New-York tribune., 1899-06-22
WOMEN'S HATS IN CHURCH.
MOVEMENT TO HAVE THEM TAKEN OFF
DURING SERVICE.
Is INCLINED TO MANHATTAN

BOSTON STARTS THE INNOVATION AND BROOKLYN
Is inclined TO FoLLOw-MANHATTAN
PASTORS THINKING HARD.
Indications seem to point to the fact that clergy
men, only in this city, but all over the country
are about to be confronted with a problem more or
less serious, and altogether embarrassing IL Is
the outcome OF a revolt among the men Of some
congregations against the wearing Of high or big
hats-women's hats Of course-in church. The
subject IL one that cannot apparently. be ignored
by the clergy waved aside. for the crusahe
against broad brims high crowns and spreading
feathers is growing. and in some churches the
reform" as the men call IT. has begun. In one
or two churches in Brooklyn. for instance, several
women last Sunday bowed before the rising storm
Of protest against the big hat and took OF their
hats during the service. In Somerve. suouro
Of Boston. nearly all OF the women sat with un-
covered heads during the services in Prospect Hill
Congregational Church.
II would appear that there was bit OF coercion
in the Boston church, for. according to the dis
patch telling OF the innovation the pastor an
nounced week ago Sunday that the women OF
the congregation would be expected to remove
their hats or bonnets either before or at the be-
ginning OF the service II is 10 be noted that this
pastor who. in promulgating the decree. certainly
exhibited no small amount OF heroism. found II ex-
pedient 10 mitigate in measure the severity OF
his ukase by giving the women Of his congregation
an opportunity their hats for AZ least some
time in church-long enough for them to be seen
at any rate II is not improbable that one Of the
objects he had in view in exercising this leniency
was to induce early arrival on the part OF his flock
However all this may be, the hat-removing custom
has been established in his church and so popular
has II proved with the men Of the congregation
that they have been telling their friends ABOUT II
during the week and the adoption OF the lnnova-
ton is already being urged upon the pastors OF
tkzrD vnkfsy y1hn
In Brooklyn the agitation in favor Of the plan IS
said to be spreading and the cergymen are coming
to realize that It is condition and not theory
which threatens them. In Manhattan Borough the
churchgoing men have not yet organized against the
big hat in any OF the congregations. as FAR as can
be ascertained but they are reading about what -
going on in Boston ard Brooklyn. and are oecom-
ing converts ii is said, TO the principles or the
crusade and are eager 10 participate in IT.
The reason given for the objection to the big hat
in church Is that II obstructs the view OF the
preacher and this it asserted. detracts from the
ENJOYMENT Of the sermon the effect OF which IS en-
hanced when the play Of features and gestures OF
the pulpit orator can be seen.
So far as can be learned there is no pronounced or
organized opposition on the part OF the women TO the
anti-big- hat movement. though the male members
Of families are doubtless hearing emphatic express
sions OF feminine opinion on the subject. Both
sides have placed their faith the pastors and the
latter-well TO dwell the dilemma in which they
find themselves would be superhuous
Several clergymen were seen on the sub
ject by a Tribune reporter yesterday.
good many Of them would rather not discuss
that subject Just now" others considered 1t mot
1--we issue lust yet" some expressed brief-very
/ brief-and guarded views. The Rev DR.. J. Lewis
Parks. rector Of Calvary Episcopal Church. was
much amused when asked for his views on the
question but second thought ne evidently appre-
ciated the decacy OF the subject and the difcuities
which. for obvious reasons. stood In the way OF us
full discussion. He deberated ior az ieasI a
minute before answering belng eiledseu dpPa eI.'
in turning the question over in MS rnind ana view
ing it from all sides Then , ne Said b allowed 70 wear
their hats Il they want TO- but and mere iS, was
might have them smaller. or at least small ehoush
not TO cause objection ,. -. ,,,,a O
Haze vST y0g ha4 any he %Ps asked 00u'
No and there VII not be any lou uth can orer rey
''i'iie The Rev. Dr. Jesse F Forbes pastor OF the
/ Adams Memorial Presbyterian Church said:
Il don't think there is any necessity TOT aslla-
| ton about women's hats in church at present, l
/ Paul said about women worshipping with uncoy-
cred heads does apply In this case. or 10 mod
women should take on their hats in church. OF
| course. they take them off II they want TO,
@FH The Re% Dr. G Edwin I'm s Holloway pastor Of the
| West Thirty-thlrd Street Baptist Church said;
When the proposal was nrst talked OF, ABOUT
! twelve months ago. inclined 10 look upon It
as ridiculous. But the suggestion that women
/ growing but whether It will ever be generally
/ practised is difficult to say have no opinion TO
offer as 10 the desra bility or otherwise OF such
change. but may say there have been occasions
/ in my own church when could have wished that II
was the custom for women 70 remove their mats
I have doubt that In some fashionable churches
II would be good thing If the women took their
hats Off during the service but comprehensively
speaking l inclined 70 doubt the pract!ca oilty
OF establishing an innovation Of that kind -,
The Rev. y. p Carey curate Of Grace Episcopal
Church said he would be very sorry 10 see women
with their hats OF IN church. Il think II more
modest for women to wear hats In public places .
he continued. These frequent agitatons about
I church customs and manners arise from the fact
that In America too many people 90 to church 10
and be seen rather than 10 worship. II Is not
so I'm Europe People go 10 church there 10 worship
God and are content II they are put behind
OF the pillars which support the roof and gall
leres OF the ca:hedrals and other large churches.
I do not think the pastor in Boston had any right
TO attempt to coerce the female members OF his
congregation into removing their hats at the SER
vices. He might have suggested II, but do not