The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-23
HATS ORE IN CHURCH.
Pastor JOhOnnot serves Notice ON the
Women OF His Congregation.

Women OF His Congregation.
Chicago Times-Herald.
The women of Unity Church. Oak Park,
will take off their bonnets and hats and sit
unbonneted and Undated during the Sum
Gay morning and evening services con-
Quoted by their pastor, Rev II. +. Johon-
not, who says he cannot see why the chill
dreh OF darkness should always be wiser
than the children of light" In TACT he does
not propose to let the theater become more
advanced than the church So a few weeks
ago. he intimated TO his congregation his
wishes in the matter and requested ths
women of Unity Church to be leaders in
the new movement
Naturally the step caused something more
than a ripple of surprise Not a little in
dignation was expressed. There We're some
who said Pastor Johonnot was growing
autocratic when he attempted to dictate
In matters of dress. II hardly seemed de-
corous 10 sit unbonneted in church. besides
there were other questions involved. What
was to become of the church millinery?
How does my hair look?" would be the
query now instead of the old familiar. rs
my hat on straight" There is no profess
sonal hairdresser in the suburb and the
fashionable members of the congregation
were in a flutter about doing up their hair.
Mrs did not propose to sit in front Of
Mrs. b with a dowdy couture. And should
II be a Psyche Knot or waterfall? She
asked a friend how she managed to have
heF cr1mps look so artistic on Sunday
morning and was told:
Il go to a hairdresser in the city on SAT-
urday and sit up all night.
But you will find that very wearing?"
L
morning"
1t certainly gives the congregation
home look as they sit all with uncovered
heads, but somehow it is not satisfying.
The attractive and diverting spectacle OF
wel-trimmed hats and Notwithstanding
as they do garden of fowers-is like the
withdrawal of the stained glass windows
or an effective part of the service. True,
there is no craning of the neck to get
around a big offensive hat to see the
preacher And this is the reason for the
mandate Take off your bonnets and hats
in church,"
Rev. r. f. Johonnot, pastor of Unity
Church, believes that the church of the fu-
ture Will have a dressing room where La
dies can leave their hats and wraps and AZ
checkroom for overcoats and umbrellas. He
is very much in earnest in his new crusade
against the monopoly of fashion. II have
no personal interest in the matter" he
said except to give more homelike and
devotional aspect to the meeting. It will
If carried out make the congregation look
as if its ladies had come to stay and were
not merely visitors Then consider the cour-
tesy of such movement. IT will be carry
ing out the golden rule. Why. l went to a
church in the city not long ago where four
young ladies came in and occupied the pew
in front of me. Each one wore a flower
garden on her head. and did not get even
a glimpse of the preacher. You see our
churches have not raised seats like the the
alter, yet the theater set the first example
and compelled ladies to take off their hats.
Now, | do not ask my people in COM
pulsory spirit to remove their hats. l sug-
gest it as a matter of courtesy first to. the
said in public. have two reasons-one, ana
the main one, is that other people may
enjoy the privileges of the sanctuary. The
other that the assembled worshipers may
look more homelilze.
THE women have accepted the edict in
a very friendly spirit of acquiescence The
leaven is working well and must express
my gratitude to the young women of the
choir who led the way. OF course, there
are some of the members who will never
change a custom until it becomes fashion.
As soon as it is fashionable to sit in church
without q bonnet all the ladies will adopt
Perhaps they have a wholesale fear Of
st. Paul, who said that the women should
remain covered in church,?
st. Paul is out of date with such tradt-
lions as those in the present age of the
world. | intend to leave the matter en-
tirey to the good sense and courtesy OF
the ladies of my congregation satisfied
that they will decide what is best them
selves The whole thing was suggested to
me by complaints made from time TO time
by sitters who could not see the platform
on account of the overshadowing presence
of fashionable millinery
The pastor of Unity Church is much be-
loved by his people, and there Is move
ment on foot among the female members
of his flock to make a concerted appear
ance. ushers being in attendance to receive
all hats and bQnnets in the lobby Of the
church. He has probably never heard Of the
way in which noted preacher of the past
rebuked the women of his compensation Tor
their adherence to foolish fashion or
headgear, which was worn on tne Top oL
a. turret of hair arranged in pyramid form.
The good man TOOK Tor MS text, 4 Op-huoI
come down." and preached a sermon of
fiery denunciation against the folly of such
a fashion. Being called upon to prove that
his text was in the Bible, he pointed OUT
the verse "And let him that is on the
house-top-lS-not come down." showing that
he had only taken the liberty of interpolat-
ing a single letter.
4 suggestion that BODIES trouble for the
pastor of Unity has been limited at in the
shape of feathers and other adornments
for the hair if the bonnet is to be laid
aside. But this distracting thought may
very beautiful hair took, her stand with
the choir in leading the way and the UNI
bonneted religion may soon have formu-
lated new standard to which all other
churches will rally.