The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-04-29
UP TO THE CHURCHES
BY n. ID. Cochran

Dr. Ohio f. Bartholow is not only pastor of
church at Mt Vernon, N. Y, but is chairman of the
Conference Commission Temperance Prohibition
and Public Morals of the New York East Conference
of the Methodist church.
During the recent conference he made state
ment that is both Interesting important, saying
1.-THE Methodist church is cordially hated not only
by the class represented by Mr., Sinclair Lewis and
the organizations, but also by every evil organi-
zation Of any kind whatever We not seeking to
reform politics, but we attempting to reform NOR
ais. We have been vifed and misrepresented
every side"
If any church is hate din this land dedicated to
religious liberty it is unfortunate. Certainly there is
nothing In Christianity, in Judaism or in any other
country that merits hatred.
Whatever of Protestant hostility there has been
toward the Catholic church not because of
Catholic Interpretation of Christianity but rather be-
of a fQr that that church sought temporal as
we'll spiritual jurisdiction is members, and
was seeking to make America Catholic in the sense
that it should become subject to the Pope of Rome
spiritually and temporarily.
In other words, American Professionals were
led to fear the Catholic church politically.
There is no more reason for anybody to hate the
Methodist church because of the Methodist nterpre-
aton Of Christianity than there is to hate the Caho-
lie or any other Christian church for having its
beliefs concerning Christianity.
But there are millions of American citizens who
believe firmly in the constitutional separation of
church and State, and who will vigorously resent any
effort of church to control the of the
United States.
Millions who believe in the largest measure of
personal liberty consistent with the welbeing Of
organized society, hated the Methodist, Catho-
lie or any other church which sought by educational
processes to reform and improve public morals
Great progress was being made in the promotion
or temperance by the educational efforts of all
churches, aided by successful efforts on the part of
commerce and industry, to eliminate the drunkard
and promote sobriety.
only when some of the churches entered the field
OF pohtcs and sought to make people and good
py legislative enactment and the policemans club did
hostility toward such churches develop"
Nor is that hostility found entirely in the minds
OF the class represented by Sinclair Lews-whatever
mat ls-the so-called organizations and every
evil organization of any kind whatever"
There are others who believe in temperance So
prlety, decency, good government and law and order
but who resent the entrance Of any church into the
field OF controversial politics. These believe in the
constitution of the United States They believe in
absolute separation Of church and State. They are
opposed to the political lobby in Washington known
as the Methodist Board of Temperance Prohibition and
Public Morals
And they don't like the establishment of the Anti
Saloon League as the political of a group of
Protestant churches. If this resentment turns to
hatred, only the churches themselves can 1t. All
they need do 1t is to get out Of politics and
get back to religion.