Fiery Cross, Volume 2, Number 21, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 April 1923 — Page 4
PAGE FOUR
THE -FIERY CROSS Friday, Ajir27, 1923
EDI TORIAL
Th KIKHV KOSS is nubllslwd every Friday by the Advertising Service of Kin.t V. Itiichard. Indianapolis, and will maintain a policy of staunch, 100 ler ce:il Americanism without fear or favor. Kditi-d. not to iimVir up peopVe'a minds, but to shake up people's minds; to help mold active public opinion which will make America a proper place tn live in. ;Vc s of truth kills more false news and shrivels up more "bunk" than all t lie c i : 1 1 s t ;i i k e me fits in the world. Truth helps to clarify opinions on lions flm-Miens l. serious people. The t-'ll-IHY l'Rllsi v. ill strive to give the American viewpoint on pubINhorl nri:.'s mid separate the dross from the pure sold in the current news o! the d:iy.
1 : 1 1 i . i il as secoiid-i'lass matter. July 20, 1!22. at the post office at Indiinap'di. iMliuna. under the Act of March 3, 1S7.
dertliuic listen Will Re KurnlHhrd I ion Request
SiilineriHtios Hatr. by Mail, S.00 Per Year
end all n Ileum and Address all Inquiries to C7S and 580 Century Building. Telephone. Lincoln 74C.7.
t t
Bella Donna" Bah!
Must Show "Intent" of Sale That the ban upon possession of Intoxicating liquor be continued. Got. Warren B. McCray should at once call together a special session of the state legislature. There should be no delay in correcting the technical breach in the state liquor laws that permits hip-pocket vendors to ply
their trade. The interpretation of the recent state supreme court decision by Attorney-General U. S. Lesh allows for a wide latitude for "bootleggers." Intent of sale must be proven. Until such action by the law-making body can be taken, the state's
mil. TON I'l.fHiO t-Initor-In-Chfrf A11"--1!'" 1 ill aa m octuiiii& luuiiluuuo ui mniur viuiauims wm ue ru
KHM-4T v. ni:i HAiiu ManaBin b.dUorh6 Possession of "moonshine." which is contraband, and trenernllv held
by the courts to be prima facie evidence. There will be somedifficulty in establishing a distinction between "bonded" liquor and colored moonshine, but a chemical analysis will define this difference.
Reverting prosecution for liquor law violation to the Acts of 1917, the
supreme court has made negative possession within the law. The 1917 act specifically prohibits the manufacture, sale, giving, advertising or
transportation. Amending the act to include possession, the 1919 session
of the state legislature failed to broaden the title by including the word
"possession."
Raids upon private cellar stocks and home cupboards will probably
cease unless there are included affidavits of sale made or intended. Sale or Intent of sale must be shown. Liquor seizures in raids mad upon drink emporiums, "soft drink" parlors and roadhouses, because of their character
of business, are believed sufficient to secure convictions.
Attorneys generally hold the 1023 law, inflicting heavier penalties upon
conviction, to be interpreted similarly as the supreme court held with reference to the "possession" clause in the act of 1921. Mere possession is not cohvictable unless sale or intent of sale is shown. The supreme court decision is not retroactive. "Possession" offenders now serving jail sentences will continue behind the bars until the expira
tion of their terms. Search warrants must include "Intent" to be legal instruments, according to the same opinions. A few cities report that their police raiding squads are "laying low," not sponging up in view of the court's decision. In the main, however, raiding continues as before, except that activities are confined to bars, wine rooms
and places generally believed to possess liquor for purpose of sale.
Negative possession seizures are indictable under the federal laws, and
where "intent" can not be proven, cases can be dismissed In police and county courts and filed before United States commissioners by federal prohibition agents. Such filings will result in indictments returnable by
the federal grand jury.
