The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-04-27
MINISTER FRIEND
Of HAMON UNDER
fire At LAWTON
Bathing Suit Ceremony and
Moving Pictures in the
Church Cause of Split
in Congregation.
POLICEMAN ATTENDS
ASSEMBLY GATHERING
Rev. Irwin Charged With Acts
Unbecoming Minister of
Presbyterian Church. :.

LAWTON, Okla.-A bathing suit
marriage ceremony and church motion
picture shows are rocks upon which the
congregation of the First Presbyterian
church here has split wide open.
The contro sy which also involves
other issues will be aired on May 8.
when the pastor, the Rev. Thomas ].
Irwin. comes up for trial, on charges
of conduct unbecoming a minister Of
the Presbyterian church." before ju-
dietary committee appointed by the Ell
Reno Presbytery session. An investi-
cation committee preferred the charges
and ordered the minister to show cause
why he should not be relieved Of his
pastorate.
Some time ago, Mr. Irwin officiated
at wedding at a public swimming
pool. Besides bushes the bride and
groom wore bathing suites. 1t Is charg-
ed that by this action. the pastor
brought disrepute upon the church.
Picture Machine Fired
A motion picture projecting apparatus
has been part Of the equipment Of Mr..
rwin's church for several years. The
motion picture booth was installed by
the late Jake l.. Hamon, republican
national committeeman for Oklahoma,
who built an annex to the church. Sew
eral attempts have been recently made
to destroy the motion picture equipment
or dapla A ffra xx-ac dtoaau~
cred in the annex several days ago. II
did about $500 damage to the structure.
In the formal charges brought against
the pastor. allegations are made that
disorder and deplorable conditions" ex-
ist in his church; that he distributed
pamphlets "unbecoming q minister;
that members OF the church have been
suspended without due process" and
that he participated in the bathing suit
wedding. ls
He Eulogized Hamon
Underlying the whole row, which
has created a tender feeling among
members OF the church. is said to be q
division over Mr.. Irwin's association
with and support Of Jake l. Hamon.
who was wounded fatally by Clara
Smith Hamon more than a year ago.
The minister preached the funeral SER
mon over Hamun at Ardmore and euiog-
lied Hamon. Some Of Mr.. Irwin's flock
withdrew from his church after reading
reports Of the sermon. They recently
were reenstated by the FL Reno Pres
bytery. et
Hamon was praised by the minister
for his forgiveness. his hate Of hyvo-
crisy, his generosity and his love OF
children. God made just one Jake Ha-
mon. and he was just what he was"
the minister said.
Mr.. Irwin asserted his intention of
remaining in the Lawton pulpit. He
denied he had obtained permit 10 car
ry q gun to protect church property. A
prowler about the church last Sunday
night was greeted by the pastor with q
shot.
Mr.. Irwin holds an injunction from
the district court restraining a church
committee from interfering with him.
Policeman at Meeting
A paollceman occupied the rear pew
In the church Wednesday when the FL
Reno presbytery session discussed the
charges against the minister and decid'
ed to bring him to trial.
'The charges against me are trivial, y
said the Rev. Mr.. Irwin. The presbytery
is exceeding its authority and going out
OF its bounds. I'll fight this out to the
bitter end and take II before a general
assembly Of the Oklahoma synod next
October. II necessary. The whole situa'
ton has been caused by intense bitter
political feeling and by enemies OF the
church."
"The minister said there was TO bs
other installments OF his pamphlet
ROW twelve" which purports to give
the history OF the church. leading ~
to the present trouble.
'The next chapter" he said, will
deal with alleged attempts TO intimidat'
him and force him from the church
and city"
Mr.. Irwin declared that he was me-
at the church door one night last Marci
by three masked men who held him n
the points OF guns and told him to leav'
the city. Mr.. Irwin founded the churcl
20 years ago and has held the pulpi