Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-20
WHERE DO THE MEMBERS STAND7

LIZ. - os~0 w SApAo1A kuo dCI1Ou o I the majority
of the members of the German Evangelical Synod church
at New Salem, Of which Rev. J. Fontana continues to be
pastor, in refusing to dismiss him after his conviction
Of preaching sedition and being sentenced therefor. on
the ground that those people, being isolated, were really
not aware OF the gravity Of the crime of which the man
nad been convicted, and, lacking a proper understanding
OF the facts, acted from what they conceived to be a
sense Of loyalty to the pastor whom they had trusted
and believed In other words. II one wishes to take a
very liberal and charitable view Of the situation, he may
assume that the 81 members Of the New Salem church
are not really disloyal. but merely ignorant. That may
involve some strain on the imagination, but it may be
made to serve.
But the matter goes, far beyond a handful Of men,
beers of an isolated congregation. The synod is an or
ganized body. It's management is in the hands of officers
who themselves are pastors, and, presumably, men Of
education. They read books and newspapers. They
know that the war is on, and tAey know, or should know,
what it is about And those officers, or an officer repre-
senting them and the various congregations in the dis
trict have deliberately conferred honor upon Mr.. Fon-
tana after his conviction, and have sisnified their trust
and confidence in him by selecting him to perform an
Official act Of importance in the operation Of the church.
BY the action taken on behalf Of their organization every
pastor in the synod stands committed to the seditious
doctrines which Mr.. Fontana preached. In the same
manner every one OF the thousands Of ministers Of the
several congregations stands committed to the same doc
trine. What are they going to do about it?
The New York Times, commenting on the case, says:
The seriousness Of such a case as this lies,
% not in what it shows as to the sentiment pre-
vailing in one isolated hamlet. but in its revel-
alton that there exists a large ecclesiastical or
ganization in the eyes Of whose elected lead
efs disloyalty constitutes a claim to honor. The
reverse OF this also must be true-that in their
eyes loyalty is reprehensible and something to
~ be punished. or at least to be discouraged.
&S The charge Of disloyalty to the American govern.
naent lies against every pastor and every member Of tina.
church. and It will SO lie until pastors and members
sby word and act, %repudtate the words OF Mr.. Fontana
md the action OF those oncials who have chosen ia
IN honor him.
sHSS1 Such . situation cannot be q PLEASANT one to any
Nsan who is really q loyal citizen Of this republic, but
gsthS situation exists. It oan be changed only by the
sM9&nEEtnnpt 4and effective action Of those whom it anectl
sSsseNs6 nearly. IL ~ Y dfor the loyal members, il there are
SA916opsh of them, to- take charge; OF their church without
sSMys10N1thay ana placssi Il IN M AAnnerican bats: ana, IL they
Sf1SeE HIN ~ far ins me minority that they cannot contro1. Ia
themselves from Il. IN order that 4 clear dis.
zion may be- made between those who AZ Americans
f9S3 those Who are not
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