The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-09-10
Are Bitterly Opposed to Allow
ing Moving Picture Shows
To Run in Richmond on the
Sabbath Day.
GIVE FREE EXPRESSION
TO THEIR SENTIMENTS
Entering Wedge to Make Rich
mond a Wide Open Town Is
Seen by Ministers in Bar
tets Proposition.


Opposition on the part OF the min.
listers and church people generally, has
developed in regard to the proposition
OF opening the five cent theafers ON
Sunday afternoon. Councilman Bar.
tel. at council meeting Wednesday
night proposed that the city officials
give the theaters q license to operate
on Sunday afternoon. providing tbs
proprietors Of these establishments
would In return. use the electrical pro-
duct of the municipal light plant. The
proposition was referred to the board
Of works and is now before this body
for consideration
The question Of opening the theaters
on Sunday afternoons for the purpose
Of giving good moral shows. meets
with the approval OF some Of the lib
erals. Their attitude toward the
proposition. Is that with the widening
Of the gap in the city's lid In respect
to the five-cent theaters would result
in the tipping OF the lid in other rs-
spects.
The management OF the higher
priced theaters will no doubt claim the
privilege Of opening their play houses
on Sunday afternoon, II the city per-
mits the five cent theaters to open. In.
fact the managers OF the higher priced
houses. claim that they have the same
privilege to show on Sundays, ~ an Or
chestra has to give . sacred cooceft
Rev. Mr.. Wade Emphatic.
Rev. R. J. Wade. pastor Of the First
NJ. E. church. and newly elected presi-
dent of the Ministerial association. was
very emphatic In his opposition and
his attitude toward Mr.. Barters prop
osition. He classed Mr. Bartels action
as q disgraceful one to set forth, and
was surprised that II should come from
the source 1t did. He did not care to
express any opinion for any organixl-
tion. and his interview was entirely of
a personal nature. He also said that
the proposition was one OF dollars and
cents and entirely against the preser-
walton of the peaceable Sabbath. The
present Sabbath Is worth much more
to Rdchmond's workmen and citizens
in general. than the few dollars and
cents which Councilman Bartel's prop
osition would bring into the city treas-
ury. according to the Rev. Mr. Wade.
He also said that 1t would be just as
reasonable to allow the saloons To
open on Sunday. as in his mind. one
violation was just as bad AZ the other.
Mr.. Wade concluded by stating the
members Of his congregation would
oppose the proposition, judging from
the number who have already spoken
to him about 1t.
81 could scarcely believe that such q
proposition would come from the
source which 1t did. am opposed 70
such a project, as 1t IL not in harmony
with the Sabbath day and its purposes.
said Rev. c. Huber. pastor OF the st.
Paul's Lutheran church. and prominent
as a worker in the state anti-saloon
proprietors might have made the prop
osition. but am surprised that It
should be presented by . councilman.
I do not think that It II . sane project.
believe that the people generally and
members of st. Panl's Lutheran church
will oppose it Not only will the
church people oppose 1t. but I believe
that those who do not class themselves
as church members viii be classed In
the opposition Any such amusement
on Sunday afternoon would certainly
lower the moral standing Of the city,
he concluded.
A eartering Proposition.
Rev. T. J. Graham. pastor Of the
First Presbyterian church. said that hs
could hold only one opinion and that
would be the same ~ he should expert
all other ministers to hold. and that
was that he was against It The
Rev. Mr. Graham says It smacks too
much Of the business proposition of the
city authorities saying. 'you help m9
and We will help you-"
St Andrews church members VIII
no doubt oppose the opening of the
theaters on Sunday afternoon. said the
Rev. Father Roell, pastor Of the church .
this noon The Rev. Father ROea
said he, himself. was opposed to lt.
He did not believe It to be the proper
Kind Of Sunday recreation which mam-
bers Of the Cafholle faith believe IN for
Sunday afternoon. He considered
the theater entirely out of keepfng