Evening star., 1927-04-28
BIBLE CLASS BODY
DENIES SPY WORK
Association Will Not Sponsor
Organization of That
Purpose:

SOr any Other OrganlZatlOn naVlnS IHlS
for it's purpose, the central commit
tee or governing body Of the associa'
ton at a meeting last night in Calvary
Baptist Church unanimously adopted
resolution stating that operating
plans for an organization being formed
under it's auspices to cooperate with
the police in prohibition law observ'
ance, as they appeared in the press,
represented merely personal view
points and individual conceptions,
since no official act of any character
whatever could be taken until per-
manent organization had been eff
fected."
The meeting was called to put the
Bible Glass Association on official
record as to it's views toward the
Church Service Association, which it
is sponsoring, and of which Harry n.
Douthitt, former prohibition agent, is
executive secretary, according to the
membership application card. Plans
for the Church Service Association, as
outlined by Douthitt, would include a
member in every block to report viola
tions of the prohibition law in that
square to a central agency. which in
turn would hand them over to the
police.
Although Mr.. Douthitts name was
not mentioned, the resolution was
interpreted by members today as
meaning that the Bible Glass Associa-
ton did not approve of his public
utterances in regard to what the
Church Service Association was going
to do. until it had received all plans
for procedure, given its stamp of ap.
proval, determined upon a board of
directors and started the organization
out into its field OF endeavor.
Would Await Perfection.
when this organization referring
10 the Church Service Association as
it is now called shall have been ef-
fected. its governing body named, and
its policies definitely determined upon.
the organized Bible Glass Association
will judge it upon it's merits and be
governed accordingly the resolution
concluded.
The resignation of Merritt o.
Chance. former city postmaster, from
the Office of treasurer of the aSsocia.
ton because, he said, that association
was sponsoring plans that constituted
a spy system" on members neigh.
bors, was accepted with regrets" +"
and w. E. Mooney, teacher of the
Baraca class of Fifth Baptist Church,
was selected to serve in that capacity
until the annual election which will
be held in connection with the Sum
mer conference of the association at
Western Maryland College, West
minister, Md, July to 4.
The resolution, introduced by Horace
L. Stevenson, a trustee of the Bethany
Baptist Church, and listed on the mem
berShip card as president of the
Church Service Association, follows:
I'm view of the conflicting reports
of the activities and program of the
Organized Bible Class Association ap-
pearing in the local press of late:
BE it resolved, That the Organized
Bible Glass Association hereby issues
the following as its official statement:
81. We most heartily commend
Maj. Z. b. Hesse for the public an
nouncement made at the Washington
Birthday dinner of this association
relative to his intention to enforce all
laws during his administration.
Information for Classes.
SO. That in so far as it comes with
in the scope of the constituted field
of this association, verified facts con,
cerning the status of law observance
will be furnished as heretofore to the
several classes for their information
and use in an educational campaign
for law observance.
"3. We urge the individual mem
bers of our classes to be true to the
high ideals of Christian citizenship
in the support of an administration
having for it's purpose law and order.
~. Since the terms have been pub
licly used in connection with this as
ISOLATION, we hereby declare that this
organization has never fostered within
itself a spy system nor will it spon-
sor any other organization having
this for its purpose.
"5. While the central committee of
this association at it's last regular
meeting voted it's commentator OF
the idea of forming an organization
composed of individually interested
men and women in the District OF
Columbia, the purpose of which
should be to cooperate with the
| legally constituted authorities of the
| District in maintaining law and or
| der, it was with the understanding
! that the program Of this new organi-
cation was to be determined upon
when it should have been completely
organized with a governing board o1
representative laymen and members
of the clergy.
"6. 1t is the understanding of thi;
association that the above e-mentione(
organization has not yet been effect
ed, that a temporary name was Sc
lected and a temporary chairman anC
secretary were asked to serve pend
ing actual organizations; that th'
! plans of activity of this organization
appearing in the local press have il
Zach instance represented merely per
a H.
ceptions. since no official act of an.
character whatsoever could be takel
until permanent organization hat
been effected. When this organiza
ton shall have been effected, its gov
erning body named and it's pOlicie
definitely determined upon, the Or
| ganiZed Bible Class Association will
Judge 1t upon its merits and be gov
erned accordingly"
The action of the central committee
which is composed Of two member
and teacher Of each Bible class in tn
city, making a total membership q
about 800, dealt only with the 'prir
ciple" surrounding the formation q
the association, and the question &
what facts the new. Organization
would work upon, went over until
later date. It was learned that boar
of directors, composed of prominer
Washingtonians in religious and bus
ness life here, is being selected now
The position Of the Bible class or
J ganiZation is that both Stevenson an
Douthitt are temporary officers, tina
the name of the Church Service A:
sociatfon Is only temporary, and unit
the Bible Class Association gives 1t
! signal TO ''go ahead" on a stipulate
program of activity with relation t
/; prohibition enforcement, the Churc
Service Association does not actuall
axiSt.