The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-23
MINISTER Gets
BEST OF LAWYER
Dr.. Hatcher's Ready Repartee
Silenees Counsel for
Lyric Theatre
COMPARES PLAYHOUSE
WITH GUANO FACTORY
Church Element Gains Vic
tory Before Council Com
mittee When First Test of
Ordinance is Made


It's dangerous thing to tackle a
preacher. for he will always get the
best OF YOU"
A spectator in the council cham
Der made this remark following a
verbal tilt between Mr. James w.
Hordon, attorney Tor the Lyric The
atre interests, and the Rev. DR.. Sam
ueI Z. Hatcher pastor of Broad Street
Methodist church.
Or. Hatcher had Just concluded a
TAX In which he strongly opposed
the building Of theatre at the south
east corner of Eighth and Grace
streets. when he was asked BY Mr.
eordon II he personally objected to
theatres as a general proposition. DR..
hatcher paused for a moment Then
ne answered that he was not SO mar
o"-minded as to oppose the opera
uon OF places where people could find
healthy Amusement. But he was
opposed to the operation of a theatre
in front OF church
And may / ask whether you would
be opposed to the establishment OF
fertilizer plant next to your home %
he queried of the attorney.
Mr. Gordon did not answer the
question, but II was manifest that IL
nettled him no little
Tries to Corner Pastor.
A little later. after the Rev. DR.
J. N. Latham. pastor of Centenary
Methodist church, had also voiced
opposition to the theatre, Mr.. Cor
don asked him II the Methodist con-
ference had not taken action against
theatres, prohibiting members of tn.
church from attending such places
We have no particular law on the
subject" replied the minister. the
question being largely a matter of
private conscience with us
MT" Gordon again endeavored to
obtain an admission from Or. Latham
that his church was opposed to the
aires on general principles. but the
minister refused to be cornered
When the proposition had been full
iy threshed out by both the opposition
and the theatre people, little surprise
was expressed when the council Som-
mittee on ordinances Unanimously re-
commended adoption OF the ordina nee
drawn up for the specific purpose of
preventing the operation of the ;re-
atre which its promoters propose to
esta blish directly opposite ST. Peters
Catholic church and block away
from st. PauFs Episcopal church
Council Chamber Packed.
Both these churches were we'll rep
resented at the meeting which was
packed with sweltering humanity.
| The hearing lasted more than three
hours. counsel for the theatre leading
of with Mr.. Jacob Umiauf chair
man or the committee. in the chair.
Frequently Mr.. Umiauf had to pound
the table heavily with his gavei to
suppress when the churches scored a
point in argument.
The churches irst showed their
hand when resolutions were read
from four Baptists. one Christian, I'VE
Catholic. nine Methodist, three
Lutheran. one Presbyterian and seven
Episcopal churches. ali the resolu-
tons recording practically solid OPP
position to the proposed theatre 1t
50 happened that counsel for the
theatre Is member and officer OF
Grace-Street Presbyterian church.
which passed resolutions Mr.. Cor
don, however, called attention to The
fact that the Second Presbyterian
church had refused to adopt resoiu-
tons on the ground that II was un-
warranted interference on the part OF
the church In matter of legislation.
Church Best Asset
DR.. Hatcher said that the church IL
a greater necessity than ever before
in congested business districts. and
'dsasr or all. he thought. shonld they
be forced out by projects like the
one under consideration. The church.
he insisted. IL the best asset a city
has. 1t Is far better, he said. than
silver or gold. DIR. Latham spoke
along similar lines emphasizing the
necessity maintaining churches in the
downtown sectiona.
1t remained for Mr.. Eppa Hun
ton. attorney-at-law and unpaid coun-
sci for the churches. to sum UP the
situation for the opposition. Time
and again, he punctured the argu-
ment OF his legal opponent by a force
full array Of facts ridiculing the posi-
ton assumed by Mr.. Gordon. who
endeavored to make II appear that
the issue was In reality a conflict
between tn church and the State.
and that II the ecclesiastical element
were eliminated the question would
have no more chance than q bob-tail
mule in fly time.
Mr.. Hunton Sums Up. >.
Mr. Hunotn rehearsed briefly tho
history OF the night between the thea
ire and churches, pointing out that
everything had been done fairly and
frankly by HIS side to effect COM
promise but to no effect. At the
same time. he took the theatre peo-
pie to task for failing to offer any
reasonable terms Of compromise.
Mr.. Gordon argued in effect that
the steps taken by the opposition
amounted to nothing more than at
tempted conf'scation OF the theatre
property.
"I am here" he said. ITO show
that the ecclesiastical powers should
not interfere with the Affairs OF the
State. There 10 no civic demand for
this ordinance deAgned to block the
operation Of the theatre, two churches
being practically the only opponents
III you stand here as the guardian
OF Jesus Christ. he went on. you
ought to be willing to stand on his
platform--do unto others az you
would "isavs Others der unto you. Ana
feel sure that II Jesus Christ were
to enter that donr right DOW he wcAld
saY that MY houRa hna been called