The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-05-16
THE HAT MUST GO.
Why Should Women Wear Hats
In Church2

part OF his congregation to remove
their hats
Scarcely had the request been utter
ed before hundreds of hands were
busily engaged pulling out hat pins
In few moments the lovely display Of
spring millinery which had obstructcd
the view of many members of the con.
grcgation was out of sight.
The coverings Of straw, laccs, rib
bons and flowers being removed the
ladies presented prctticr vision than
before, anu the new venture was gen
orally pronounced success.
The question Of women taking of
their hats in church has been much
discussed of late in social circles.
One practical woman suggested the
other day that if women must take off
their hats in church, they should Ger
tainly be provided with hatracks on
which to hang them.
a young man overhearing this sug-
gestion wanted to know where was the
woman who would be willing to hang
her lovely Easter bonnet on hatrack
where it would blush unseen.
Atlanta women are somewhat divi-
dcd in their opinions on the subject.
81 am strongly in favor Of women
taking off their hats in church, and
think it much needed REFORM" re-
piled Mrs. Albert ii. Thorton, when
questioned on the subject. "My moth
cr declares" she continued, "that
she hasn't seen u new preacher in
years on account of the big hats.
hope you will start crusade against
them and that success will meet your
efforts"
II think it good idca," said Mrs.
Charles Rice. "It is terrible to have
to sit behind big hat in church; be-
sides, if one has very heavy hat it
is relief to take it off. think it a
very sensible idea for women to re-
move their hats. :.
Mrs. I. S. Mitchell, a men bcr of
DIR. Stradley's congregation, when ap-
preached on the subject, replied:
81 think is is unnecessary for those
women who wear small bonnets to
have to remove them, but for thone
who wear large hats / think it a splen.
did idea. Yesterday in DR.. Stradley 8
church the ladies looked lovely with
out their hats. I think boys often do
not go to church on account of the big
hats. They say there is no use going
when they cant see the preacher.
"Put the pulpits up higher so that
women won't have to tako off their
hats" said prominent member of
the North avenue Presbyterian church.
II asked our minister the other day."
she continued, "pleased to have tho
pulpit high so that we might dodge the
question of women removing their
hats. However, / see ma7y convent
enccs in the idea, and TX we will
undoubtedly come to it before long"
Mrs. Alex King thinks that taking
off ones hat in church would be a
great nuisance, and altogether unne-
cessary.
III think it would bo great mistake
to have such rule in ono's church."
she declared. "Let women be consid.i
"-ate and wear hats Of moderate size,
but don't put them to the inconveni-
cnce Of taking off hats during church
service. You can usually manage to
see the minister's face, and that is
sufficient. It is different at the thea
tre where you wish to see the entire
stage and everybody upon it.
"No, I'm not in favor of trammel-
ing women with so many laws. The
law Of kindness and q small hat 10
surely the solution"
Mrs. w. A. Hemphill, another
member of DR.. Stradley's church, ex-
pressed herself as horriied at the idea
Of women having TO remove their hats
in church. She thinks it entirely in
consistent with the old time Metho-
dist faith. ut made me sad yester-
day to think what the oldfashioned
ministers would have thought on the
subject. I couldn't realize that I was
sitting in Methodist church,
Miss Madge Landrum thinks re-
moving hats is very good idea, but
not an improvement to the looks Of
the church. II think she said, ''it
takes away somewhat from the dignity
of the church. The men, however,
are strongly in favor Of the innova-
tion. I remember hearing Governor
Northen speak with much emphasis
recently, Of his great annoyance in