Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-11-04
Is Ii ChriSt-likc or just !?

\ large audience was attracted to
the Christian Church, Sunday night,
by the announcement of the pastor,
Rev. J. NJ. Orrick, that he would have
something to say about the restrict
ed district and its management, or as
he alleges mismanagement. by the
public authorities. The writer was
unable to hear the first part of the
discourse, but from the sample utter
ances of its closing sentences, it was
in unqualified condemnation of tolera-
ton of the district. and he wanted
the woman in scarlet driven from
that district and apparently all other
places. on earth. That all his bitter
Arrangement had very little to do in
influencing the large audience pres
ent, was apparent from several votes
he persisted in taking as well as fail
ure to respond to invitations for dis
cussion of the points presented. He
asked that all who favored holding a
mass convention previous to election
for taking steps to abate the red
light district, to rise to their feet.
Only three arose. That all who be-
lieved he had not miSStated facts to
raise their hands and only two or
three raised their hands. He asked
any officer present aSSailed, to APP
,, pear and defend himself. None rose.
That he would be delighted to hear
from any of their friends. None APP
peared. He then dismissed the audi
ence with the announcement that he
would resume the subject, under the
branch of "Civic Righteousness"
next Sunday evening.
At the close of the discourse, the
writer sought Mr.. Orrick, at the pull
pit steps and prOpounded several
queries. permission being gracefully
accorded him to do so, and as ruth
lessly withdrawn. The first of these
was What do you propose to do with
the denizens of the restricted dis
trict? Drive them out" was the
reply. Would that be right, if
they are such an unmitigated evil to
other communities ?" No; but
they can do likewise" And inflict
the same menace on others ? Assent
was given by silence. :" Mr.. Or
rick" said the interviewer, Is this
Christlike ? Is it the way the Saw
Jour treated the Magdalen when
brought before him? Did he not
say, when her accusers had departed
Neither do / condemn thee; go, and
sin no more" Did he not recognize
the possibility and probability of re-
formation ? Has persistent and I'M
qualified condemnation by bigotry
made her condition now less proba-
BILE Or feasible than in the early days
of Christianity? Do you realize,
MIR. Orrick, how difficult it would be
for these Outcasts to make living
by toll, in these days Of competitive
labor and high prices of clothing and
food?
MIR. Orrick did not answer any of
these queries except to declare that
the matter was not properly under
stood by the interrogation; the as
sumption being that the grand old
expressive English language was in
adequate to express the sanctified
construction to be placed upon Holy
Writ. He suggested that q call at
the parsonage the next day would
enable him to explain his position;
that he was tired and hoarse from
talking. And thus ended the first
lesson.
Monday morning the scribe ap-
peared at the appointed hour. and
Mr.. Orrick seemed to fully appreci-
ate the demand for some method of
providing for the human beings it was
advocated to drive forth into cold
world. and his plan, doubtless sug-
gested like Joseph's dream, was for
the community to open different ave-
nues OF labor, sewing. laundry work.
cooking. ETC., and to the suggestion
that they would thus displace, or
compete at probably less wages with
many others who were already earn
ing u precarious living, by hard and
continuous labor, he had nothing to
say, but assented that it was prob
ably impractical.
| Let us hope that the Matthews-O Or
rick style OF ministry, try at least to
present some sensible and less inhu-
man method of dealing with what oil
well-disposed people regard as a
great evil.
A RECENT Seattle visitor to Olym-
pia is responsible for the assertion
that some of the Democratic and non
partisan nominees for the Superb or
Court bench now before the voters of
this State for their suffrages. promise
if elected to report to the Supreme