The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-27
HATS OFF IN THIS CHURCH.
The Experiment No satisrac tory That The, Pre-
diet Great Results from the Start.

The Experiment No satisfactory That The, Pre-.
dict Great Results from the Start.
There is nothing slow about the good women
Of indianapolis, and the men out that way cant
accuse them OF doing things by halves. They
not only remove their hats in theatres and
other places OF public amusement, but have put
their veto on the church hat
1t all came about in this way: In the First
Baptist Church of that city there Is an organize
ton called the Woman's Circle. 1t has a mem
bership Of l25. including many prominent soci
ETY. women. At a recent meeting Mrs. d. NJ.
Parry suggested that 1t would be an excellent
idea for the members Of the circle to remove
their hats in church, and that ali the women in
the congregation would be sure to follow theip
good example. The suggestion took like the
measles in a free school, and Mrs. Parry hastily
put 1t in the shape Of a resolution. Mrs. Arthur
Jordan. President Of the circle, was enthusi-
astic over the idea. and spoke in favor of the
resolution, which was adopted unanimously.
The women decided that every member should
remove her hat the following Sunday. and the
congregation was amazed when they saw 10
done. The men in the congregation were SO en-
thusiastic concerning the stand taken by the
circle that the ladies of all the other churches
in that city are said to be talking about follow.
ing the example of their Baptist sisters. and
many predict that the movement will spread 10
other cities.
When Mrs. Parry was asked about the result
Of her work. according to the Chicago Times
Herald. she said:
II offered the resolution in the circle that
led to taking off hats and bonnets last Sunday.
and l think we all have reason 10 be proud Of
the result. l do not think the church ought to
be behind the times in any good thing. and now
when there is a movement to prevent hat wear
ing in theatres and other public places OF amuse-
| nnant I think II ia hiuh TINA for tho churCh -
take action, too. There are two sides to this hao
question; one affects the wearer and tho
other those about her. My attention was
first called TO the matter by the mann
fest comfort that hatless men enjoy in public
places. and | have often thought that they were
TO be cnvied. No one inexperienced in the mat
ter can appreciate the inconvenience and dls.
comfort that comes from wearing a hat or bon.
net in a crowded church on a hot day. Bc>.Gts
this, have always thought that the comp.aiWs
Of men that hats and bonnets. especially when
heightened by flowers and other ars
a nuisance was not without some justice, ana I
am now convinced, after our experience OF last
Portable ourselves without hats, but escape slv-
ing a cause OF offence to Others"
off their hats, as they had solemnly resolved TODD
but those who did say that they are satisfied
tainly the against hats have SPECIAL
force THIS year. Tor never In the history OF MI;
ribbons, fields Of flowers, and towerins forest;
Of feathers been used for embellishing woll4us
headRoar as are seen this summer. The IrtSr
dent of the circle says that the SUNDAY they
tried the experiment WAS the first for some '!Ee
that she had been able to get more than Il partial
view Of tho face of the minister during hi,.rr
mon, and she declares she never apprel.n,cdG
sermon so much before.
I'm fact, she went on. II did not know What
/ had been losing all this time till | expert;
enced the comfort OF having AN %unubstrU, tea
view OF his face during the entire discourse; We
may have looked odd to some, and no to4l.
some OF us seemed a little awkward possibly
felt so-but these things disappear in iiur. AM!
we are all sure that we shall get more good oIe
OF the services by reason OF the chang -
comforting to know that you are MOI m 'htNAy
OF some one else. at any rate, and wrN.t nave
this experience when bareheaded in cHtr. A
A crnsty New York bachelor who Asserts NAV
he has been to church but once In NIc years ~
cause he could not see the preacher for me
women's hats, thinks that the barbarouS custom.
as he terms II, OF the wearing OF hats AND Don,
nets in public places Is a relic OF ancient Orl,ulA
times when II was a badge OF bra2runcNN Tor
woman TO have her face uncovered. The women
have chung to IT. so long that he hr.Iri''t
will be Impossible for them Ia h"'"k
the custom; but the indianapolis women VOW
that they will not ~retrace their steps nov nay
they have started out To secure the comiiG,o
themselves. and remove tho grievance ~ no
big church hat from others, and when "n'ua'.
individually and collectively, says ihal 80
~won't-well, she won't.