Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-08-23

The authorities of New York City have
forbidden the exhibition of moving pic
lures of the attempted assassination OF
Mayor Gaynor. 1t is wise and right that
they should otherwise the city might
have a contagion of assassination.
All the cities of the country, with
scarcely an exception, have prohibited the
moving pictures of the brutal perform
ance at Reno. and the whole country ap-
proves the prohibition. Such realistic
spectacles could not fail to result IN
crimes OF violence.
The suppression of these exhibitions
confirms the position Of the churches
concerning stage plays The principe
involved is the same. The churches nave
insisted that the exhibition OF vice tenos
to it's reproduction, and they have con-
demned the theatre with its vivid presen-
tat,on of unholy passions and defiling in
trisues Now come the cities of the lana
and take the same position as to crimes
of violence and blood. The only diner =
ence between the positions taken by the
cities and the position taken py the
churches is that the cities seem concerned
20 prevent only the Indictment to crimes
against life and good order, wnlle the
churches, having regard for the preVeh-
ton and correction of all kinds OF SIN,
every sort. -
Modern society, absorbed in making
money and ENJOYING luxuries, is violently
opposed to crimes of violence; put II loohs
with great allowance upon the SINS Oh
lust which are so congenial 10 an age VI
riotous living, and to the Accomplishment
of which men move furtively and sneak
ishly. This accounts for the widespread
approval of the prohibition or these NOV
ing pictures by the cities and the equai-
Nv widespread dissent from the position
~ the churches concerning the play
house. But the condemnation of the
theatre by the churches.-by all the
churches in their periods of greatest
purity,-deserves the same approval ina
is given the municipal authorities OF the
land for the suppression of the pictures
of prize-ights and assassinauons'
The concentrations of vice in the inca
ire are as much more realistic imam suCi
representations in the moving picture
shows as the living actors are HloIe
Than the dead pictures. And in all ages
therafore the playhouse has been
school ~ vice. Pagan writer's have not
been so morally pur-blind that they coulu
rot see this fact. Plato said rays rdlse
the nassions and pervert the use OF lhelii'
and the consequences are oaHsel "
morality" Therefore he excluded theIn
from his ideal republic
SnpAca declared that nothing is more
destructive to good morals than 10 run
idling to see these spectacles' TOT 'ne'
vice makes an insensioie apProacn a
steals unon us in the disguise OF pleas
ure." 49, ,,oa+bep- far
-amoved from anything akin TO s'rlcl-
ness of life; he was loose In ooth sen
event and conduct. Yet Ovid even ao-
S,,ssa his emperor to suppress plays as
"tba promoters of RIGHTEOUSNESS anu
As a matter of fact the Theodosian
conduct reckoned actors as persons Oh
bIemished reputation, and prohlolteo
their pictures to hang In any creoi'@Oie
place. c.-..,,s
heads one of his sections thus: Fond
ness for Theatrical Representations one
40 the Principal Causes OF the Decllne'
D.9eneracy, and Corruption or the Atm
enian state" Will some future historian
write thus of the cause of the decline
Of virtue and the degenerccy or lire III
our day? .,.,-,.a
He knows little of history who thinks
the Churches have taken an lnoerensl-
blv strict view of the evils or the thea-
ire He knows little of human nature
fest conditions of the present tlihe'
who cannot see that the theatre is hav-
ing a most demoralizing influence In
orr country. Plays were never! more
vile and actors never more shameless'
The very bill-boards which advertise
the plays are often an orense 10 coh-
mon decency. Lord Macaulay SAID OF the
theatre of his day that 1t was the SEM
mary of vice." and the playhouse main
tanned the same character to the pres
ent hour. The historian Allison a1nrm-
ed that 1.-The corruption of the theatre Is
inevitable" and this seems to be
sound conclusion. 1t deals with that
passion which being sanctified becomes
the foundation of the home, but which
being perverted blights personal charac-
ter, blasts domestic life, and debases
society 1t deals with that passion IN
either a comic or a tragic manner. But
such a passion may not be treated eth
err comically or tragically without de-
fling 1t, and without scattering the
seeds of vice among those who witness
the scenes in which it is thus pre-
: scented.
While suppressing the pictures OF
prize-hghts and assassinations, the cit
les would not do an illogical or unprece-
denied thing If they closed the theatres
where all other vices are set forth and
multiplied. In Cromwells time England
suppressed theatres. and during our
war with Great Britain, for our nation
al independence, the Continental Con-
gress passed the following preamble
and resolution:
Whereas true religion and good NOR