The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-12-17
PREACHER WHO
REFEREES BOXING
Varied Career of Earl
Blackman and His
Odd Ideas
PREACHED AT COLLEGE
Resigns Annually and Takes
a Church Vote Of
t Confidence

CHANUTE, Kan, Dec l6 The
fighting Instinct which wen fur the
Rev Earl a. Blackmau. the enwly
Elccted national chaplain OF tho
sAmerican Legion the ti!lo ~ tho
f"FlghtinE Parson of The Thirty
FIRTH" during the world war. has
lstood him we'll In hand since he
,came back TO his peace-time voca-
{tion as pastor " the First Christian
fchurch here Enlightenment gained
Yin his war Roryice created now ideas
las 10 the scope OF rollglous nctivi-
ities. Tho new plauks ne Inserted in
ftho church's platform created con
fHiderablc opposition, But thus far
ithe "flghting parson' hae won.
1--WE have ncycr had dancing m
1.-The church" he said THE main
treason being that We hhvc no suit
able room Tor II. ! do not favor the
use Of the sanctuary iu the church
for any purpose other than worship.
but believe the church could well
have dancing floor in a building
adjacent % the church, or ~ fho
same building also billiard tables,
social and card rooms n they srcmed
10 be required TO meet the social
necds'
Mr Biackman's church has m"-
tion picture machine for use In
connection with serviccH Indica-
tions are that his policy is popular,
on this point, NV Blacknihn aaid
"Our church has outgrown w
present plant a LOT hns been pur-
chased and new building Is con-
templatcd. The church usually ls
crowded sunday evenings, about
three-fourths OF the audience being
young people. Frequently many
are turned away before the service
starts. so crowded is tho auditori
um."
HAD Diversified turccr.
The career Of ihn Rev. Mr. Black
man has been diversified. .He was
born in Kendaiklile, fnd,, October
2 lss2. on a farm ana received q
studied steam and machine deslRn.
lng In Pratt institute, Brooklyn
N. ". followed engineering ard
electrical work including firing q
Locomotives assistant engineer on n
steam yacht In New York harbor.
chief engineer OF an interurhan
power house In northern indiana
ana worked In an automobile fnc-
tory Mt Kokomo. Ind, These nc'iyf.
ties overiapped some with farming
ana going to college where ho
earned his own way.
While attending the University OF
Kansas. he helped pay r~innRes ty
evaneellstlc singing, preacht1n run
ming n Traction engine Nv the wheat
tlds private boxing lessons and
selling automobilesa tse
In 1874 he became pastor ~ 'tlit
Chanute church and has held this
poFition since, with exception oe two
yettrr spent In military servics.
Mr.. Blackmhn was missioned
first lieutenant and chaplain ana
was mustered into fedecsl service.
August s, 1917, lie saw n years
service overseas, Elst sl-
Went Into boxing. s
After the armistlce was .rtgned.
Mr.. Slackman challenged any chap
lain In the A y. r. to a boxing
mout undcr auspices OF the " Nj
by Chaplain Rexroed OF tho 91st
division All arrangements were
mRde hut the bout was stopped b.
the &c. H." II was overseas that
he gained the title of "The Fighting
Parson" because OF his activities
as boxer and boxing referee
81 have refereed perhaps 200
bouts since | returned from France."
he aald. II have q class in boxing
for high school boys, needing once
week" ,s slG.
Due 70 the opposition within hts
church to his policy on lmuaSlncntS,
Mr.. Blackman once 'each year has
submitted his resignAtlan. Last
spring 1t was rejected for the third
time and a raise in shlary wpa voted
him This he declined 70 accept,
however. stating tpat ho made
money In addition 10 hln saiarv by
rcrerecing boxing 9puts, His .ew
duties as national chaultit will not
Interfere with his pRSptaie