The Washington times., 1922-02-20
JUDGEMONCURE
IS DEFENDED BY
MINISTER IN Va.
Members of Historic Church
Walk Out As Rev. William
J. Morton breaches. s..
BY HARVEY l.. COBB,

J. Morton breaches. .-.
BY HARVEY l.. COBB.
Copyright. 1912. by The Washington
Times Company
Resenting what they character
lied as a defense of the Alexandria
divorce ring by their pastor-the
Rev. William ]. Morton, pastor of
the Historic Christ Church Of Alex
andria-members Of his flock today
voiced their disapproval of their
pastors stand yesterday by declar-
ing that he did not express the SEN
timent Of his Pensioners.
Several Walk Out.
So incensed were certain members
of his congregation At his remarks
that some Of them left the church
during his discourse. When ques-
toned this morning as to the truth
of the report that some had walked
out. DR.. Morton, stated II was true,
adding II was rude"
An attack, was made on The Wash
ington Times by DIR. Morton. be-
cause Of its participation in the ex-
pose, and yesterdays broadside de.
livered by him was REINFORCED today
by a reiteration of his declaration
that The Washington Times was a
muck -rakipg agency, and that the
writer was a perverter of the truth.
DIR. Morton, who has for many
years been pastor Of the historic old
church, made famous by its associa'
lions Of George Washington and
a.NI
worshiped there. Is charged by mem
called The Times this morning
with overstepping his bounds"
Relative Of Moncure.
The Alexandria pastor, it Ia
charged by his parishioners. was In
nuenced by the fact that Judge Mon.
cure. the Little Reno Judge, is a
relative OF his by marriage-his wife
being a Moncure.
I'VE could have excused DIR. Nor.
ton for saying nothing, on account of
termined to talk OF II, he should
have given an impartial discussion"
said one member of the church.
las a discussion and defense II was
complete failure and not in accord
with the sentiment Of the members
Of his church and we desire to have
the people of Alexandria and Wash
ington know that DIR. Morton's de-
Tense of Judge Moncure, Is his own
private opinion and does not ex-
press the sentiment of his parish
ioners," another OF DR.. Morton's
flock declared. who gave his name.
but asked that II not be used, until
he had an opportunity to testify at
the coming hearing.
The subject of DR.. Morton's ad.
dress yesterday was THE Power of
Public Opinion"
Charges Prejudice.
There is a danger Of public
opinion based on prejudice and lack
Of investigation" he declared in
timating that prejudice was back OF
the present attack on Moncure,
despite the Matchmaking report
made yesterday by members Of the
Alexandria Bar Associations sub
committee.
The divorce evil in Alexandria, he
said, was not new, declaring that II
had existed a number of years ago.
As evidence that Judge Moncure
was not to blame for the present
conditions there, DIR. Morton cited
the fact that he had a copy of the
Gazette, Alexandria, local paper
published five or six years ago. con
tanning notices of twenty-seven di
vorce suits in one issue
In a statement to The Times this
morning, DIR. Morton declared that
his talk was not q defense of the
Alexandria divorce ring, which he
declared should be cleaned up.
81 admit and deplore the divorce
evil and its present proportions and
the notoriety that has come of 1t, h.
said this morning.
The fact that his wife was 9
Moncure did not accentuate his &C
ton one way or the other, he de
clared.
THE truth of the matter is that
have been to Moncure a dozen time,
I in an effort to get this thing stopped
DR.. Morton warmly declared thi!
morning.
Nobody has worked harder than
to put stop to this thing, and
shall personally hold accountable tn,
person that prints any statemen
that l am defending members of th'
ring"
DR.. Morton refused to discus,
Judge Moncure's attitude or wha
passed between them at these talk
when he says he pleaded with Mon
cure to put stop to the wholesal,
divorce business which was bein,
carried on.
Appealed to Moncure.
The fact that Judge Moncure was
appealed to months ago by members
of the ministerial committee, of which
DR.. Morton was the chairman. tc
call on the Judge, and that J. Randall
Cation, chairman of the subcommit
tees report Saturday was considered
in Little Reno today as conclusiv,
proof that Moncure was aware Of
conditions existing In his court.
Two other members of Alexandria,
| Ministerial Association yesterday
| spoke against the divorce evil Of that
city, declaring that every agency
working to stamp 1t out, should re
ceive the wholehearted cooperation
of the public.
This evil must stop, and the min
listers Of Alexandria should take the
lead" declared the Rev. DIR. Johr
Lee Allison, pastor Of the Alexandria
Presbyterian Church,