The Washington times., 1917-04-05
M. E. PASTOR TEARS
DOWN GERMAN FLAG
Patriotic cIergymen at Confer
ence Reused by Absence of
French Tri-coIor.

NEW YORK, April "a German
nag hanging from the balcony OF the
Washington Square Church yesterday
reused the ire of patriotic clergymen
attending the New York Methodist
Episcopal Conference until they de-
manded that the offensive banner be
removed. others, less beJlicose in dis
position, proposed to arbitrate the
question. But the debate was scarcely
under way before the Rev. B. c. War
rem, D. D., pastor OF the Eighteenth
Street Church, climbed to the gallery
and stripped the red, white, and black
from its hangings and threw 1t on
the floor.
The Rev. Clark Wright, retired
minister of Yonkers, and a veteran
of the civil war, opened the proceed
inEs by turning to where row OF
foreign flags were draped from the
balcony. They were the flags of coun-
tries where the Methodist church is
carrying on its work, but the French
flag was missing because none could
be obtained.
Puts France First.
There is no nation to which the
American heart goes out as 1t does to
, France" cried DR.. Wright, yet I see
there is no French flag in this church.
The fags of the other nations are
here. Over on yonder wall is even
the nag of the horrible Turk, and the
German flag seems to have been given
a place of prominence. 1t hangs first
to the left OF the balcony. move
that the German flag be Withdrawn
until the French flag shall have Its
place"
The Rev. Sheridan Watson Bell. D.
D., pastor OF the Washington Square
Church, explained apologetically that
for some reason IT had been impos-
sible to get French flag. This, how
ever, did not soothe the ministers,
who were becoming excited over the
presence of the Teuton banner. To
calm them Chancellor James r. Day
Of Syracuse University suggested
that sit must be remembered that we
are not fighting the German people,
but a dynasty. The flag represents
the people of the whole country and
though 1 am by no means a pacifist,
as you all know, I think we ought
to go q little slow In anything that
might wound our brethren there"
In Uncle Sans Name.
He got no further, for the Rev. |
Frank L. Wilson, OF Tremon; Church,
cried out:
81 move that the pastor get a |
French flag and put it up as quickly |
as he can even II II he has to go to
the French consulate for tt"
The angry outcry rose higher. and |
In the midst of it DR.. Warren started |
for the gallery, shouting
'1n the name of the United States |
Government 1 demand that the Ger
man flag be taken DOWN.
An instant later the bit OF bunting |
had been striped from the balcony, |
and although DR.. Warren was urged |
to put it back until the conference |
could vote on the matter, he refused |
point blank.
stored some semblance of order, and |
announced that DR.. Wright had made
4 motion which in effect would remove |
the German flag and substitute in its |
place the French tri-color
Prayer for Guidance.
This motion wes carried overwheln-
ingiy amid cheers. although the Rev. J. |
Elmer Gates Of Tarrytown and the Rev. |
Christian F. Reisner Of Grace Church |
offered amendments which would have |
defeated its purpose. DR.. Gates sug-
Eested that no flag but the American |
should be allowed at the conference. |
but this was rejected So was DR.. Reis-
ners suggestion that by passing a reso.
luton for removing the flag before Con-
Sress declared war the delegation might |
be embarrassing the situation"
A committee Of five was appointed IN |
draft resolutions pledging the denonI-
nations support to President Wilson. /
and Bishop Wilson offered a prayer for |
The guidance Of the country in the pres
ent crisis, on DR.. Reisner's motion.
Up TO the time Of adjournment, ,ate in
the afternoon. no French flag had been
obtained to replace the German, but II
was said efforts were being made 70 INV