The witnessing of "Bella Donna." the photoplay picture featuring Pola Negri, the Polish vamp, in a very inter-racial suggestive play, now appearing at the Circle Theater, convinces its that Will Hays, as supreme head of the motion picture industry, should put a "bella donna plaster" upon the Industry itself, in the hope at least that it would sap and draw some of the rottfhnefs out of the plays and the minds of those who apparently control the industry. The play is coarse, degrading and insulting and is a disgrace to the
white race. It teaches no good moral, theory or genus of any sort, and
lias a tendency to create aspirations in the lives of negro people which have never been thought of by the better class of that race themselves.
It is a brazen bid and open propaganda for social equality and is an affront to the white people of the city of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana wherever shown. Pola Negri. .Europe's alleged star, must have received her Inspiration from the same interests that inspired Charlie Chaplin, in "The Pilgrim," ami if the American people only realized the influence back of this insidious and dangerous practice, her value as a drawing card would become useless
end she would he returned to Poland to "twinkle" as a star among people lu whom the call of the white man's instinct is not so pronounced as it is In America; where she could associate with some of the ancestry of the depraved clothing merchants who would foist this picture upon the people of Indianapolis and America. The story of "Bella Donna," Pola Negri's "Colored Supremacy" photoplay, dals with the mad infatuation of a white man for a dark-skinned North African Egyptian. The revolting spectacle of a white woman clinging In the arms of a cofored man simply is beyond words to express. Besides being an insult te the white man and the white man's country, the picture "Bella Denaa emphasizes who controls the moving picture Industry in this country more emphatically than anything: the Knights of the Ko Klnx Klan eonld have to say, er those among1 the newspapers sympulhetlc with the movement eonld print.
The picture "Bella Donna" was banned by the censors In Houston, Texas,
recently and the mayor of Houston over-rode the board of censors and
permitted the picture to run under the following electric bulletin, placed in front of the leading theater of the city of Houston: "WHITE-SKINNED
LADIES WILL FLIRT WITH BLACK-SKINNED MEN WHEN THEIR Hl'RBAXDS ARK AWAY rOLA NEGRI." If this bulletin could be used to advertise "Bella Donna" in the southern city of Houston, and if those responsible for this foul, blasphemous picture would attempt such a thing and get away with it In the city of Houston, Teus. it lends us to wonder to what lengths they will go In the northern stales, and just how the picture itself will be advertised In the Loop theaters of Chicago, for Instance, and what its effect will be on the race pi'imtion in Chicago at this time can hardly be imagined. At this time the colored race, not as a whole, but those of the radical InTiiority. are chafing under the lash of incendiary whites goading them on t; impossible dreams of social equality. Pola Negri's "Bella Donna" will lure them on to extremes that lead but to an inevitable and disastrous
That halt- for the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan could have inspired this picture rind possibly influenced its being produced in Indianapolis at this
ti'ne is bu n conjecture, but is reasonably substantiated by circumstances witli which we are familiar.
"lieilu Donna" is the story of a white woman who falls in love with an
-';'-itian black man. Is despoiled by him in his tent, and then In return
gives him madly her love, only in the end to be spurned while swooning
a-i'i pleading at his feet. It is a species of propaganda that must and will be slopped immediately. In a measure, while we regret its presentation
ia Indianapolis, yet, on the other hand, we welcome it and are inclined to
reiommend that the people of Indianapolis, and those of Indiana who have' the opportunity, witness this spectacle, and in witnessing it realize just how far tiie influence of those who would undermine American life and American idaly have gone in-propagating dissension and discord, and how ureal are the tremendous powers that control the moving picture industry. Pe'-haps it will bring home to Indiana citizens how futile are the efforts and how weak is the "big little" man, Will Hays, in his efforts to meet and control such a situation. The grrutcst service that Will Hays could do te mankind, and a service that would echo down tnroagh the years of time, a service that would k turtle the world today, would he for him to resign his position at the head of the histUw picture Industry and declare tethe world his Impotency
and his utter Inability to rope with such a powerful and damnable situation.
The Presidential Outlook (By GILBERT 0. PARSONS, in the Protestant)
In the middle of his term of office President Harding has caused
announcement of his active candidacy for re-election
The announcement is designed to exclude all other Republican candi
dates from the field. It will probably succeed in that purpose. It la
therefore fraught with momentous consequences.
