The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-20
C|ergymen File Their Exceptions to
Pictures Shown at CreSC0nl Park.
Rev. 7. F. Norris Terms Them Outrage
Gus, Abominab|e and Lasclvlous.

The semi-rnonthly meeting OF the town
council. was held last evening. President
Martin. presiding. and a full board in at
tendance.
A petition from the bartenders and
walters OF Crescent park for permission
to hold a concert and ball in the hotel
dance hall at that resort on September
| 4th. was granted
| communication from the New Eng
| land association OF Arts and Crafts was
read, relative TO the necessity OF taking
out license for the Exposition building
| to which an admission fee Is charged
Town solicitor Babcock looked the mat
ter UP and reported that under the law
a license fee should be charged
| Inc petjtior of a number or the leading
barhers for the adoption OF the BARRIERS
hill was then taken up and II was voted
that the matter be continued TO sept. q
| at O'clock for a hearing and II was or
dered that the hearing be advertised
The petition OF Robert and Mary Hud-
SON for PERMISSION 10 connect with the
Taunton avenue sewer was granted.
A petition having II signers. was pre-
sented. asking that a hydrant be put IN
at the corner of Bay View avenue ana
Gerald street.
Members OF the council stated that
there was enough hose in the possession
reach TO the points Il was desired 10 pro-
tec, from another hydrant already es-
tablished and the matter was laid on the
table.
At this point Rev. Edwin A. Herring
pastor of the First Baptist cnurcn at
East Providence Centre, advaneeo 10 IN IN
rail and stated that the condltions which
had been brought TO the attention OF the
| co,incn in June still existed at crescent
park. and that since that time the Waocn
and Ward society had been gathering
evidence and that they had succeedeo II,
gathering enough to CONVICT seVeiai
counts. 60, u.
ne introduced Rev. A r. Christie, VINO
said that al the request Of citizens OF
, the town he had investigates. ana iou,d
that there were several things at the
. mark which were Objectionable ana Una.
he hoped the officials OF the town woulo
take action In the matter intimatins
,hst 20 thev did not II would be carried
to the courts a,
The alleged evils were summed up IT
four counts as follows:
The Illegal sale of liquor on sun
I. day. to which he had long list OF VIII
nesses. , u,,
congregated there. who were onensiVe U
= respectable people
4 That gambling sports were cohuuc,e'
there That he had seen men spendln'
!. money on the different sports IA,
= That Objectionable pictures WI.
suggestive titles were exhlo',eo III ~,
penny wonderland and at other place
!. about the park. A.
Mr. Crlsty mentioned several or IN
n,ctures which ne thought were calcuiate
a TO be inimical to the moral weiltare .
: the community He said that tnese pi'
a ture. compared with those whlcn ma
- been seized as indecent In Ne" i"h on
III
He gave a vivid description OF nun
III her of pictures, going into lengthy az
tails as 10 the scenes portrayed ana VI
- locations OF the pictures In the pIso'
III where they were exhibited. Accoruln
10 his statement something over Oh rn'
chimes were In operation at Naiioue P
about the park :,
e. Svhe titles he said show that the o'
r. ,ac, az the entire thing Is sugg estlv
naSs" He also said that he had VI
Oh matter prepared for the courts, put
is come asking that you take the matt
III up and enforce the laws for the prese
,,ation of morality" he continued.
ol NJ Cris,v also stated that the pi
e. lures should have been sezed tnr
y | months ago 81,
'e, Rev. Thomas F. Morris. of the Rive
er side congregational church, stated IN
,n he was not in the habit OF looking
ne such pictures, but that he had look
| n some and ndu tdhtn hV''o'
"' copies OF works OF art anu "eie N"o'
from the nude.
We sJhe ones 10 which we object" CO
N, ,4,uad the speaker. ARE such as
ne most defiling and calculated 70 excite Z
animal passions and poison the mind
n an impure boy or girl.
LOT We mentioned several which ne co
m .,asr.d suggestive OF indecency. Will
N re- described characterizing them
"abominable. outrageous and lascivio
80 pictures.
on Of the opinions of the various nemoe
az the council In regard to the matte
III stating that he, as president OF ,ne Gov
ic- cu should not seize them as had he
snggea,ed unless so directed. lie n
no ssen several OF the pictures. he said
nm nome so bad as those spoken OF by
gentlemen
TO Mr. Christie stated that under the sa
iav on the Rhode Island statute boo
soi,ures had been made in New York a
Ids Ntassacbuaetts OF similar pictures. II v
the aiso stated that under the law the pre-
the dont ~ the town council and the 10
Ho sergeant were the ones authorized
N'n make seizures. A.,
councilman Samson stated that he
an seen several OF the pictures, nut no NJ
all Mr Christie said that the sugsesti
ness Of representations Of partia
mt dressed women were considered III
ed corruptive than those OF the nude.
Councilman Phillips Thought the pro
course would be 10 let the Eenten
OF nroceea IN the matter and thus N
brought out before the courts such
@ @ice dence as they could produce
IL ''Tt Is ur to YOU. gentlemen remar
: Mr. Martin. there arc four men best
ing myself and whatever YOU say shan
,or- done
the n was hnnlly voted not 20 90 anS'n
,or- in regard 20 the mattfr ~ ptesen',
ion. The licensing OF peddlers was discuss