Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-12-15
CHRISTIAN MINISTER
REFEREES BOXING
And Plans q Dsscc Roorp sno
Places For B;Il;ss ds snS C1fds
For His People


newly elected national chaplain of
the American Legion. the title OF
the Fighting ParSou OF the Thir-
fy- Fifth" during the world war.
has stood him well IN hand since
he returned to his pcacc-time
vocation as pastor of the First
4 ChriStian church here. EuIighct-
Cumcut gained in his war service
\ created new ideas as tn the scope
I 81 religious activities. The new
planks he inserted IN the church,
/ platform created considerable op-
/ position. But thus far tho tight
ing parsou" has Won.
We have never had dancing IT,
the church." he said The main
reason being that VIC have NJ
suitable room for u. DO not
I favor the use ct the sanctuary
!, IN the church for any purpose
I other than worship. but believe
4 the church could well have =
I daucing floor III a building ada
\ cent t. The church. or ~ the same
4 hnildiug also billiard table,. So
( cial aud card roou> u they seem
J eu to- bc required % meet tho So
u cial needs
Il Mr.. i.lackmau church ha~ =
n,otiuu picture machine Ter Use
4 iu connection with services. In
I dicatiou, arc that hi~ policy T.
4 popular. ON this point Mr..
Blackman said;
! Our church has ouigrgvu it
f! present plant. \ lot has been
purchased and a new building
contemplated. The church usually
~ crowded Sunday evenings.
about three fourths of the audi
encc being young people Ere
quentlv many are turned away
before the services. 80 crowded
= the auditorium
The career OF the Rev. BIalk-
man has been diversified He
was born IN keudallviIle. Ind.
Oct. 2. 1892. on farm and re-
ccivcd a common school educa-
ton. He studied steam and ma
chine designing in Pratt Insti-
tute. Brooklyn. y. y; followed
engineering and electrical work
Including firing locomotive as
sistant engineer on a steam yacht
in New York harbor. chief en-
gineer of an interurban power
house in northern Indiana and
worked IN an automobile factory
/ in Kokomo. Ind. These activities
overlapped some with farming
and going to college where he
| earned his own way.
/ While attending the University
OF Kansas he helped pay expenses
by evangelistic singing. preach
/ ing. running traction engine IN
the wheat fields. private boxing
lessons and selling automobiles.
4 In 1914 he became pastor OF the
i Chanute church and has held this
/ position since, with exception OF
two years spent in military ser
| vice.
| Mr. Blacknan was commission
ed first lieutenant and chaplain
and was mustered into federal
service August ). 1917 He saw
a years service overseas.
After the arnnistice was sign
cd. Mr. BIackman challenged any
chaplain in the y T. +. to- a box
ing bout under auspices of the y
VI. {. y. The challenge was &c
cepted by Chaplain Rexrocd oi
the DIST division All arrange.
I mentS were made but the bout
was stopped by the &c. II. o.
1t was overseas that he gainc,
the title of "the fighting Parson'
because of his activities As boxcr
and boxing referee.
Il have refereed perhaps tw,
hundred bouts since / returned
from France" he said Il have :
class in boxing for high Schoo
boys. meeting once week"
/ Due to the opposition within
\ his church to his policy on amusc-
ments. Mr.. Blackman once each
year has submitted his resigna-
ton Last spring it was reject
ed for the third time and a raise
IN salary was voted him This he
declined to accept. however. stat
ing that he made money in add
ton to his salary by refereeine
boxing bouts. His new~duties as
national chaplain will not inter