Jim Kershner’s This day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

Spokane’s ministers vowed to descend on Spokane’s saloons, bars and restaurants at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to prevent any “sacrilege” of the Sabbath.

New Year’s Eve was on a Saturday night in 1910, and the ministers wanted to make sure that the laws prohibiting alcohol on Sundays would be strictly enforced starting at midnight.

Yet this ministerial patrol also wanted to put a lid on revelry, period.

The pastor of the First Presbyterian Church said he believed the patrols could help “hold in check the disgraceful scenes which always occur on New Year’s Eve.”

The city’s restaurant proprietors were not exactly thrilled with the prospect of ministers butting in on their parties. The manager of Davenport’s Restaurant said his New Year’s Eve party was sold out and he had no intention of admitting any ministers without tickets.

He also hinted that the pastors might be surprised to find the most prominent members of their congregations having a good time at his party.

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1846: Iowa became the 29th state to be admitted to the Union. … 1908: A major earthquake followed by a tsunami devastated the Italian city of Messina, killing at least 70,000 people. … 1945: Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance.