and In
11rDendent n the modern social
Cuo&nrs that unforeseen eonse-
1unees follow eve-y serious altera-
II n the stability Of any part Of
|D11iSAfion Already II In clear that
y national crisis In America,
rngbt about by Cernany's deci-
- 10 prosecute war OF unre-
uDned submarine "frightfulness.
- have . direct and important
- epIn The organized religious
y 81 America. Some grave ques-
80. l1ag In solution. have sudden.
hoee prscipitatsd.
~ nfD& thought. the relation Of
~ ep-caIled German churches"
1 o9her denominafious would
- TO ~ uppermcst among these
~ losncs. There are several bod
= which the Lutheran In the
nu4. which have . historical and
11o11c and Sentimental associa-
utkA The land os Luther. Thru
- var. thsir sympathies have
rul)y been with the Central
ots, just as the sympathies OF
u01scepal church have bean With
Iood, the home of the mother
-. ~ q matter Of fact, how
E the war has c2used no es-
uomant between LutherRns and
1s bodies. There has besn q gen
oDpreciation Of the situation.
~ courteous display OF Christian
MI on the part Of the brethren
Dg dfvcrsent views concerning
Uoe1d war. II 10 not In this
out that the new crisis Is dis
&1n8 the churches.
n the Church pscinsef
r16DE1nss. and cutspoken apm-
Irea are now being heard, I'm In
1G(ng volume, sgainst the PERM
1 activity" q certain saIxried
Dors Of the Federal Council OF
6rches IN behalf of the p&ciasi
j1bon. DIR. Charles 3. MacFariand
~. Sidney l. Grlick, of the
osai eo1rcil. have been leaders In
~ activity OF the extreme peace
y1y. and they have popularity corr
~ the organization to a tine
cfiyity which, Il Is declared, does
- ali represent the real eenti-
NJ Of the churches of North |
rrteR
here is evidence that q ser
WV ~ the general public. which Is
very accurately informed Upon
- religious, assumes that the
t1DtiAn churches q the country
~ are committed 10 the pacifsf
~. which has also been a poll.
1 implied support Of Germany
W g cengure Of Americas course.
y ~sfatsuents,- '-nsssagss. dec
11ons" and calls which issue
y ths federal council once with
u1ering rapidity are supposed
1 <hess unsophisticated voridlings,
\ - ne voice Of the churches. |
1eeao thsy merely represent the
Dnop and fervor Of . few ex-
1nts whs happen to hold once
- council. A coterie Of salaried
b Nov York are primarily re-
no(ols Cor All these rsckloss pro
n1ameptoss-
~ : matter Of lndisputabie fact.
IN alive can say sufhoritafiveiy
1Chor ths churchee of this country |
oactnst h their visvs. ~ vhsth-
~ sfill hold 10 The historic posi-
thas truth. tustice and right
1850 must b maintained, even
= - cost Of ail ssrthiy possessions
e Ne itself. Only the ofnciai
~ 6 ~ 6snouina tioos corin
~x ~ tAeir coogtitucnciee, and
q 0avs NOT 6oos % Even thcn
h1Cnk and Ale q the msmbsrship
y rqfsse 70 b guided By the &c |
Dt1oal uttssaaoe. Obviously, no
cooibis executive Of q dsnomina-
Vonh prssurse 70 speak Cor the
~ body upoa ssah Q grave sub |
U>oN chsreh ceunssis Stand. /
1onrontly, these considerations
- weigh with the ofscers Of the
~ Council Of Churches, which
sely . fsdsraiioa for purposes
~.