"Constructive Christianity"

Horse-racing is a multi-million-dollar industry in Kentucky. When, in 1923, reformers threatened Kentucky horse-racing by trying to repeal the law legalizing pari-mutuel betting, the industry's chief defendant was no florid turfman, no julep-sipping blue grass gentleman, no raucous paddock tout, but the Rev. Thomas Leven Settle, rector of the Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopalian) of Lexington. The Legislature, awed by the unfamiliar spectacle of a churchman defending racing, listened to his arguments that repeal of the law would result in worse evils, and were convinced.

When this happened the Church of the Good Shepherd was small, its congregation nondescript. Soon subscriptions for a new church came from grateful horsemen in all parts of the country. At Saratoga Springs, N. Y., a blooded horse was auctioned, the proceeds donated to Dr. Settle. In Lexington, turfmen deserted conservative churches they had attended all their lives, went to the beautiful new $225,000 edifice. Heathen racing men who had belonged to no church joined the powerful, rich congregation which was forming at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Last week that congregation heard that Dr. Settle was resigning. He was going to leave Lexington (pop. 50,000) and go back in the mountains to the little mining town of Harlan. Already he had aided Harlan by raising $9,000 toward a new $18,000 church. The entire Harlan congregation had petitioned him to become their rector and Bishop Henry Pryor Almon Abbott of the Lexington diocese had agreed to let him go.

Explaining, the Parson Who Saved Horse-racing said: "I am going to Harlan in response to the call of duty. ... It means a real sacrifice but has great opportunities for constructive Christianity. The future of the State lies in the mountains of Kentucky; our church must bear its part in the development."