On the record of the Harding Administration the party fa power must
appeal to the voters. Repudiation ef that record by refusal to renominate
the President would be party suicide
As titular head and recognised leader of his party, Mr. Harding con
trols its committee organization. More than sixty thousand active poli
ticians hold postmasterships at his hands.
Through the Federal Reserve Board and the banking magnate now
at the head of the United States Treasury, the Administration is In perfect
touch with the financial monopoly that controls the money and credits
of the world.
Countless other federal appointees m daily contact with every business
and political interest and the vast patronage always at the President's dis
posal complete the power with which he shapes the policies and destiny
of his party.
With about six millions of votes in its hands the hierarchy of Rome
will probably not oppose his renominatlon. Though less openly servile to
Roman designs than his last two predecessors were, he has abundantly
justified political friendship of the enthroned hierarchy. Though a Baptist and high Mason, he has probably appointed more Roman priests than Protestant ministers to public office. Many of his appointments have been admirable, but others of outstanding strategy and importance can be explained only as deliberate concessions to the organized power of the. hierarchy. While holding political prisoners to long penal terms imposed under statutes of doubtful constitutionality In the stress and passion of war, the
Harding administration has singled
Society or Education Which?
Without he knowledge of the writer there has come to our attention
ait editorial written by a Technical High School student which appears to
be unusual in its apparent knowledge of conditions in our local high school
Amidst the criticism often heard concerning the size of the student
body as well as campus conditions at Technical the writer of the article
which follows furnishes much food for thought:
' A recent conversation with a Technical student led to the disclosure of some startling facts to the writer of this article. It appears that we have slackers in our midst with whom school spirit is nil, whereas association with the elite (?" of the city Is taken to heart. It has developed trutt certain members of Technical are planning to leave Tech and go ti one of the other city high school next semester. The reason these
Denedici Arnolds of Technical have given is the mud on the campus. Where is the spirit of your fathers who walked miles through muddy country roads In order to get I heir education? As a matter of fact, these Mudepts who would leave Tecnnical are merely using the mud as a fairly plausible excuse. It is a well known fact that Technical is the biggest and best high fcehool in the city ai.d Is rated among the best in the middle west. If these stuientH had tln-Hr education at heart, they would go to the place
where they could get the best schooling. It is a clear, undeniable fact that these students ?rrp leaVing Twbpical for purely social reasons. At present Tt- huical is crowded to the Htmost and can well afford to low these Ktiiilp.itu in order to give more room to those who really want as education surf who want to be with the best minds rather than the fcest drewd. This pisti of leaving Technical is even more degrading to te planners than the one that was carried out not so long ago when tfriain Technical students went to another city high school in order to get os some of the athletic teams because the grade standard for players at Technical was too hi.ih for them to qualify. Do students these days choose their schools for a social rather than
an edvcaiiosal standpoint? It would seem as though this was true. If there
re students at Technical who are so utterly lacking in school spirit and
who care so little for their education as this plan would Indicate, Technical cau, as was said before, wetl afford to lose them; and a for the others,
TRi n TTX MONUNS. "VIVE LA TECH'"
out powerful Roman Catholics un
mistakably guilty of much graver offenses and disloyalty and set them
at liberty.
According to Seattle press reports very rich Roman Catholic mill
owner on the Pacific Slope was con
victed in the district court of the
United States at Portland of having repeatedly uttered sentiments during the World War that were shockingly seditious and replete
with treason.
On appeal his conviction and
sentence to the penitentiary was af
firmed in the circuit court of ap
peals at San Francisco. The case
was then brought t the Supreme
Court, where the Department of
Justice appeared and asked the court to reverse the conviction.
A Roman priest wearing the uniform and holding the commission of a captain as chaplain in our army was guilty of utterances se treasonable while in active service overseas that the Wilson Administration transferred him to Honolulu. There his disloyalty continued so flagrant and brazen that he was tried, convicted and sentenced to fifteen years in the penitentiary.
Ten weeks after inauguration President Harding granted that priest
full pardon and set him. at liberty,
The priest then retired to the- bouse
of the Paulist Fathers at the Catho
lie University in the District of Co
lumbia.
