Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-16
BENCH CHURCH.
LOSES LARGE
MEMBERSHIP
Thirty-three Members Of the
Wright Congregational
Chur c h Withdraw and
Disclaim All Liability.
Pro German Trouble Which
Broke Out at Church In
vestigation on Nov. 8. Is
Cause of Action-Minister
Bids Them God Speed.

OduSC VI xACUAOA 4AAAAAoVOA
Bids Them God Speed. 4
The controversy among the MEM
bers OF the Wright congregational
church on the bench has again come
into the limelight through action taken
Saturday by SO members who nave
given public notice of their withdraw
al. The original controversy was over
alleged pro- German sympathies Inc
action of these members is taken to
indicate to those familiar with the sit
uation that the pro-German trouble
has not doed down.
Members included on the list OF
those who have withdrawn declare
they will not be responsible for the
actions of either the pastor or Others
and that they will assume no further
liabilities of the church.
These members, whose signatures
appear on the withdrawal list declare
they do rot ask for letters of dismiss
sal They are: w. II. Weaver, Rosa
Allen, E. f. Weaver, Mrs. L. f. Weav-
err. Estelle Johns B. F. Allen. w. II.
Allen, Mrs. w. II. Allen, Zoa Weaver,
Mrs l.. G.. Allen, O. II. Hogle, Mr.
Dilla Hogle Olive Hogle, Susie Allen,
Douglas f. Weaver. Zelda Allen, VIII
bur Allen, Chester Miller, Matte Allen,
c. r. Sharp. Mrs. c. r. Sharp, c. l..
Allen. Mrs. C. p. Allen. Albert Johns,
Gladys Allen, Mrs. w. T. Miller, Glenn
Allen ESlza G. Howry, Nelma Allen
and Mamie Allen.
The names were secured upon a pc
tition which was circulated about the
district in which many of the church
members reside and it is claimed was
willingly signed by all those APP
preached.
eiDs THEM GOD SPEED.
Rev Philip Koenig. pastor of the
church. when advised late Saturday
night of the action of members who
had withdrawn, was asked if he had
any statement to make concerning
their action or if he knew of any good
reason for it. He replied: Il have
only to say that the church council
decided against the minority in their
findings on Nov. s and if they desire
to withdraw from the church, I wish
them God speed and that they may
prosper. | am concerned in the well
fare of the church and that it continue
10 fill place for good in tne com
mInity."
The trouble between the members
OF the wright ionSIeSdtioHal Ihui "a
Is of long standing On several occa
sons the conference committee has
been called to settle slight troubles
which have arisen there and has al
ways been successful in handling the
delicate situations with tact.
Trouble broke loose in the church or
the night of Nov. s, following a tria
of two of it's members, p. +. Allen
who was charged with using his churcf
office for purposes not TO the best in
tercsts of the congregation and Mr.
Eisley, charged with making Islander
Gus statements about the pastor. Tn
hearing lasted q greater part of TIN
dav and finally resulted in the churc
council finding the charges true to
certain degree. Their finding wa
then put up to a church vote. whici
resulted in "a voting to sustain ther
and IL against.
DECLARE PASTOR PRO- GERMAN
Immediately following the churcl
vote. Mr.. Koenig, the pastor, starte
to walk over to the minority, whe
he encountered Mrs. d. NJ. Hogle, VIII
administered a sound slap on the pas
tors cheek, and she says, accused hir
of being a German sympathizer. I'm
mediately another minister in tn
formed the young woman that if sh
must slap anyone to slap him. Sh
accepted the challenge and smote hi
numerous times on the cheek. Mr.
Hogle claimed at the time she struc
in self defense.
Pro-German charges were mad
against the minister and the followin
Sunday he did not occupy the pulpit.
Since then. however, church serv
ices have been held regularly by tn
minister and members of the minorit
faction have continued to hold the
offices in the church.
ASKS WITHDRAWAL.
Wednesday of this week. the minis
ers of the church conference held al
other session i'm Boise at which tn
differences in the Wright Congrege
tional church were discussed. Viii
the ministers refuse to give anythin
out for the public it is understood thu
recommendations were made by the
that Mr.. Allen surrender his office
the church as superintendent Of tt
Sunday school, and copy. OF the
recommendation was mailed to hil
with the result that the petition
once sprung into existence and a good
number of the church members witt
drew from the church.
Friends of the pastor assert tn
charges that he is pro- German in h
sympathies are not we'll founded The
claim he has engaged in patriotic wo
and done nothing to cause the accus;
ton that he is dsloyal.
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midwinter millinery. The Bonn
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