The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-02-24
URGES
RIGID INQUIRY
IN ALEXANDRIA
Or. Morton Hopes Bar Associa-
ton Will Go to Bottom
of Charges.

Rev. DIR. William jackson Nor
ton. pastor Of Christ Church, Alex
andria, in a statement to the
Times today declared that in last
Sundays sermon he had urged that
the Alexandria Bar Assoc alton
make a thorough investigation OF
charges of lax.ty in law in enforce
ment. DR.. Morton writes:
To the Editor of the Times:
An article in the Times Of re.
cent date, concerning my sermon OF
February 10, does me a gross In
justice. 1t contains statements
which are in error. and deductions
| which are absolutely unwarranted
Ny sermon last Sunday in Christ
Church had as its subject Public
Op,n .on-Its Principles. Power anG
! Importance" The first half OF the
sermon was devoted to the genera
subject Of pubic opinion. what t
8, how II is created, its place ant
| Importance n modern life, and ouI
I respons billy in help ng to create
a righteous att tude toward all pub
| lie questions. The latter half wa
an attempt to apply these prin
pies Of righteousness to four sub
jects OF present local concern-p
The D. vorce 8 tuat on; ~ The AleH
andr.a Publ c Schools; 49, W.c
Liquor Traffic. and az The APP
preaching Election Of five counc
men under the newly adopted com
| m ~ on form OF city government
In opening the discussion OF thu
divorce evil, began by saying tina
| IL was not q new, but an old evll
which had existed In Alexandria foi
many years past. and from this fac
| | pointed out that public opinion hat
grown callous on the subject and tina
| this emphasized the need OF an awak
| ening, and the formation OF a right
| eous and determined attitude which
would bs nish the evil from our midst
! avoided all personalities and neithel
| defended nor condemned individuals
who have been so severely criticized
| by your paper referred to the fac
| that a committee had been appointed
nv the Alexandria Bar Association,
| and in the most vigorous Language
| EXPRESSED what I believed to be the
duty of this committee. to go thor
| oughly into the charges which hau
been made. and without fear or FAVOR
| to take such steps as were necessary
| to fix the responsibility on any or al
| guilty parties. and put stop TO the
| divorce scandal in Alexandria.
| In regard to your statement tha'
| so incensed were certain members
Of his congregation at his remarks
| that some OF them left the church
! during his OBSCURE" i wish TO say
| that standing in the high pulpit
was in position to see any persons
who might leave the church during
my sermon, and l only saw one per
son who was guilty OF this discour'
tesy. From many who heard the ger
| mon have had the strongest word
of appreciation, and most favorable
comments on the fairness and firm
ness with which ! dealt with the
| whole subject.
| Your reference TO my relationship
by marriage TO Judge Moncure Is
uncalled for and ungenerous. l
have not been swayed by that con
sideration one jot OF little from
what i thought was the right in the
matter. But may add in this con-
nection that the Moncure family
| has furnished six judges to the
| bench Of Virginia and other states
and II Il should in the future b"
proven that the Judge OF our cor.
poration court Is unworthy, he will
he the first OF his family TO dishonor
the bench. II is only fairness to
| him and to his family to retra II
from final Judgment until all the
evidence is In, and his side Of the
! case has not as yet been presented.
AS my subject had been an
nounced beforehand, some may have
! come expecting to hear an excoria-
ton Of the Divorce Ring" and
when they heard. instead, fair and
constructive discussion looking to
real betterment of all our city con-
ditions, they were disappointed.
! Such a feeling was perhaps natural
to such persons, and l suggest that
they seek relief for their cravings
from some other source than a
Christian pulpit.
The duty Of the Christian church
and the Christian ministry, as ]
conceive that duty, is to preach and
practice truth, justice, goodness,
right principles, and high ideals. l
! have never, and never shall, in my
preaching, descended to vituperation
and abuse or low personalities.
Persons who are DESTROYS OF hear.
| ing such discourses will always be
disappointed when they attend serv.
ices in my church. In the future,
as in the past. l shall endeavor to
preach the whole truth as I see the
ruth, unbiased by selfish motives
or prejudiced considerations. and I
shall apply Christian principles to
all problems according to the lead
ing OF my own mind and conscience,
and I shall not fear the conse-
quences. Respectfully yours.
VIM. ]. MORTON,
! Rector OF Christ Church, Alexan.