The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-17
MINISTERS ASKED
TO SEEK RELEASE
OF WAR "CAPTNES'
Some Philadelphia CIergymen
Spurn Propaganda Directed
Toward Gaining Freedom
for Political Prisoners"

PHILADELPHIA. IA al group u
lhlladelrhlaus has sent nHf letters to
clergymCn asai' 3 them to preach am
ncsty 60 political prisoners The
term is % used 10y pJeidste and oih-
srS win rvie'tUC, Co. C"u@t HtlHa nb-
l~ectors and such men Hs E.4Ee4t ~.
llehs, convicted of violating the espluu-
age act. Victor ByI ger. the convicted
representative from Wisconsin, and
others.
The clergymcn, however, expressed no
great enthusiasm Tor the idea. Rev.
Or. Floyd w Tons. us, rector Of Holy
Trinity church, asserted that he would
pay no attention 90 The communication.
Rev. Charles l., Hunter. pastor Of the
Wissinuming Baptist church, has de-
cided To preach the sermon.
The letter. which haS stirred clergy
men of all denominations. was signed
by 10 ciergNmeU and women prominent
IN civic affairs. Replies. according to
the letter, were 90 be made to Mrs.
Walter Cope, POO East Johnson street.
Germantown. She Is the sister of Fran
els Fisher Kane. United States district
attorney Cor Eastern Pennsy Iyania.
Emphasizes Precedent
The circular letter reads.
Early IN january. iail-not two
months after the signing of tho armI-
stice, while England was stitl bleeding
from the terrible wounds of the world
war--a petition for the immediate re-
iOtse on all conscientious DIRECTORS
was sent To the prime minister. II was
signed by 20 bishops OF the Anglican
church, as well rs man clergy Of the
Tree churches n prominent laymen,
among the latter Arnold Bennett, John
Galsworthy, Jerome X. Jerome. Gilbert
Murray, g. Bernard Shaw. Israel Fang
will, Lady Betty Balfour. the Countess
hT kAnrVatAL ! AHnr H. nt-
count Bryce and Niseount Morley. OW-
ing to this and similar humane efforts,
England, France ana ltaly have set
Tree virtually all their prisoners of
conscience"
THE purpose Of this letter is to in
FORM you that, one year and W. months
after the signing Of the armistiee, po-
litical prisoners n conscientious OBJ
1ectors are sin being imprisoned in
America, In some cases under fero-
riously long sentences and terrible pris-
on conditions Fortunately, the clergy
~ this country are beginning TO lift
their voices ~ .ruteSt
Episcopacy Movement.
Last summer the general wartime
commission or the Protestant churches
~ America asked for the release Of the
conscientious directors A plea against
continued imprisonment Of political Of
Tenders issued BY the Church League
Tor Social and Industrial Democracy,
has been signed by p bishops OF the
Protestnnt Episcopal church
THE doors q America are stiil closed
on many 81 those whose ouense was an
attitude deemed disioyal and hostile to
the countrN's wartime welfare We
protest against thu continued impTlson.
ment OF those In prison for co~nscience's
SAKE n whose further Incarceration
can result only In a sense of injury that
makes Tor discomfort and in uepriyiug
the communities to which they belong
or that service which, the war being
over, they may safety be counted on
70 render CThe C~hurchman, Christmas
number, 1919, page S2l
We hape that earnest consideration
OF this letter and the inclosed literature
may persuade you TO lend your aid in
all or any Of the following ways.
!. VII you not direct the attention
OF your congregation To the state OF
affairs, SO that the 'sorrowful signing
OF the prisoners may came before thtm'
and urge the immediate release of ali
those incarcerated because of their
principles2
Seeking Petition.
90 Would you be willing to give
your signature TO a petition to be signed
9y the Philadelphia ~clergymen OF all
denominations?
20. Would you facilitate tho ctrcu.
latlon of a similar petition among the
members OF your congregations
~. As there Is a vast mount of In
formation unknown TO the public Of the
dreadful conditions In prisons and pen
itentlaries, would you care to have an
expert address any church guild. club
Or forum and describe such eonditionsY
70. Kindly let us know what your
stand will hp an fkIa tY,1.~ta.. -,
n hoping for your approval and CO.
operation, We remain. yours respect
fully.
tSigned): Mrs. William II. Abbey.
Rev. Samuel T. Booth, George Burn
ham, Jr., DR.. Laura II CARMEL. Fanny
i. Cochran. Rev. X. II. Convict. Rev.
z. h. Grammer, Mrs. Edwin G. Grice.
Rev. Fred Il, Griffin. Mary II. lngham,
Or. :, Nj. kingsbury, Rev. Joseph
krauskopt, Rev, J. a. MacCallum, Rev.
g.. l. Richardson, J. II, S~cattergooa.
Please reply to Mrs. Walter Cope,
zoo East johnson street, Germantown,
Philadelphia"
already has been done by all of the
allies, said Rev, Samuel Il. Booth.
England p%ardoned her conscientious
directors a year age.
w are not trying particularly to
procure a pardon for Berger or pebs
of LOT any person who may have been
Imprisoned for violation Of any law.
But We are DESTROYS Of obtaining free
dom fer those who have been imprls.
oned for their religious CONVICTIONS
We believe that the war actually
having ended, freedom should be grant
ed to all those who were deprived OF
their liberty because OF conditions due
entirely To the war. Copies of the ap-
peal, asking for ermon in defense OF
lEAER nsrgnnE lp Va h4.tt g.pt ., .Y.n,.
clergyman in the city"