But the substantial and far-reaeh-
ing service rendered to papal ambitions by the Harding Administra
tion has been in its appointments
and legislative policy. There friend
ship to Rome has been steadfast j and progressive. A vacancy at the head of the Supreme Court In the summer of 1921 enabled the President to call Mr.
Taft from retirement to which the
people had relegated him by the moat crushing majority ever polled against a President seeking reelection and to ensconce him for
life beyond the reach of the people in the greatest judicial office in the world.
It was because of the apparent alliance of his Administration with
Wall Street and Rome that the people routed Mr. Taft in. the campaign for reelection la every State but
Utah and Vermont. As President he overruled his In
dian Commissioner in order to per
mit Roman nana to teach in Gov
ernment Indian schools clad im their
allan naeerdnfal rnhAa Sne.h la thsu
(educational attitude of the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court when the right of the people to require
attendance of their children at public schools awaits determination in
that great tribunal.
The controlled press that labored with such persistency and final success for his political resuscitation now declares boastfully that recent appointments to the Supreme Court have been largely at bis instance. Especially was that declaration made relative to the appointment of Pierce Butler, Knight of Columbus and former legal advisor of a Roman prelate regarding parochial schools. One member of the Supreme
Court Is now eighty-two years of
age, another is in his eightieth year
and others are well towards sev
enty. Only tares members are un
der sixty. A majority of the justices
will probably be succeeded by new
appointments before the end of the
next Presidential term.
In addition to placing a Knight of
Columbus in the Supreme Court,
President Harding has quite recent
ly appointed a Roman Catholic as judge of the district court of the
United States for Minnesota. To what extent he wilt persist In such appointments is unknown. But the past is always aa index to' the fu
ture.
In ao branch of the civil service
is alien, and autocratic power so
dangerous as in the judiciary. The
lives and liberties of the people are in the hands of the courts. Every civil, military and naval tribunal and functionary la the land except the president and Congress, mast bow to the Supreme Court of the
United States.
Canon law holds that the papacy
is rightful overlord of all civil governments and that no priest or pre
late of Rome is subject to civil authority. That law is paramount in the heart and Hfe of every Ro
man Catholic. Instant and unconditional recognition of Its supremacy
is the very essence of Roman Catholicism.
The papal bull Providentlssima
promulgating the canon law em
bodied in the new Codex Juris Can onici expressly commands the en
throned hierarchy to subject the
entire membership of the Roman
Church throughout the world to its
paramount binding' force.
Persons enslaved to that law have no just right to- sit in the judiciary
ot a great Protestant Republic.
Great judicial power in their hands
is a menace to the public Tbe.mepace Is specially acute when so many
constitutional ftuesUoo ot extraor
dinary moment are pressing for judicial solution. But it is sot alone in the judiciary that papal aggressions threaten the nation. In every branch of civil and edu
cational life are such aggressions constantly etctive. Pushed by the sinister omnipresent influence of the hierarchy, they seek" to encompass the army and navy. Only the Presi
dent as commander-in-chief of all our military and naval forces can defeat and punish those responsible
for that undertaking. The public is not aware ot any effective steps taken by the present Administration to that end.
But the executive power to serve
and placate the Roman hierarchy is
not confined to appointments'. The will of the President is virtually omnipotent in a Congress dominated
by his political party. That condition has- enabled the present Admin
istration from its inception to prevent action on the Towner-Sterling school bill favored by nearly all educators and loyal citizens and opposed by the Roman hierarchy virtually alone. Moreover, a new Congress will be
elected with the President next year. Both the partisan and patriotic complexion of that Congress will depend
on the' same political forces and public sentiment that determine the
presidential voting. It is there
fore doubly important that the
whole public, be reached with Infor
mation which the controlled press so diligently withholds.
No occupant of the White House
in forty years has been entirely clear of political intelligence with
the hierarchy of Rome. Re-elected
Presidents have uniformly flirted
more boldly with that alien power in the second terra than in the first
No elective public official would
dare thus intrigue with organized
foreign power it the people could be made aware of his misconduct But
the press is completely under Ro
man censorship and control. A vast majority of American citizens have
no intimation of the covert influ
ences that systematically reach aad
control public affairs at so many
crucial points.
