, 1921-12-20

1AtANOlEs nan. dec. 1O.-Ine
fighting instinct which won for the
Rev. Earl A. BlackmRn, the newly
elected national chaplain of the
Legion. the title of the
Fighting Parson of the Thirty-nfth''
during the world war. has stood him
well in hand since he came back TO
his peace-time vocation as pastor OF
the First Christian church here. En-
lghtenment gained in his war serv-
ice created new ideas as to the scope
OF religious activities. The new
planks he inserted in the church's
platform created considerable opposl.
ton. But thus far the lighting par
son" has
we have never had dancing in the
church." he said. "The main rea-
son being that we have no suitable
room for St. I do not favor the use
OF tho sanctuary in the church for
any purpose other than worship. but
believe the church could well have a
dancing floor In a building adjacent
to tho church. or In the same build.
ing; also billiard tables. social and
card rooms II they seemed to be re-
quired to meet the social needs"
Mr.. Blackmnn's church has n mo-
ton picture machine, for use in con-
nection with services. Indications
are hat his policy Is popular. On
this point. Mr.. Blackman said:
Our church has outgrown Its
present plant. A lot has been pur.
chased and n new building Is con.
crowded Sunday evenings. about
ekr.. f1,,xfk. - tA- ..df~-,- A.l-u
young people. Frequently many are
turned away before the service starts,
so crowded Is tho auditorium"
|. The caree OF the Rev. Mr.. Black
man has been diversified. He was
born in Kendallvilie. Ind. October 2
1889. on a farm and received n com
mon school education. He studied
steam and machine designing In Pratt
Institute. Brooklyn. N. x; FOLLOWED
engineering and electrical work In
Guiding firing a locomotive; assistant
| engineer on a steam yacht in New
York hnrbor; chief engineer of an in
terurban powerhouse in northern In
| diana and worked in an automobile
factory at Kokomo, Ind. These activ
tiles overlapped some with farming
and going to college where he earned
his w way
While attending the University OF
Kansas he helped pay expenses by
evangeiistic singing. preaching, run
ming a traction engine in the wheat
fields, private boxing lessons and sell
Ing automobiles.
In 1914 he became pastor Of the
Chanute church and has held this po-
sition since. with exception of two
years spent in military service.
Mr.. Blackman was commissioned
fret lieutenant and chaplain and was
mustered into federal service August
5, 1917. He saw n years service over
seas.
After the armistice was signed. Mr..
Blackman challenged any chaplain in
tho A. E. T.. to a boxing bout under
auspices OF the Y. NJ. C. A. The chal-
lenge was accepted by Chaplain Rex
roed Of the s1st Division. All ar
rangements were made but the bout
was stopped by the &c. H. O." II
was overseas that he gained the title
Of 1.-The Fighting Parson" because Of
his activities as boxer and boxing
referee.
'T have refereed perhaps two hun
dred bouts since 1 returned from
France" he said. "I have a class in
boxing for high school boys, meeting
once a week."
Duo to HI opposition within his
church to his policy on amusements.
Mr.. Blackman once each year a
submitted his resignation. Last
spring it was rejected for the third
time and a raise in salary was voted
him. This he declined to accept, how
ever, stating that he made none in
addition to his salary by r~efereeing
boxing bouts. His new duties as ma
tIonai chaplain will not interfere with
his pastorate.
American education week will b
observed annual. with programs SINH
lar to those of December 40, accord
ing 10 the Americanism commission
OF the American Legion. The com
mission, with the National Education
al association. directed he initial
movement
A nation wide scheme for the sale
OF articles made by sick and wounded
soldiers through their own stores has
been proposed TO the American Legion
Auxiliary by Mrs. Clarence II. Ed
wards, Moston Mass, wife of the com
mnnder OF the 26th Division. A z. F.
Tho plan will be discussed at n meet
ing of auxiliary executives in Indian
apolis january Is. 10 and 20.
In tho plan, the handiwork of the