Jim Kershner’s this day in history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The Rev. J.W. Johnson of Westminster Congregational Church in Spokane preached a sermon urging tolerance toward Japanese immigrants.

He reminded his flock that the gospel says that “men of all nations are brothers.” He deplored a current anti-Japanese “propaganda” campaign in California. He said Japanese immigrants “bring to America capital” equal to the English, German and Irish immigrants, and he refuted the notion that the Japanese depressed wages for American workmen.

“It is up to the Christian church to welcome the Japanese as an opportunity to win them to the highest the Christian religion affords,” he said.

The title of his sermon? “The Yellow Peril and the White Harvest.”

From the Polish beat: Spokane’s Polish community celebrated the anniversary of the Polish Constitution with a colorful procession at St. Joseph’s Church.

The celebration featured poems, recitations and a short play. A group of young girls in Polish national dress sang patriotic songs and another vocalist sang “Poland in Bondage.”

Also on this date

(From the Associated Press)

1925: Schoolteacher John T. Scopes was charged in Tennessee with violating a state law that prohibited teaching the theory of evolution. (Scopes was found guilty, but his conviction was later set aside.)