Englewood Pastor Resigns, Rapping Klan Church Rule

One Hundred Years Ago – From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, June 14, 1923: Last week the Englewood Christian Church board of trustees voted 19 to 10 calling for pastor Rev. Frank E. Davison’s resignation because of his denunciation of a “100 per cent Americanism” mass meeting organized on church property by the “Hustling Hundred,” a civic and social group affiliated with the church, as an attempt to promote Ku Klux Klan propaganda. Despite a resolution unanimously adopted by the Indianapolis Christian Ministers’ Association commending his stand in opposing the Ku Klux Klan, Rev. Davison submitted his letter of resignation to the church board last night. “How could I align myself with an institution that divides churches, homes and communities and plants the seed of hate in human hearts…It has been in the interest of real Americanism that I have taken my stand,” Rev. Davison wrote.

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“Englewood Pastor Resigns, Rapping Klan Church Rule,” The Indianapolis Star, 14 June 1923, p. 1:3

Records Show West's U.S. History Not on List

From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, June 5, 1923: Despite the impression in American Legion circles that An American History by Dr. David Saville Muzzey had been adopted by the Indiana state board of education for use as the United States history textbook in teaching high school American history, the board voted to continue using a United States history textbook by Emerson David Fite. The state adjutant of the American Legion made a formal protest to the superintendent of public instruction objecting to the Muzzey text and the History of the American People by William Mason West because the contents of the books were unpatriotic and biased. Patriotic societies over the country have made unfavorable comments about the textbooks because they convey the impression everything American is wrong and that the sole hope for American progress is renouncing our American traditions.

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“Records Show West’s U.S. History Not On List,” The Indianapolis News, 5 June 1923, p. 19:2

25,000 Poppies Sold on Streets of City

From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, May 27, 1923: Poppy Day in Indianapolis broke all previous records with the sale of 25,000 poppies yesterday. The blood-red flower worn by thousands of veterans of the World War, mothers, fathers, brothers, sons, sisters, and friends recalls and honors the sacrifice of American soldiers’ who sleep in France and Belgium. Seventy-five Girl Scouts and young women, representing the American Legion Auxiliary, sold the silk poppies, made by the widows and orphans of French soldiers, on Indianapolis downtown streets and office buildings, receiving contributions from 10 cents to $5 with proceeds exceeding $250 (2022: $4,416). Funds from the sale will be either used for the aid of the disabled veteran or applied to the $100,000 (2022: $1,766,575) endowment fund for the perpetual care of the graves of American soldiers in France and other foreign countries.

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“25,000 Poppies Sold on Streets of City,” The Indianapolis Star, 27 May 1923, p. 35:5

“Thousands Wear Memorial Poppy,” The Indianapolis Times, 26 May 1923, p. 1:6