Taint of political Romanism is no
more pronounced oa President
Harding than those ready to cam-
pete with him in the campaigns next
year. Growing cleavage ot the Re
publican party may embolden the
progressive following to demand the
nomination ot Borah, Johnson, La-
Follete or some one of their politi cal type.
But the senatorial record of each
ot the men named is more openly identified with Roman ambitions
than is the record of the Harding
AdmmistratioB. with a discrimi
nating foresight based on the unique
secret information in hand, the hier
archy has been busy half a dozen
years establishing full political un
derstandmg with all conspicuous
Presidential aspirants. The Democratic nomination
more difficult to forecast, James M. Cox, Alfred E. Smith, William Ran
dolph Hearst and Henry Ford are
the name uppermost la the public mind. The first recently knelt before the Pope In the Vatican throne room. The second is a Tammany
Roman Catholic and probably . a Knight of Columbus. The third is the most notorious journalistic ally of Rome la any land. The last has recently presented a magnificent
motor car to the Roman archbishop of Detroit But thirty millions of voters are
bigger than any candidate or party. They are able to reconstruct decaying and defunct parties or- form new ones responsive to the highest ideals and purposes ot the Republic. They can bring from the brains and heart ot the nation candidates whose character and personality will repel
and chastise the covert forces of deception and intrigue.
Can the men and women of the
country be reached? Can they be apprised of political bargaining and
manipulations which they do not suspect? A hundred thousand Christian ministers and thirty mil
lions ot people in the churches
which they serve can spread the light and give American politics the
new birth so much needed.
Ten millions in the great frater
nal bodies are a mighty factor in the righteous solution ot the problem. Will they help? Humanity hangs oa the answer. Friends, will you help?
No more sacred and exalted duty
was ever committed to human hands.
The Bounds of the Law
A NOVEL FOR ALL KLANDOM
By J. WALTER GREEP Author of "Songs of Sixteen Summers," "The Venter of Years," Etc. (Copyright 1922. irJ. WALTER GREEP)
is
OH, PIFFLE!
The Following From the Indiana
Catholic Record: The Chicago publication, Tolerance," which proved its case on Lawrence Lyons and ex-Judge Orbison, as members of the Klan, last week came out with the name of our Secretary of State, Ed. Jackson. Mr. Jackson has made no denial to the chanre. If he is a member of the
Ku Klux Klan, as stated by Tolerance," he is unfit to remain Secretary of State because he belongs to
a treasonable, un-American organi
zation that openly discriminates against Catholics. Jews. Negroes
and all foreign-born persons who
are citizens of the State of Indiana,
whom he was elected to serve just
as be is supposed to serve all the
other people.
It Is time for executive action In
this matter. If Mr. Jackson is
wrongfully accused he can easily
clear himself and many who have
known him will rejoice. He can pun
ish legally those who have made the
tcharge against him -ir it is raise.
But the people of Indiana mast nave
an investigation of the matter and
remove from office by one process ot
impeachment any and every swora
nubile official who has violated his
oath of office by joining sueh an or
ganization.
Aa unusually readable story is THB BOIWBS OP THE LAW Written by a National lecturer of
the,.Klan and appearing In the. Fiery
tiroes Beginning tuut taaue scribe now.
CHAPTER I. Introducing Jadare Karraker. The sun had set and long shadows were beginning to fall along the streets of Prairie City. Arc lights twinkled on the corners of the residence streets but downtown the
white lights of Main street were
glowing already like a milky way.
Judge Karraker ambled unsteadily
along Houston street, hearing neither
the wild chatter of the blackbirds
la the Chinaberry trees overhead,
nor the insistent honk of auto horns
as the motorists sped past him down
the dusty boulevard. The judges
mind was not obsessed with any great
program of jurisprudence nor lost
in any maze of legal contemplations
It was thoroughly occupied with the
Important question of keeping the
sidewalk from flying up and slapping
nun in the face. Then, he recol
lected what awaited him beyond the
swinging gate, and steeled himself for the inevitable conflict. A few more steps and tipsy Judge Karraker
would find home and an angry spouse.
