Religion: Bible v. Nudism

And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses . . . said, Who is on the Lord’s side? . .. —Exodus, 32: 25-26. And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing. … — Leviticus, 20: 17. I counsel thee to buy . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear. . . . —Revelation, 3: 18. In the Bible there are nearly 100 such references to nakedness. Last week they were cited by the indignant elders of 223-year-old Ponds Reformed Church in Oakland, N. J., in a solemn resolution accepting the resignation of one of their fellows. Rev. Ilsley Boone, longtime elder and sometime supply preacher, has been a prominent and active Nudist for two and one-half years. A small, white-haired,53-year-old father of seven, he organized Nudist colonies in New Jersey and New England, helped found The Nudist which he calls the “only bona fide magazine” of its sort. Nudist Boone’s activities began annoying the Ponds Church congregation last August. Last month the consistory of elders asked him quietly to resign. Nudist Boone agreed, stipulating however that the consistory accept twelve conditions, such as that no accusation of “moral or spiritual turpitude” be made; that the standards of Nudism be conceded to be consistent with “a wholesome Christian life.” Last week the consistory accepted the resignation with many a “whereas” but declined to accept the twelve conditions. Thereupon Nudist Boone announced that he had not resigned at all and could now be removed only for cause.