The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-03-19
MINISTER BRAVES
THE THREATS Of
GERMAN SPIES
denominations of German
American Alliance Would
Set Bells of Hell Ringing
Says He.

SHELBYVILLE. Ind. March 49,
The Rev. James Shera Montgomery.
pastor Of the Calvary Methodist Epis-
copal church at Washington, D. c.. and
former resident of Shelbyville, has
been threatened with death by persons
whom he believes to be paid spies In
the service Of the German government.
The threats have been made in anony-
nous letters sent to Montgomery, and
have followed severe denunciatiOns OF
kaiserism, which have been made by
him in his church and on the lecture
platforms Of the country.
Mr.. Montgomery is one Of the best
known ministers in the Methodist
Episcopal church. and has wide &C
quaintance throughout Indiana on the
Chautauqua platforms. He appeared
in many cities of this state last sum-
mer as a speaker on war topics. He
was born in Shelbyville and received
his early education here. Ed K. Mont
gome1y, of this city, is brother and
Mrs. Emma Mont McRae. formerly
head of the English department at
Purdue. is his sister.
Throws Down the Gauntlet
The following from Washington re-
lates the manner in which Mr. Mont
gomery received the threats of spies:
His life threatened in anonymous
letters of pro-German origin. capital
pastor has thrown down the gauntlet
and taken the stand that he prefers
death to silencing his attacks on Ger
many and German intrigue. He is the
Rev. James Shera Montgomery, pastor
of Calvary NJ. E. church. whose indict-
ments of kaiserism from the pulpit
have drawn the attention of what he
believes are a group of German agents
in Washington.
"The affair came to climax when.
in a sermon, Mr.. Montgomery openly
charged that some of his enemies were
present in the congregation. and defied
them. 1t was during an indictment OF
the Germar-American Alliance that he
declared: 4 want to take this occasion
to insist that when you-and / know
you are here-write any more of your
scurrilous communications to me. you
sign your names. Go on now and take
out your pencils and make notes if you
wish. I am not afraid. 1t makes no
difference to me whether my life is
short '7ed or not as long as / do my
duty as loyal American
after the close Of services two men
Of the congregation took their places
by Mr. Mo,tgomery's side and escort
ed him to his home. Mr.. Montgomery
said that he had turned batch of the
anonymous letters over to private
detective agency.
Honeycombed With Spies
at is not surprising that such a
thing as this would happen. said Mr..
Montgomery. this country is honey
combed with spies and German
agents. The government has had
enough regard for Mr.. Montgomery
oratorical powers along patriotic lines
to request him to make a tour of the
country in behalf of the third Liberty
loan and War Savings stamps cam
paisn.
He bitterly attacked the German
American Alliance, declaring that
their denominations are dirty enough
to set the bells of hell ringing Its
trail would shame the devil he added
marked as it is by Internal rascalities
perpetrated directly and indirectly
against the land which gave the per-
petrators refuge from oppression and
repression. This organization has
sowed the land with seed with a made
in-Germany drill and the harvests are
calculated to undermine the strength
of this free government. This work
is diabolical treason"