The Honorable John Calhoun Kar
raker, county judge ot Bois d'Arc county, leading attorney for hustling
Frame Caty, was-. returning home
from his Sunday afternoon card game, as usual drank. His Sunday
program waa simple, as befitted a
man of his education and achieve
ments. He arose late, shaved, and, after a breakfast served by a smirk
ing negress, drove to the golf links
for a few rounds before noon. Ate a sumptuous noon meal; slept or
smoked for an hour or so. Then, at two, repaired to Peterson's pool
room for a few games ot poker and
some home-brew with the "dots
Staggered home at dusk and was put
to bed by a devoted but disgusted
wife. Arose early the next morning
and repaired to the courtroom, the
picture of dignity, to pass judgment
on wayward boys and those accused
ot petit larceny. For six days a
week the judge was a model, the
very exemplification of sobriety and the majesty of the law. Sunday was his off-day, when, as he expressed
it, n kicked up his. heels."
Mrs. Karraker met him at the door
with the usual scowl, but no words.
She had been at this business for
three years now and had exhausted
her vocabulary ot expletives and de
nuncianons. Kven a woman's vo
cabulary can be exhausted with con
stan draining, tsne simply mo
tioned the reeling figure to the door,
and he. obediently, tried to follow
But a porch-mat caught his foot and the theaters
he fell, sprawling, a helpless heap on the floor. His wife uttered a suppressed scream before she could stop
herself. There was the sound of footsteps coming from all parts of the house. Sally, the cook, was coming from the kitchen; Gene, the daughter, was hurrying from the parlor, a look of horror on her pretty face; neighbors had heard the commotion and were crossing the lawn. The judge raised himself on an elbow and fell back again. "S'all right, Mary," he said, "I'm all right, just a little sick; thass'all." His wife Ignored him and his daughter stood speechless with humiliation and disgust. "Here, Sally," said Mrs. Karraker
to the negress, "Help me get mm to
bed. Ton lift his head and I'll drag
ms reet. uet him into the haH and we'll undress him there. You, Gene, lend a hand." Gene would not touch her lather. She began to cry. . The jadge weighed over two hundred and eren the brawny cook couldn't budge him. They were forced to call in the assistance of two neighboring men to get. him to his room. He was sound asleep long before they finished un
dressing him.
Gene was hidden during this pro
cedure, but as soon as the men had
gone she came out into the hall and
new into a tantrum of rage and
tears. "O. mother!" she cried,
How can I stand this! Here am I,
in the best society in Prairie City, leader of the younger set, and my daddy comes home so besotten that neighbors have to put him to bed.
And he the county judge! What will folks say? How can I ever face
them?"
Pshaw, my child." said her moth
er, half-scornfnlly, "this is not the
first tune your father s been drunk. He gets that way nearly every Sunday. He get3 'whit mule' at some of the poolrooms or clubs and al
ways coined In with the smell of the stuff on his breath. I, as president of the W. C. T. U., have tried vainly
to locate the bootlegger but he seems very elusive. We have accomplished
nothing so far. The reason you have
never seen your father tipsy before
was because you were never here
before when he came in. He's al
ways drinking. But this is the first time he has been helplessly drunk. Don't worry over it, dear, but go and
powder up a little before Mr. Taylor
gets here. Ha la due now."
The girl kissed her mother and
hastened to her room to put the fin
ishing touches on before her beau ar
rived. There was tSie sound of a car stopping in front of the house and the doorbell rang. Mrs. Karraker, herself, opened the door aad Professor George Taylor entered. He was a tall young man. ot regular features, plainly an athlete, agile and handsome. He smiled cordially and the lady returned his' cordiality. It was plain to be seen that Mrs. Karraker looked
with no disfavor on tb growing
Sub-
friendship between her daughter and
the rising young superintendent of the city schools.
