New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-03
Patriotic Issue
Causes Split in
Jersey Church

PALISADE, y. j., Dec. This viii
lage Of 1900 inhabitants. mostly New
York commuters, is to-day in the
throes of making "itself safe for de-
mocracy." Centring about the figure
of the Rev. Marion j. Bradshaw, the
young pastor Of the Union Church
here, Palisades patriotic bid has torn
1t into two factions, caused charges OF
pacifsm and worse to be made, and
generally has caused the biggest stir
since the last elections to the local fire
company.
Concretely, the church row has re
suited in the detection of number Of
the congregation, including Professor
John r. Crawford, of Columbia Univer-
sity. Many Of those who left the
church because Of the pastors eX-
pressed views on Americas part in the
war have seriously considered holding
an indignation meeting Others talked
of having the Department of Justice
edit the sermons, following the dis
covery that they had been passed un-
touched by board of censorship made
up Of higher church officials from New
York.
According TO Charles Thomas Logan,
founder of Palisade and one of the
leaders of the Church, the trouble
started in February. short time after
Mr. Bradshaw, student then at Union
Theological Seminary. accepted the pull
pit at the Union Church.
The occasion was Washington's
Birthday sermon. Mr.. Bradshaw i'm
proved the opportunity by declaring,
Logan says, that america should be
Judged by what she had BEEN and that
she had descended from her high es-
tate" by her attitude toward the war.
Through the time when America en-
tered the war, Mr.. Logan says, the pas
tor never once offered prayer for the
safety of the country and President,
while he continued preaching sermons
lukewarm in attitude when not directly
ccunselling independence with regard
TO war views.
Then, several weeks ago, when the
drafted men Of the Church left for
Camp Dix the pastor told them they
must be as loyal to their group as the
Germans were 10 theirs. Criticlsing
those who would suppress Socialists
and pacifsts for their anti-war views,
Mr.. Bradshaw, according to Logan,
likenod such suppression to the Ger
man military necessity which con-
doned the "rape of Belgium"
IN increasing measure these views
had aroused the indignation of some
of the congregation. Professor Craw-
ford dropped out several months ago.
While others, including Mr.. Logan, did
not quit the church, they never at
tended services conducted by Mr.. Brad
shaw.
So great was the opposition that Mr..
Bradshaw finally felt called on to sub
nit his sermons, before preaching
them. to a board. made up of the Rev.
DR.. Charles S. mcfarland. secretary
of the Federal Council Of Churches of
New York City; Professor William
Adams Brown, chairman Of the War
Time Commission of Protestant
Churches, and the Rev. DR.. Henry
Churchill King, president Of Oberlin
University.
Mr.. Bradshaw yesterday in his ser
mon repeated his plea for liberty of
opinion about the war. Afterward he
denied he was against the war, and said
he was willing TO identify himself with
its prosecution, as he believed it willed
by the people.
Mr.. Logan, unsatisfed declared last
night he was speaking for large body
Of dissenters when he said;
"Mr. Bradshaw has made an able and
vet feeble attempt to clear his skirts
Of the lack of patriotic enthusiasm.
Far from settling the public mind that
he is loval, his utterances tell US plain
" that-he has a right to think what he
pleases and those who do not like his
thoughts can 90 elsewhere. Many are
doing So"