The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-30
LADIES STAND FOR ART
PROPOSED SHOW EXCITEs A CON-
GREGATIoN.
st. Agnes Guild Prevented by the
vestry From Giving Its
Contemplated Per-
formance.
Alameda Office San Francisco Call,

L
The ladies and gentlemen of Christ
Episcopal Church have had g falling out
over the propriety of living picture exhi-
billions at church entertainments. Strange
TO say, in the case at issue the ladies are
the advocates of the nude in art while
the vestrymen, led by f. e. Mason of 11lO
Everett street, are Mortified at the idea
and think they could not witness such an
exhibition and live. The gentlemen blush
at any reference to the proposed enter
tainment while the ladies look upon it in
q matter Of fact sort of way and insist,
with much emphasis, that ii Is the proper
thing. They blush also. however, but they
assert their bushes are for the mock
modesLy displayed by their co-laborers in
the church work.
. St Agnes Guild, connected with the
Christ Church, had undertaken TO give an
entertainment to raise funds to increase
the bulk and general welfare OF the
church treasury. Among other talent the
services were secured OF Perham Nahl,
the living picture artist. Nahl and his
partner Giles Bradley, made name for
themselves in New York until Anthony
Comstock, like Vestryman Mason, became
shocked at their exhibitions, and New
York proved too small to hold them
p Everything was progressing nicely with
the proposed entertainment, when the
shock came that spoiled ii all and prompt
ed The ladies 10 call 1t off. Tickets had
been printed and a great number Of hem
sold on the representation that the Nahl
3tN1nE pictures would De a feature Oh the
programme. The ladies made their mis-
take in advertising the Nahl numbers too
prOmiScuOusly. AS soon as the news
reached the delicate ears OF the VeStry-
anything and forthwith took steps to
prevent the 'horrid" pictures being eX-
hibted at a church entertainment. At
their request the rector, Rev. T. j, Lacey,
called q meeting Of the Vestrymen. Mr.
Mason, strange as 1t may appear, did not
attend. The ladies assert that the mere
mention of living pictures so shocked him
that he could not undergo the ordeal of
taking part at meeting where they were
the only subject under discussion. His
presence, however, was not necessary to
draw the curtain on the display of the
nude IN art. Other Yestrymen, Of whom
tIemon Drake was spokesman, covered
their bluShing faces and cried out against
what they considered an immoral show
fraught with danger to the welfare OF the
And so Mrs. H. E. Osborn of 1O14 Paru
street, president of the Ladies' Guild,
VAS notified that CO., the living pictures
was astonished at the action OF the gen
temen, and Immediately called a Joint
meeting of the guild and the vestry 10
discuss the prOpriety of living pictures
The meeting was held Sunday evening
last. Mr. Mason was not present The
ladies argued for their living picture
show, but the gentlemen could not toler-
ate it, They may have occupied seats in
bald head row. at a ballet show but
they drew the line at living pictures
especially When the exhibition was to be
given with man as the central figure.
Thus it is that the entertainment has
been declared off. The ladies decided that
# they could not have pictures that
lived they would make no effort to add
funds to the church treasury. Notice is
given that those who have purchased
tickets can have their money refunded
by applying at the box office.
Mr.. Mason was seen at his home this
evening and was not in a very pleasant
frame of mind. He refused to express
his opinion en- living pictures and would
neither deny nor affirm that he objected
to them being made a feature of a church
entertainment.
Il would give 500 for the name Of the
person who let that secret out - said Mr.
Mason, and that was all ne would con
sent TO say.