The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-02

BY N. D. COCHRAN

From time to time we read of ministers COM
planning of hostility toward the churches and lack
of what they consider proper interest in religion and
church activities Evidently some of the thinking
cIergymen have been trying to figure out what's the
matter.
westchester County, New York. is one Of the
richest counties in the country hundreds OF thou
sands of business and professional men whose offices
are in New York City making their homes in that
neighboring county. Recently there was meerng
of somewhere around 100 members of the West
chester County Council of Churches at White Plains,
the county seat All but six Of them signed a
declaration uphoding the eighteenth amendment
and calling upon the general public to uphold pro-
hibiton.
One of the six who refused to sign was Rev Fred
erick j. Melville, pastor of st. Matthews Lutheran
Church of White Plains and president OF the White
Plains Ministers Association His reason Tor not
signing may throw light/o what's the matter
with the churches that have followed the Anti
Saloon League into politics.
81 do not criticise any of the signers Of this
declaration the grounds Of insincerity, Rev. Mr..
Melville said, "as do not know them closely enough
in private life, but there is no doubt that many
ministers and aymen are afraid to speak their minds
because of the consequences of public opinion. de-
spite the fact that in their hearts they convinced
that prohibition is doing harm to the country.
IF everybody spoke honestly, with the courage OF
his convictions, there would be different public at
titude this question. Prohibition has done a
great deal of harm to the church. 1t has done
more harm than any other modern institution.
Children go to church, hear the ministers up
n0IQ prOnlDlCloN ana near OF Gne dangers OI
:Ng, U- N go to their homes and see their parents
erinki regularly This situation confuses the minds
of the children and they do not know what prohibit
ton is
That's one minister's opinion. To that may be
added what many men know-that many adult
church members who are sincerely interested in re-
ligion reSent-the support, financial and political,
given by the ministers to the Anti-Saloon League
lobby, whose leaders have beccme-for hire-profes-
Sional politicians and legislative lobbyists Many
est Christians look upon this as an unholy alliance
of spiritual and material forces. Some think that
many ministers of the gospel have neglected their
spiritual work to wander off after false gods Then
there those who would like to see prohibition
work. but know it isn't working and don't believe
it will work.
Aside from such adults as are dissatisfied there
is little question that the Protestant churches
losing their grip on the rising generation What in
huence this may have on future generations and on
the churches themselves is matter of opinion but
it certainly is something to which ministers should
give very thoughtful consideration. My own belief
is that politics and religion won't mix, and that the
quicker preachers get out Of the political nlire the
clearer they will be able to keep their spiritual skirts
and the better it will be for religion and the church.