Wrath in Madison

In its legislative chamber in Madison one day last fortnight, the Wisconsin Senate rose to its 62 feet to listen to the opening prayer. For this prayer the Senate pays $3 every day to a local or visiting minister; that day it got more than its $3 worth. Prayed Rev. Allen Eddy of Madison's Plymouth Congregational Church:

"We invoke Thy wrath upon reprobate men who come to this city to corrupt public officials, buy and sell legislation and traffic in the honor of government. We invoke Thy wrath upon little men in large places who stoop to canny shrewdness to thwart the people's will and reduce the business of public affairs to mistrust and contempt."

His prayer over, Mr. Eddy walked out. Senator Harry W. Bolens, 75, who is famed for taking catnaps at his desk, rose like a pillar of fire, asked if Mr. Eddy were a "Christian gentleman," said: "I hope we never invite him to come again into the company of decent men." Thereupon the Senate's Chief Clerk told Mr. Eddy that he need not fill his next praying engagement.

Soon there was more work for the Chief Clerk. A Madison Baptist and an Italian Methodist canceled their dates to pray for the Senate. A Lutheran, Rev. Morris Wee, instead of praying when his turn came, ambiguously read a psalm: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Last week the Madison Ministerial Association, which furnishes most of the Senate's praying parsons, formally resolved : "We cannot participate in this duty as chaplains unless we are assured of freedom. . . ." Promptly lest the Senate's supply of supplication dry up, the Chief Clerk put Mr. Eddy back on the active list.

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