Omaha daily bee., 1917-08-11
PATRIOTIC move
CAUSES SPLIT IN
CHURCH CA 0|RS
Organizations OF Three Lu.
theran Churches in Omaha
Refuse to Participate
in Cantata.

The Emmanuel Lutheran church
choir, the Salem Swedish Lutheran
choir and the Trinity Lutheran choir
have announced their withdrawal from
the Reformation cantata. Under the
direction Of the Kountze Memorial
choir rehearsals have been con-
Quoted for the big concert to be held
at the Municipal Auditorium.
The singers said patriotic rea-
sons was the cause of their with.
drawaIs. The break has been ex-
pccted since the publication of the
charges against certain members OF
the Lutheran church in the state by
the Nebraska State Council of De-
fense.
In order to be loyal Americans
and to uphold the president and the
country in this crisis of war against
Germany, it would be advisable that
VIC withdraw from the Kountze Me-
mortal choir in giving concert" is
the sense OF the resolution passed
unanimously by members of the
Emmanuel choir.
Disapproves Baltzly.
The action of the Emmanuel Luther
ans is attributed to disapproval of ut
terances made with reference to the
war by the Rev. Q. d. Baltzly, pastor
of kountze church.
Rev. A. T. Lorimer, pastor of I'm
manuel Lutheran church, denies that
the breal: was caused for the patri-
otic reasons assigned.
1T is true we have decided not to
take part in the cantata planned to
be given with kountze church in the
fall, but the reasons quotedNare given
out by vindict.ve and irresponsible
persons" he said.
Our church is very loyal to this
government and we will have moth
ing TO do with anything or anybody
that is even tainted with disloyalty,'
said Rev. Carl Bloomquist, pastor
OF the Trinity Lutheran church. "Oul
choir has not taken any action, bu
there is a general understanding
among the members that it shall mo-
participate in Kountze Memorial
church affairs i'll any manner"
Salem Quits, Too.
Rev. +. A. Linder, pastor of the
Salem : Swedish Lutheran church
when asked what action the choir in
his church would take in regard to
the Kountze Memorial Church Ref.
ormation cantata said:
I'VE discussed the matter and de-
cided not to take any part with the
Kountze Memorial choir in the Ref
ormation cantata. | will not say that
this action was brought about through
the utterances of Rev. o. D. Baltzly,
but we will not participate
After reading the account in The
Bee of the rupture, Rev. Mr.. kuhns
made this statement:
"As a Lutheran minister ! depiore
this condition. 1t is not a matter
which concerns the denomination as
a whole. 1t is purely local and con-
Germs the choirs only and must be
settled by them. AS my Office is
with the general work in an official
capacity and as l am not a pastor
of the churches concerned / think
this is all ! should say"
Lutheran clergymen who called al
The Bee office yesterday in an attempt
to suppress publication of the refusal
of the various choirs to participate in
the Kountze choir cantata, refused to
be quoted.
They said that, in their belief, the
attitude of the chors WHICH has an
nounced withdrawal is being misrep-
resented. They said that plans for
the big Reformation cantata have
been dropped. They are of the opin-
ion that it is best to let the cantata
rest for a time.