SWITCHING FATHER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10924, 13 November 1913, Page 5

SWITCHING FATHER.

BAPTISTS FALL OUT. Tho Rev Elijah Hanley, president of .Franklin ". College, Terre Haute, Indiana, was indicted lately on a charge of assault and battery arising out of an attack on his father, Calvin Hanley. The minister insisted he did not beat -: his parent, but "switched and spanked ' him for ill-treatment of his mother and other relatives. The father told neighbours that he had been beaten ■with a'club and' kicked." The .Rev . Elijah Hahley is an influential Baptist, arid was formerly pastor of John Rockefeller's church in Cleveland, which has caused considerable prominence to be given to the case. Since the reverend -gentleman switched and spanked his father it is admitted that a reconciliation has taken place. - The son declar- . ' ed that, deeply as he regrets the incident, he feels it worth the price Tie paid .'"if it results in the better -treatment of < his, mother bv his father. The father says he was the one-to be forgiverf, and that he got what he deserved. "It has - been a dear lesson to me; I thank you f for it," said the father to the son at ■their reoonoiliation. "I believe the Lord has shown me my great mistake; I shall , never cause trouble again." Three of the Rev Mr Hanley's college classmate signed--a letter for publication upholding " "him for his action and stating that he had helped „to support his father and mother even while in school. They' jus- . tified his course in whipping his father. . About half of the members of the board of trustees, of Franklin College expressed themselves as believing that his action wa5...... warranted. Incidentally, several correspondents have written to the leading . New York newspapers arthat it is a mistake that so much 1 attention should he given to juvenile correctional measures, to the utter sioglect of home correctional measures ioi >are&ts. If more unrulv fathers it te nrged, were spanked, it "would 'be greatly to the advantage of domestic discipline as well as of public conduct. In the matter of the Rov Mr Hanley wlose casu was still sub judice the issye was greatly simplified, because he admitted spanking Jiis father; and urged that respect for his mother provided all the justification he needed. .JWhen the reconciliation between father and son was announced, a member of the board of trustees said that the af- ' fair was closed as far as the college was .'. concerned, .and the action of the Court would not influence their pleasant relations with their president to the slightest degree.'