The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-06
PROHI FIGHT
SPLITS CHURCH
Baptist Deacon Resigns
at Dothan.
HE FOLLOWS BYRD FARMER
Result Of Contest on Prohibition
Amendment.
Trouble Caused By Resolution Calling
for Isssisaatieu of Church Lead
sra who Are Opposins Con-
stitutionai PreAibat,on.
BE FOLLOWS BYRD FARMER

Dothan. Sept 5.-(Speciaa)- Thorn
as Whatley. q deacon Of the First
Baptist Church OF Dothan, resigned
today because he 10 opposed to the
proposed prohibition amendment to
the Constitution and because there Is
strong sentiment In the church fay
ortng the measure.
Mr. Whatley Ia the second member
OF the Board Of Deacons of this
church to resign on this account. Byrd
g. Farmer resigned several days ago.
resolution eulogixing Mr.. Farmer
Introduced today precipitated o rather
pointed discussion and the debate re-
suited in the resignation Of Mr.. What.
ley which was accepted.
The constitutional amendment was
Injected into meeting Of the congre-
cation just after the close OF the Sun
day school and before the regular
morning services. The committee on
Mr. Farmers resignation reported q
resolution eulogistie of the resigning
deacon.
AT thfs tuncrure George H. Malone.
deacon In the church. and
known as Conner leader. pro-
posed an amendment to the commit
tees report which he read This
amendment practically asked every Of
ficer Of the church and every leader
of the church who opposed the constj.
tutional amendment to resign from
the church; II virtually put the church
organisation on record In favor Of the
constitutional amendment and charg-
ed Mr.. Farmer. in resigning from the
Board OF Deacons, with following the
lead Of Leon McCord. the Secretary Of
the Safe and Sane League.
Discussion Becomes Warm.
The amendment brought out dis
cussion that at times became almost
acrid. Mr.. Farmer denied having re-
signed his ONCE because of his pollt-
ical position. He objected to the
amendment Of Mr.. Malone saying that
heI had not given his reasons for re-
signing to any one and that It con-
tanned a charge that was not In har-
mony with the resolution II sought to
amend.
The amendment to the resolutions
was couched IN the language being
used by the amendment leaders all
over the State and attempted to show
the support of the constitutional
amendment. 1t eulogized Mr.. Farmer
only to the extent that IL he was to
follow the example of Leon McCord In
part, II was but noble in him to re-
fuse to bring the church into criticism
or an embarrassing position. Hence
his resignation was wise and COM
HSuQADAG ACT anu WAB OHG WON~
thy Of emulation by other church one
Gals and leaders.
Mr. Farmer asked for the amend
ment to the resolution to be, read and
/ to defer nearing. he again asked the
school not to accept II on the grounds
that II was not excusabie or correct
at states that resigned on account
of political views which were not IN
accord with the teachings Of the
church." said Mr.. Farmer. II gave no.
such reasons and they are not correct
It brings criticism on other members
or officials OF the church and that Is
not the proper way to ask for Tom
Whatley's resignation. stated that
my reasons for resigning were my own
them public, but they are not the ones
claimed by that amendment or by the
newspapers"
The Malone amendment was finally
withdrawn and the original resolution
eulogizing Mr.. Farmer was adopted.
Then It was that Mr.. Whatley ten
dered his resignation. He said II was
plain that certain members of the
church favored the amendment OF Mr..
Malone which was aimed at him and
he wished to resign as deacon and
| teacher of the Sunday School.
Rev. w. NJ. Anderson. pastor of the
church. said that Mr.. whatley had told
utm Inbt u0 WOuIu WV against tiC
constitutional amendment but had
said that he valued his church affilia-
ton and the Sunday School work more
than he did any ONCE within the gift
of the people.
There was further discussion and by
vote of Is to the resignation Of
Mr.. whatIey was accepted. At least
$50 persons were present.
A representative OF The Advertiser
sought to secure a copy of the amend
ment offered by Mr.. Malone but he de-
clined to give II.
The Board OF Deacons held q meet
ing this afternoon to further consider
the matter It was said that q state
ment would be prepared for the public
giving the reasons for the split In the
congregation over the constitutional
amendment.
The Advertiser endeavored last
night to secure from Dothan the state
ment prepared by the Board of Dea-
cons as well as q statement by Mr..
Whatley. The Advertiser will be glad
to publish these statements. .as4