Arizona republican., 1922-03-07
Lures TO churehe.

An eleventh hour decision the part Of Mr..
Ralph obenchaln that while the case Of his wife
charged with the murder of paramour is pending
in court 1t would be indelicate' for him to de-
liver an address at well known church in Los
Angeles last Sunday night does not free the church
and especially its somewhat worn and sensational
pastor from the charge Of indecacy in entertaining
proposition for address by Mr.. obenchain in the
church Sunday night at other time, either
before after the trial. on any subject whatever
why should there be desire the part of the
church or of anybody else TO hear him? Nothing
had been ever heard of him until foolish wife
accused Of participation in the murder of man
whom she had pursued in vain. 1t was then learned
that she had been divorced from a young and inag-
nificant Chicago attorney with the full of
the latter that her relations with the whom she
was charged with conspiring to murder, might not
be interrupted.
Then this curious young legal aspirant came to
Los Angeles and for time distinguished himself by
talking big oftily and fooshly to the reporters Of
the Los Angeles newspaper reporters until they were
surfeited And when the average Los Angeles news
paper reporter balks thing like that 1t must be
extremely rank.
Mr.. obenchain, we understand, had expected to
talk on the subject of Faith" concerning which
eminent men, more able men than Mr. Obenchain,
have dilated in all ages and have told us pretty
nearly all there was to be learned about it. If no
one else had given us further light upon it. we
could have good working knowledge Of it from the
Holy Bible We can hardly suspect that the parish
toner's of this or any other church needed further
enlightenment regarding Faith
Perhaps though they suspected that the Faith
which Mr.. Obenchan intended to discuss his
beautiful faith in his former fathless Madalynne.
Stn we must insist that that would not have been
edfying to the congregation.
Is it not possible that the church management
entered into this arrangement that those members
OF the congregation who had been ashamed to throng
the courtroom might be brought into sort Of touch
with the persons OF the sordid drama?
But it is more likely that Mr.. obenchain
sought as an added attraction to fill the Temple.
After so many years it has doubtless become diff
cult task for resourceful and dramatic
pastor as the shepherd Of the Temple is to keep the
congregation "on its toes fever heat all the time.
Speaking only for ourself, if we had been men,
Der OF Temple Baptist church, on any Sunday night
when Mr.. obenchain was to be inflicted upon the
congregation we should have gone to a picture show
to see the Hazards of Hortense" some particu-
ary thrilling wild west or some blood -bespattered
slum tragedy. When we want thrills want the
thriiest thrills and our reverence for the church is
such that we do not want them enacted there.
Those pastors who seek this way OF filling their
churches are making a mistake They could ill
them by offering attraction OF free prize fight
and the persons attracted religious service
would be as likely to become regular churchgoers,
are those lured the House of God by other devices
and tricks which would leave them gaping with
tonishment at boldness Of the preachers appeal
to the sensational.