The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-22
Will Not Dignity With an
Answer Denunciation of
Certain Ministers
REV. MR.. JOHNSON IN
REGARD TO MEETING
Says Sundays Mass Meeting Will Not
Be for Purpose of Initiating Move
ment to Recall Lane-Sun-
day Pictures in Mobile

Commissioner A. o. Lane announced
yesterday that he did not intend to dig
Nifty with an answer the vitriolic denun-
citation of his action as TO motion pic
lures on Sunday, by certain ministers of
Birmingham. He refused absolutely to
say anything about the action of the
minister's
However, at the offices OF Judge Lane
II was learned that several ministers who
attended Thursdays meeting said the
statements made there and printed did
net reflect the sentiments of the min
isiers as whole, but were the views of
some personal and political enemies OF
the commissioner of justice. No attempt
was made to give the Impression that
any of the ministers at the meeting, how
ever, favored Sunday moving pictures.
In this connection the Rev. j. W. John
son, pastor OF the First Methodist church,
last night stated the members of the pas
tors union did not want the impression
to go abroad that Sundays mass meeting
will be devoted to plans for recalling
Judge Lane. He states that the meet
ing will be confined to protests against
moving pictures on Sunday
Mr.. Johnson's Statement
In his statement Mr.. johnson says:
Feeling that the report of the meeting
os the pastors union Thursday afternoon
which appeared in The Age-Herald was
misleading, and at the suggestion of the
other members of the committee on pro-
grsmme and arrangements for the mass
meeting to be held Sunday afternoon at
the Orpheum, l want to make the follow
ing statement
The purpose of the proposed mass
meeting is not to denounce Judge Lane
or discuss his recall. The talks quoted
were not made while there was a mo-
ton before the body, but while a com
mittee was out framing resolutions. There
was nothing said about making the meet
ing denunciatory. We would like to have
the impression corrected that ii is to he
of that nature. Such is not the intention.
1--WE do want it understood, however,
thai the meeting will be for the purpose
of letting it be known how we stand on
the question of having moving picture
shows on Sunday. We do want 1t UNDER
stood that the meeting will be in the
interest of our civil and religious Sab
bath. We do want it understood that
we intend TO express ourselves In no un-
certain terms in regard to these things.
We hope and believe that the commits
sioners will do what we ask them to do.
We want them to know what we want in
this natter
In connection with the moving picture
show discussion there is said to be better
reasons now for thinking they will be
opened than before this time. 1t is said
to be certain that Commissioner Lane will
not be swayed by any public demonstra-
ton, as he has announced his ideas.
The commissioner said yesterday he
could not bring the matter up al the meet
ing yesterday but that he would have a
conference with the motion picture men
and arrange the charity funds to be given
for the privilege of operating on Sum
day.
Sunday Moving Pictures in Mobile
A letter was yesterday given out by
Judge Lane, received from Mobile The
letter is from Richard Hines, Jr, secre-
tary of the board of school commission
ers. Mr.. Hines says the shows are open
in Mobile and they restrain young peo-
pie from participating in questionable con-
duct on Sunday. Among other things,
he says:
Motion pictures are allowed here on
Sundays from to 10 p. M, but without
the usual week day accompaniment of
music.
so lar as my personal knowlege ex-
tends, there has no evil resulted from
this, but on the other hand. l think that
it offers the people an innocent amuse-
ment, the popularity of which is attested
by the large numbers of people of all
classes who attend them, and in my opin-
ion it keeps many of the young people
from doing more questionable things on
the Sabbath
81 am vestryman of one of the Epis-
copal churches here, and / have personally
attended these motion pictures on sun
day. afternoon without seeing anything
that could offend the most fastidious or
the most punctilious religionist: on the
other hand, have frequently come away
from seeing pictures that have impressed
more forcibly upon my mind some moral
lesson, much more so, than any sermon
could do; and the proprietors of these
places in Mobile seem to endeavor to
have this class of pictures for their Cum
day shows