Jim Kershner’s This day in history » On the Web: spokesman.com/topics/local-history

From our archives, 100 years ago

The Rev. Frank E. Whitham, pastor of the Hope Congregational Church in Newport, was hauled before a church investigative committee – for playing billiards. Some members of his congregation complained that he had been observed visiting a local poolroom. Whitham freely admitted that he had. In fact, the pastor turned out to be the town’s champion pool player and had “beaten all of the opponents in the poolroom that he visited.”

Some of his flock believed this to be unbecoming of a preacher, and one woman additionally charged him with “unorthodoxy in teaching and preaching.”

Yet the pastor had many allies, both in his flock and around town. The town’s business community rallied behind him and said that his presence had actually improved the conditions at the poolroom and “he was doing the community a good service.” Many threatened to quit the church if the pastor was fired. The committee, made up of regional Congregational pastors, ruled in favor of the pool-playing pastor, on the grounds that he was, in all nonbilliard matters, a “good influence” on his flock. Shortly after the ruling, the Hope Congregational Church signed up 24 new members.

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(From the Associated Press)

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