Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-07
FREE SPEECH WINS
LUTHERAN DEBATE
Kev. DR.. Jacob Fry Victor in
Fight Against Suppressing
Unity Discussion
HYGIENE, TOO, TRIUMPHS

III, ALLENTOWN. Pa. June :.
INC venerable Rev Dr. Jacob Fry. Of
Souht Airy Seminary, stood up as the
ri ,lpp'n ',llon OF the press and free speech at
n,'H nhorhIug.s session of the Lutheran Min
S,erlum OF Pennsylvania. and in a debate
"'at aSted long after the dinner won
"hould hate 60 see this Ministcrli,,,
"NN any action whatsoever to abrldrc thc
sicyuoIa OF the press or Of any speaker"
Sog,t.eu Doctor Fry, in tones clear as a bell
"'SnIte mis- cighty-thrce years
Ihe debate developed during tho con-
s,uetauon Of the question of amalramation
w ,"e General Council, the General SYNOD
"uu Ie United Synod Of the South. This
was recommended by an almost unanimous
- "eh came a recommendation To keep
IL'rt 'nput the matter This aroused tho
api'I OF lair play that has alwass actuatcd
lh' NE conduct Of Doctor FRY. and n,
the press. 'S''''''' '''u@@''''.
We dare not do this The question IS
proper one for discussion brethren
sucn resolution might even prevent
perfectly proper discussion nf tho ,r,ttor
IN our church papers"
The Rev. DR.. Charles NJ. Jacobs. OF Phil.
auelphla' opposed successfully a propositIon
10 send a delegation from the NIinistcriurn
WIN binding instructions on church uplon
ne declared that 1t was foolish thus TO act
m .,l 'ne dark on matters never brought up on
Nn1Il1 hp
lIJudlclous TO act in advance on n question
he said. ~ N"'"se'
me discussion on church union and the
freedom Of the press was preceded bv n
long debate on the individual communion
cup coming up for action as a recomnenda-
ton in the report of the Rev. DR. Harvey
a. Weller, Of Philadelphia, president of tho
mlnisterum. small and eloquent minor
lty fought against changing the historic
| method OF administering the communion
WnlCh they say was tho way Christ did II
II AT tho Last supper the Saviour himself
| pouring the wine and all drinking out OF
| ono cup. In arguing against a change they
| Drought In all the preCedcnts of the ages,
from the night before the Crucihxion to the
| present day
| In support Of tho change II was stated
| mat number Of congregations have al
| ready adopted tho individual communion
| cup, ana IT was also argued that this was
| the sanitary way, i'm line with the good
| work done by Doctor Dixon, the state Com
| missioner Of Health. II developed that the
! Rev Elmer .. Leopold. one Of the best
| the"loran5 In the minstrrium. who Is a
minister of undimted orthodoxy, long ago
| adopted the individual communion cup plan
| for sanitary reasons
President Wcllrr's report in favor uf m,
| individual cup was adopted, with the pro-
| Niso that before making any changes from
| che historical method the congregation no
tity the president. The motion I'm fayul
| was overwhelming, nut there was cuusula
| ton for the ubjccturs in the form of
| clause that the committee hc named TO ad
wise the president in the matter. Even a
| that several ministers solemuly rcgistcrc,
! their constitutional objection To the change
! Other business Of the morning was Ions
plea from the Rev. NJ. j. Biebcr. of tn,
! synod OF canada, for men for that field
This afternoon the Muistcrum began tn,
celebration Of the iOoth anniversary Of tn
| Reformation.