New-York tribune., 1920-11-29
Pastor Denounces
Spirit Behind Flag
Riot at Union Club
Shipman Says Irish Sympa-
thizers Who Tried TO Pull
Down British Emblem ViO-
late American Principles

The Thanksgiving Day riot at Che
Union Club, precipitated by Irish
sympathizers who objected to the dis
play of British flag. was the subject
Of sermon yesterday morning by the
Rev. Herbert Shipm?n, rector of the
Church of the Havenly Rest.
"rhe incident" said the Rev. Mr..
Shipman, "was the outcome of spirit
which | had sensed Immediately after
my return from France 1t was a
spirit that was in evidence at the City
Hall at Albany, and even in Congress
at Washington. 1t was in the signs in
the parade e year ago, and in the atti-
tude of the city administration toward
the visiting representative Of a friend
ly country.
"Nor was it the first incident of the
kind, similar affair having occurred
only short time ago at New York
theater On Armstice Day | hung out
only one flag, despite the fact that we
have three Aagpoles. ! did not like to
display the French and British flags
without the knowledge and consent of
| the officers of the church, because of
the possible Disagreement Of our
church building. A pretty situation!
Spirit of the Inquisition
"The affair at the Union Club oc-
CURED on the 300th anniversary of the
coming Of the Pilgrim Fathers to escape
intolerance and religious persecution.
The immediate cause of the riot, how
ever pitiful, was as remote from us as
the succession to the throne in Tim
buctoo. We are not here to discuss
the rights and wrongs Of the Irish
question. What | do say is that if a
group, hyphenated in spirit, with which
America has nothing TO do and with
which many of us arc not in sympathy,
has the right Of force, then the first
flag to be hauled down should be the
Stars and Stripes, as that flag has be-
come meaningless.
"In this act is involved the principles
for which we went to war against Ger
many. We must consider first the
spirit of lawlessness, whether it is
lynch law or the plottings of Bolshev-
ism. Such a happening as this at the
! Union Club means destruction of law
and order, and the end is anarchy.
"Secondly, we must consider the
spirit of intolerance, which demands
that my conscience shall control you,
conscience, and that what say is right
and shall control you. This--and l say
it with all reverence-is the spirit of
spirit of the Inquisition. 1t is the
spirit against which the Pilgrim
Fathers came here in protest and
against which the Constitution guar-
antecs us, and if it is persisted in
America will cease to be America.
"In the third place this is an evil
dence Of the evil spirit that shows
itself in American life -day-divided
loyalty-a group against the com
munity-a particular interest against
community interest.
"There may be in this act at the
Union Club an argument against
unrestricted immigration from other
lands, and my own belief is that
the time is past when either through
carclessncss or greed America can be
made the dump heap of Europe
"There may be in the act an argu-
ment against the undue influence of
the Church in the political life of the
country or the city. Certainly when
4 great dignitary of one branch of the
Church states publicly, as a thing to
be devoutly hoped for that some day
America may be a greater Ireland it
is time for loyal citizens to take
thought.
There may be in this act an areu-
mcnt against the careless call to office
in city and state Of men whose allcgi-
ance is at least spiritually divided, and
the need to call only such men as feel
no touch upon the shoulder of any
church or any foreign influence, but
cnly that of American loyalty"