The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-19
HATS OFF IN CHURCH.
How a Chicago Pastor Worked q
Church Reform.

low q Gn1C&2O K w OEA00 q
Church Reform.
Chicago, May 19-The Rev. R. F. Johon-
not, pastor of Unity church. Oak Park,
has found plan to abolish high hats in
church, the success of which Sunday in
the minister's congregation may give him
just ground for believing ministerial tact
superior even to the aldermanic sagacity
of a Plotke.
The uncovered heads of women in Uni
ty church Sunday morning were num-
erous enough to suggest the prospect of
ushers coming down the aisles between
acts to hand women with their hats on
little cards citing the sections and para
graphs of certain city ordinance COM
manding the removal of feminine head
gear.
No Plotl1e ordinance, or even any of the
SO articles. controls the actions of those
who worship at Unity But when the wo-
men of the congregation entered the
place Sunday morning more than half of
them removed their hats or bonnets.
There were three young women who
sat near the front row adorned with
pyramids of flowers and feathers who
looked straight ahead and pretended not
to see the hats going off all around them.
They had made up their minds that they
wouldn't take theirs off and they didn't.
And there were others of the same frame
OF In1nQ, DQC with the most I0OQi1Ga ana
subdued fashions of headgear.
The majority, however. uncovered their
heads upon entering the church and sat
through the services with their millinery
in their laps.
The Rev. r. F. Johonnot is not in SYM
pathy with the idea that everything con-
nected with playhouse is an abomina-
ton. He even believes that if a thing
is a good thing it makes it none the
worse that it originated in the temple of
Thespia.
In accordance with the pastors belief
when he entered his church a few weeks
ago, during an evening illustrated lecture
and saw several women in the audience
had taken off their hats as though from
force of habit, the idea came to him in a
flash that this custom might be estab-
lished in the churches, to the mutual ad-
vantage of preachers and their parishion-
ers.
How to get about instituting the reform
was the next question. The pastor did
not want to speak of the matter from
the pulpit. He had, however, another
means of communicating with his flock.
AS the publisher of newspaper he
might be able to accomplish something
for reform that he could not even under
take as a preacher.
He is the publisher of a weekly leaflet
that is mailed every Friday to all of the
members of the church. called the Unity
Church News. The next copy of this pa
per contained a leading editorial entitled
Ladies' Hats in Church.
The editorial contained this paragraph:
Now that the custom for which ladies
well as gentlemen, who like to see the
stage must be grateful of ladies removing
their hats a a theater, is beginning to be
established. why should not this reform
be carried into the church? Must the
children of darkness to use the scrip
tural phrase, always be wiser than the
children of light?' People like to see the
choir and minister in the church, as well
as the actors on the STAGE
The next Sunday a few women, includ-
ing the members of the choir, removed
their hats, and the next issue of the pa
per had an editorial headed will the
Leaven Work?' commenting on the fact
and giving the pastors views on the
subject of the proposed reform in full.
A week ago Sunday Mrs. Johonnot, the
pastors wife, on entering the church.
asked her husband, in the presence of
several women, if he wanted her to take
her hat off. He replied he did not intend
to urge anyone to follow his suggestion.
He had given publicity to his idea and if
the people thought it a good one they
might act upon the suggestion. He want
ed the scheme to stand or fall its
its.
Mrs. Johonnot removed her hat. This
exemplifies Mr.. Johonnot's method of
dealing with the question, and the pro-
blem has been dealt with by the women
of the church after their own fashion
Every woman seen Sunday Endorsed the
plan.
Mrs. J. T. johnson. a leading member
of the choir, said: ''I hardly think the
plan will be universally adoted, as in the
minds of some there are objections to
it. Some of the women say they cannot
put their hats on without a mirror. It's
the old question, you know, Is my hat
on straight? But to me the plan seems
a good one, just from the point of COM
fort
Another young woman who did not
want to be quoted, said she took her hat
off, and should continue to do so, merely
out of consideration of those behind her
Mrs. J. E. Wilkie approves the plan and
said she never was as comfortable in
church as since she began removing her
hat. A church might as well have a
check room for hats and wraps as for
bicycles, and a mirror could easily be
placed in the dressing room where it
would be convenient for all.
''Demonthenes, you know said Mr. Jo-
honnot yesterday, declared action was
the greatest part of oratory I agree with
him, and while am not an actor I want
to be seen when am speaking and belive
I can speak more effectively. believe the
plan will meet with general approval as
it seems to in my church,