Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-03-26
RESIDENCE OF REV. W. S. HITCH,
FRIENDS PASTOR, DAusED
WITH PAINT.
FEELING is STIRRED BY
ALLEGED LACK OF INTEREST
Men Streak House With yellow Fol-
lowing Additional Feeling Caused by
Incident =: Red Cross SaIe-Church
and Community Divided-K:tch Al

Expression Of feeling over the war
county, this time at Bangor. Stirred
because they believe that Rev. w. S.
Kitch, pastor Of the Friends church Of
that village, has not taken enough
interest in war measures or given war
activities his full support q crowd Sun
day night daubed his residence next
door to the church with yellow paint
and posted flag at his front gate.
Streaks of yellow paint were run along
one side Of the house. Over the front
door and bay window other daubs of
yellow paint cover the board.
This painting bee" is the latest ex-
preston Of feeling which has stirred
Bangor and its vicinity for number
Of weeks. That there is feeling regard
ing Rev. Mr.. Kitch was admitted by
him over the telephone to the T.-R. to-
day.
Flag incident Adds Fuel.
Fuel to fan the fire of feeling was
added at the recent Red Cross sale at
Bangor which the pastor is alleged not
to have attended and later when sub
scription was being taken to buy a
large flag. The stories Of the flag in
cident vary
1t is alleged that the Rev. Kitch at
first refused to subscribe to the fund.
but that later he consented to give 81
if his name was kept off the subscrip-
ton list. The solicitor is quoted as
having told the preacher:
GO to H." and the money was
refused under such condition.
Rev. MIR. Kitoh told the T.-R. today
that 1t was not a fact that he had re-
fused to give to the flag fund.
II was not given a chance to put my
name on the list" he said in explana-
ton.
Feeling Dates Back.
The feeling dates back to time
prior to when Rev. Mr.. Kitch was
notified to appear before the council
Of defense. The cause Of this sum-
mons was complaint that the church
was not allowed to be used for Red
Cross purposes. Rev. Mr.. Kitch failed
to get the councils summons in time
to appear before It, but he called on
members Of a committee of the coun-
Gil and explained that the church was
being used by the Red Cross. 1t is
the opinion of the committee members
whom he saw that he was not par
ticipating as enthusiastically as he
might in the war activities.
Over the phone today Rev. Mr..
Kitch said the church had been and
was being used BY the Red Cross.
Gifts Are Listed.
Tho lot ~{e
Kitch summed up are that he has not
shown as eager and enthusiastic a
spirit toward var movements as many
think he should and that in at least
one he has taken no active part at
all. He admitted that he has not
bought any war. savings stamps, but
he said he had given 1912 or s14 to
the Red Cross and IS to the Y. NJ. C.
A. war fund"
Members of the council Of defense
committee on whom he called were of
the opinion that his explanation was
sufficiently satisfactory not to war
rant summonng him again before the
council. 1t is known that Rev. Mr.
kltch, like many other Friends, Is a
non -combatant and is interested most
In the reconstruction work the de-
nomination is doing in France.
Before coming to Bangor ne was
pastor Of the Stanford church and
prior to that was stationed at Cedar
Rapids.