Show Lewis Lewis' Latest Novel Arouses Arouses' K C. C Ministers Elmer Gantry Satire on Religion Is Declared Overdrawn and Preposterous KA KANSAS SAS CITY Mo March 10 Kansas AP-Kansas City ministers generally gen gen- gen gen- expressed disappointment on reading Sinclair Lewis Lewis' latest novel Elmer Gantry which to- to day clay The book is described s a satire saUre on commercialized religion Much ot of the material was gathered here I. I Gantry is Is' Is portrayed as a country youth who attended d. d theological seminary he appeared In the therole role robe of a hypocrite thief liar and seducer After being expelled he led a nomad life but finally sought to atone for tor his sIns through the church The Rev J. J mt M. Hargett pastor ot of the Grand Methodist temple h here re described the novel as overdrawn overdrawn over drawn and preposterous Lewis doesn't know what we we preachers preachers' are working c in our our churches Dr Hargett declared They say Im I'm Elmer Eitner Gantry Im I'm not offended personally I dont don't think the book bool amounts to enough for that IS DISAPPOINTED DISAPPOINT D. D The Rev William L. L Stidger ot of the tho Linwood Boulevard Methodist l Episcopal church who Introduced Mr Ir Lewis to many ministers here said he was disappoInted because the thc book failed to cover ministerial I problems We were were lookIng for some criticism cism of the fundamental problems of the church ot Its capitalistic ways wars Dr Stidger said Instead we get this story of a a. little perverted perverted per per- minister an altogether im- im Continue l 1 on n page 8 Lewis Lewis' Latest I Novel Arouses Arouse K C. C Minister Continued from page 1 1 picture IY not even evena a good caricature J Mr r. r Lewis Is now on a tour in Europe Europe with the he Rev I Blackman assistant to Dr Stid William Allen White lan Kan editor and author brand the story as a Punch and Jud attempt as a satire on h religion 3 1 Much Is to be said about or religion Mr White CI dared and Lewis has told mue muc but not enough lIe hell ha said wh Vh he has saId so badly that it d not make the impression where should and as it should I SinclaIr Lewis stood in the pt pit of a Kansas City church l 1 spring and defied God t too dead So far as artist is concerned in the b bElmer bo Elmer Gantry God took himI his word He got so exited faces at God that he forgot A b craftsmanshiP |