Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 238, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1914 — PASTORS IN ARMIES [ARTICLE]

PASTORS IN ARMIES

Many Protestant Clergymen Bear Arms in European War. Preachers of Both France and Germany Forced to Go to Front When Call to Colors Came—Churches , Are Broken Up. New York. —More than 250 Protestant clergymen are bearing arms In the French army, according to a statement issued here by S. Karl Taylor, secretary of the board of foreign missions of the Methodist Episcopal church, while nearly all of the German Methodist ministers engaged In missionary and religious work in south Germany have been called to the colors. The Methodist Theological school at Frankfort, Germany, has been closed, most of the students having been drafted iiffo the army, Mr. Taylor said. “Bishop Nuelsou, in charge of the work of the board’s affairs in Europe, reports to the home office that churches are disturbed and families and congregations broken up,” the statement continues. "Rev. Ernest W. Bywssne, superintendent of the church in France, sailed from New York on the Minnehaha in the hope of being able to reach parishes in southeastern France which are said to be in great distress.” Fear was expressed by officials of the board here that if Turkey goes to war missionary workers in Tunis anil Algeria will be in great peril.. From missionaries in the Belgian Kongo word was received of a threatened attack' from-the neighboring German colonies. Letters" from Liberia tell of distress and anxiety among the missionaries there, due to the possibility of an uprising among the natives, who, Mr. Taylor said, had become imbued with the war. spirit as the news of the European war had spread among them. Missionaries in. India and eastern Asia, it is said, are facing serious problems growing out of financial and trade disorders.