Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-24
PASTORS RENEW
WAR ON SUNDAY
MOVIE SHOWS
EVANGELICAL and Methodist
Ministers Associations Meet
to Plan Their Fight.

,rs.1odist Ministers Association and
--s evangelical Ministers Association
-.-oru+rons denouncing the moving pic
,gra men and declaring that the idea
- giving "philanthropic" shows on
sunday is but a subterfuge, to be used
or orening wedge for general vio-
Ion Of the Sabbath, were unani-
st. adorted. The resolutions adopt
-. the Methodist ministers embod-
,7u for a meeting of the Atlanta
-.,-,r5e Association, when further
INC p, fight the Sunday picture shows
I'm ba formulated The ministers de-
I'D that they were fighting for bluer
Sunday. ,,
motion offered by DR.. Robinson,
.b..s committee from the Evangelical
,..,o;a+ion wait upon the city council
.,d srouaint that body with the action
len this morning. was withdrawn
,s,sr DIR John F. White, chairman OF
the resolutions committee sald ne
would be personally responsible for the
snreadfnc of the tidings. The assoeia-
ian voted unanimously to take no steps
t,rthar than the adoption of the reso-
l.,,tors until another conference can be
rar5 with the moving picture men,
Resolutions Adopted.
The resolutions adopted by the
r,..,,ga,icaI Association follow:
.,r4rst That this association in pro-
.,s.fr,, against moving picture theaters
~, Atlanta on Sunday is not seeking L"
farce upon the public any so-callee
.ou-itanicaI blue law prejudices' on the
subiact of Sabbath Observance. but are
assisting an organized combination o.
commercial enterprises, which is seek
mo IN force upon the public peculiar
and alien customs of Sabbath Violators
ro7trarv to the established customs and
convictions Of the people of Atlanta and
os the South. We are meeting an ag-
~ ssfve attack upon the Sabbath day
which is founded in the conscience and
civilization Of Southern people as day
NJ rest from labor and commercial ac-
tfvities engaged IN making money. In
law and in the religion Of our people
ou~ ideals of this day are fully con-
Armed and established. We are pro
testing against an innovation, which is
contrary to the spirit and letter of our
laws and subversive Of a divinely or
dercd institution ordained for mans
economic, moral and religious welfare.
Second. The Evangelical Ministers
Association has not made, and Is not
making an attack on moving picture
shows as such, nor on the proper use Of
picture films and stereopticons for gen
uine religious and educational purposes
under the auspices of churches and
4, l. 10 l.
cations Our protest is against the
movement OF the motion picture thea
ters which have adopted a palpable
subtorfuge under the guAse Of charity,
whose real aim and hope, as admitted
20 this committee by their spokesman,
is 10 create situation which may give
them an opportunity to make money
for themselves on the Sabbath day. We
60 have reason to know that other
numerical enterprises of most doubt
full character are in the background Of
This movement. hoping with anxiety to
take advantage of the situation the
moving picture theaters may create in
Atlanta. The main argument presented
by the spokesman of the picture show
proprietors to your committee was that
they felt that they were being dlscrimi-
mated against because others were max
ing money in Atlanta Sunday. and tina:
they therefore ought to be allowed to
do also.
Thank Labor Bodies.
Third. The Evangelical Ministers
Association extends to the representa-
tyes and members Of the labor organi-
cations in Atlanta our appreciation Of
iheir sympathies with our protest
against the opening wedge of Sunday
moving picture theaters as danger
Gus movement against the laws of the
state and against the principles Of
'neir organizations. which are seeking
IN every way 10 save the workingman
MS day of rest from toll. We pledge
10 these labor organizations our earnest
support In every effort they may make
10 reduce Sunday labor genuinely with
IN the terms of the law
Fourth. We are convinced by the
whence in hand that this movement Of
ne picture show theaters to break
Gown public sentiment in favor of Sab
oath violations is doomed to a natural
ana timely death. The great mass Of
1DE'Noillldl CillZeHSIIp OIL Alldllld II
lnanlfestly opposed to all efforts to
DFlng about a condition in our city on
sundays that prevails in Jacksonville,
memphis and New Orleans. There are
doubtless hundreds, and possibly thou
SANDS who have responded to the ex-
element of a questionable attendance
upon the picture theaters during the
past two Sundays, but the greater part
VI them have no deep or abiding inter-
eSi IN the movement. A dwindling
pubic attention and attendance is the
inevitable result in this city when the
zeal issues involved are understood by
i7lhers and mothers and good citizens
VINO appreciate the value and the sane
"'F OF the Sabbath day free from such
poohc excitements in which the ulti-
nate aim is selfish and dangerous to
ne moral well being of the people. We
sHeVe, therefore, that should the NOV