COMMENTS by David S. Lawyer, 1995: Controversy at Throop is nothing new. On May 29, 1915 a letter from a disgruntled member was published in a local Pasadena newspaper. With ironic humor he lavishes scathing criticism on the church and especially on the decision to sell the old church building which was located on N. Raymond Ave. near the present Catholic Church. That decision to sell was later reversed by the congregation. However, the old building (with its 700-seat sanctuary) was eventually sold to the Church of the Nazarene and our existing church on Los Robles was built in 1923 as a smaller (but more costly) replacement. Most inflammatory of all, the author alleges prostitution of the pulpit and implies that some church members "do malicious mischief". Here is the letter: -------------------- ONE CHURCH'S LOSS IS ANOTHER'S GAIN To the Editor of the Press: The Universalist Church or Church of the Golden Rule has passed a resolution to sell to the Church of the Nazarene. A few wanted to stay in their present location nearly in the center of the church district, but the fear that the Board of Trade was going to bring in smokeless, dustless and noiseless manufacturing into this town and the prospects of such a kind of manufacturing in the Throop building caused a stampede for a location in a quiet place out near the Presbyterian church, near Colorado street and the Pacific Electric, "where bells don't ring and whistles don't blow". And another reason was that they want to build a smaller church to meet the needs of a growing city and to have a church that would be so small that the few that remain under the past and present management could touch elbows. But there are some people who are a little particular who they touch elbows with, especially those who are unfair in the "manly art" and do dirty work in the day time, and those who do malicious mischief under the cover of night--those who will not bend, bow and scrape to this kind will probably be excommunicated from the new church. And last but not least, they hope to have a spiritual minister. Nothing was said about a spiritual management. Father Throop was a placid and kind hearted, honest man and to see the last of his works wrecked by a generous people no more like him than dark is like daylight, was the regret of some. But not all is lost for the Nazarenes are built upon the plan of S.P.U.D. as given by Dr. J. A. B. Scherer and believe in curing "spendthriftism," "publiconia" and unnecessary dissipation. And success will be with them for they are getting a church that cannot be duplicated for $20,000 and land that can't be duplicated for $22,000, for all told $20,000 (for less than half). Not only that, but one or two (or at most a few) families will not stand at the door, pass the hat, do the singing, handle the money, be on nearly every church committee, nominate and dictate the officers, and prostitute the pulpit to pull off school sites, but they will act the Golden Rule. Giving each and all a little part in the affairs of the church, cutting out the little admiration society, the church will then be filled. They will be doing a good work and success will be with them. AN EX-MEMBER (END OF LETTER) Notes by David S Lawyer: The "Pacific Electric" was the streetcar line to Los Angeles that ran up and down Lake Ave. Prior to the selection of the present site on Los Robles it was planned to build the new church on Lake Ave (but it never happened). One way to make money in land speculation was to buy vacant land and then get a school to be built on or near it so that the value of the land would go up. This may be what is meant by "prostitute the pulpit to pull off school sites". There is a newpaper article in the archives about a subdivision around a school site and this may be it. The term "manly art" means fist fighting but likely is used in the figurative sense.