Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-03-04
Rev. Jonathan Watson Of
Grand Forks Not Allowed
A to Finish Remarks Pro
testing Against Passage Of
Resolutions Following the
Close of Regular Session.

i Introduction of resolutions con-
demning the attempt to repeal the
present North Dakota blue laws
brought about brief clash after the
close Of the regular morning session
Of the Interchurch World Movement
Pastors conference at the First Bap-
tist church here today.
$ At the close Of the regular morning
session the ministers present were
meeting. Rev. James Anderson Of
Fargo took the chair and introduced
d set Of resolutions placing the pastors
present on record as opposing the at
tempt to repeal blue laws which will
be voted on at the primary election
March 16.
Protest Barred.
E Rev. Jonathan Watson, rector of
st. Paul's Episcopal church of Grand
Forks. asked permission to speak in
regard to the resolutions. This was
granted, and Mr.. Watson attempted
to enter u protest against the adop-
ton of such resolutions at the pres
ent occasion.
Before he had proceeded far how
ever he was interrupted, and denied
permission to continue his remarks.
TAis ruling was upheld by vote OF a
majority Of the pastors present, many
of whom, however, refrained from
voting.
A vote was then taken on the reso-
lutiOns themselves and a majority OF
the ministers voted in favor of their
passage, Mr.. Watson and a few others
voted against them, and large num-
ber refrained from voting.
The resolutions follow:
The Resolutions.
1.-The pastors of the Protestan mt
churches of North Dakota, in confer
ence assembled, hereby express un-
alterable opposition to the proposed
repeal on March 6 of the moral laws
long on our statute books, placed
there. by the best moral sentiment OF
our progressive state.
"Our present Law allows the re-
creation Of baseball. prohibiting only
hibition will give US the commer-
cialized Sunday game with its bois-
ferrous disturbance Of the public
peace and its tendency to gambling
and other results detrimental to pub.
lie morals.
while the churches Of some Other
, states Of the union have had the in.
fluence of their Sunday prog:an
rendered almost NIL by the inroad Of
the Sunday movie. North Dakota ha.
| matptaiped m. unique record Of re
speGt f6S the Lords day xHds for tn
higher spiritual interests OF human.
ity. z: Z. .5.,sf
"In these critical days OF recon.
struction, the ~reat majority recoz'
nize the outstanding need of a -e'
newed sense of God in all Of oul
civic, economic. and social relation
ships. This being true. we could
i strike no more severe blow at tht
public welfare than to repeal thest
laws which would result in the loost
morals of continental Sunday.
"Our state law regarding boxing
matches, permits them, provided
nothing less than eight ounce gloves
a3.e used, thus assuring clean, mani,
sport and prohibiting the brutalit,
of prize fights. To repeal this Law
would be. a serious stroke at oul
moral standards
.'The people who are trying to re
peal our law. entirely prohibiting kh'
sale Of cigarettes. state that IS PEE
cent of the pool halls, soft-drinl
places, etc. have been violating th'
law in selling them
'They propose to change the Law