"Please be seated. Mr. Taylor."
she said with an affable air. "Gene
will be down in a mirrute. You will
excuse me. I must go and help pre
pare a lunch for the judge when he returns from the country." She bowed and stepped from the room, handling the camouflage to perfection. The judge at that moment was sleeping, in a drunken torpor, in the room just overhead. His wife was praying that he wouldn't snore. Gene entered, a vision of smiling radiance. Her features were perfect. She was the typical Southern girl, clad in the habiliments of the twentieth century. Her eyes were dark and luminous. Her bobbed hair fluttered in ebon ringlets about her shapely neck and her cheeks glowed with natural vose-tints. Her closefitting dress revealed the wonderful
symmetry of her figure. Her skirts scarce reached below her knees and her feet were encased in neat satin
pumps. Taylor arose and greeted
her with a smile. She smiled a coy
answer and held out both hands, which he took In his.
All right, little girl, where do
you want to go?" he asked. "The air is fine and the car is waiting."
where do you say?' "Suppose we flip a coin to sav
whether we go to church or the
movies?"
She grimaced and puckered her
lip sarcastically. "I hardly think we will," she said; "it might fall on the church side and then I'd stay at home. Sunday's my day off and I'm not going to waste that listening to
dry old sermons."
But, Miss Gene." arzued the nro-
fessor, "we owe it to the churches to go occasionally. They say Reverend Grinnell has a most attractive service at his church. It is always
crowded and there must be some reason. Owing to the position I hold in the community, I will be subject to criticism it I do not attend church occasionally, and especially if I am seen at ao many questionable motion picture shows." "Oh, is that so! Then, I suppose I'll have to go with some young man of less dignity and prominence. I like a real man; not a simpering sissy!" Taylor bit his lips but laughed. "Well, then, I'll teli yon what we'll do," he compromised; "we'll get in the car and drive by all the promi
nent churches in town and then by
Whichever Is most
attractive, we will attend. You are to be the judge. What dp you say?"
Accepted: She spoke with enthusiasm. By her father she would have been denied a place In a Jury box because she had already reached a conclusion before the evidence was submitted. They leaped, laughing, into the roadster and sped down the street. By mutual consent they agreed to visit the churches first. There were only a few prominent churches in the little city. They could soon make the rounds. They halted before the Grace Episcopal. The lights were dim. Inside an organ rolled like soft thunder on some wide uncharted sea. The music ot the choir.
the chanted prayers, and the melodious voice of the rector blended in
divine unison. Gene curled her lip.
I don t like this church, she- said, "their services are entirely too formal. Let's drive on." First Baptist next. A stream ot people; were 'poarmg ia .at the jdottr. The choir was singing with vigor. The preacher 'apiaxer . .was, heard with solemnity. Gene motioned to Taylor to drive on. She didn't like that preacher's nasal tone of voice. And she had always contended that the Baptists were narrow, anyway.
LindenA venue Presbyterian Church was passed by in contempt Their
services were draggy and they were
too puritanical. She bdn t exactly know what puritanical meant, but it bad eomething to do with those ob
noxious blue laws which her father so detested.
St. Mary's Catholic. Vesper mass
was over and the people were leaving. They were too late and Gene was glad of it. She would not have gone there anyway, except- for the
brevity of their services. She didn't
care for Latin in school or in church.
Central Christian had a peppy
evangelistic service. It was crowd
ed to the doors and the music was spirited and -fine. Bat the steps were high and the lighting effects poor. She might have to stand and it would be hot Main Street Methodist was the last port ot calL It was the largest church in town. Her father was, or had been, a Methodist and she had been christened in this church. But the last preacher had gone to fighting sin aad the devil as Methodist preachers sometimes do and had alienated the judge. He couldn't see why the preachers couldn't preach the gospel and let these things alone. The courts would
take care of them-raaybe. He did not like the- present minister. But the Methodists had to take anything the conference sent them. The driver looked at Gene : "Well, what do jroa say? "Let's' drive down and see what they have oft at the theaters," she suggested. (To Be Continued.) The next Installment ' of "The Bounds ot the Lair1 will annear la
this space next week, .A -
