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

8,,.,o5is, Ministers Association and
~, evangelical Ministers Association
.o-u+,ons denouncIng the moving pic
49,. men and declaring that the idea
= giving "philanthropic" shows on
k,,o5av is but a subterfuge, to be used
an opening wedge for general Vio-
Il .i,, If the Sabbath, were unani-
I.,,s,y adopted. The resolutions adopt
|. Nv. the Methodist ministers embod-
"a call for meeting of the Atlanta
k.svards Association, when further
8,sDs 10 fight the Sunday picture shows
4 ar he formulated. The ministers de-
I'D that they were fighting for bluer
Sunday -
notion offered by DR.. Robinson.
h., q committee from the Evangelical
.-,ciation wait upon the city council
nd acouaint that body with the action
I'm this morning. was withdrawn
cor DIR John E. White, chairman of
,e rasoIutions committee, said he
ourd he personally responsible for the
,raadins OF the tidings. The associa-
On voted unanimously TO take no steps
R,-tbar than the adoption of the reso-
q ,t;ons until another conference can be
L. with the moving picture men.
Resolutions Adopted.
"A The resolutions adopted by the
E,,.,rgArfcal Association follow:
a FIRST. That this association in pro-
estirg against moving picture theaters
Atlanta on Sunday is not seeking to
sorca upon the public any so-called
Inu-itanicaI blue law prejudices' on the
Arbisct Of Sabbath observance. but ar"
kssisting an organized combination OF
commercial enterprises, which is seek
Ang to force upon the public peculiar
nd alien customs of Sabbath vtolators
eontrarv TO the established customs and
sonvfctions of the people of Atlanta and
IN the South. We are meeting an ag-
n ssive attack upon the Sabbath day
mich is founded in the conscience and
civilization Of Southern people as day
N rest from labor and commercial ac-
Invites engaged in making money. In
av and in the religion of our people
hin ideals Of this day are fully con-
Rrmed and established. We are pro-
Sesting against an innovation. which is
fontrary to the spirit and letter of our
Avs and subversive of divinely or
Eered 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
khows as such. nor on the proper use Of
ticture films and stereOptiCons for gen
Nine religious and educational purposes
Ander the auspices of churches and
b. commercial philanthropic organi-
ations Our protest is against the
Movement Of the motion picture thea
srs. which have adopted a palpable
|nbterfuge under the guise of charity,
those real aim and hope as admitted
"a this committee by their spokesman,
81 to create a situation which may give
mem an opportunity to make money
for themselves on the Sabbath day. We
$50 have reason to know that other
commercial enterprises of most doubt
ID character are in the background of
his movement, hoping with anxiety to
lke advantage of the situation the
Moving picture theaters may create in
tanta The main argument presented
N the spokesman Of the picture show
Hoprietors to your committee was that
hey felt that they were being discrimi-
#ated against because others were max
rs money in Atlanta Sunday, and that
hey therefore ought to be allowed to
p also.
Thank Labor Bodies.
Third. The Evangelical Ministers
association extends to the representa-
yves and members of the labor organi-
fatons in Atlanta our appreciation Of
their sympathies with our protest
gainst the opening wedge of Sunday
noVlng picture theaters as a danger
us movement against the laws of the
slale and against the principles of
|nelr organizations, which are seeking
"A every way TO save the workingman
rs day of rest from toll. We pledge
IL these labor organizations our. earnest
support in every effort they may make
IL reduce Sunday labor genuinely with
ia the terms of the law.
Fourth. We are convinced by the
#Vdence in hand that this movement Of
II picture show theaters to break
Town public sentiment in favor of Sab
#dIh violations is doomed TO a natural
- timely death. The great mass OF
ne substantial citizenship of Atlanta is
idhireStly opposed to all efforts to
ing about a condition in our city on
undays that prevails In Jacksonville,
eHlphis and New Orleans. There are
ouotless hundreds, and possibly thou
+ahds' who have responded to the ex.
'enent Of a questionable attendance
poh the picture theaters during the
osl TWO Sundays, but the greater part
'hem have no deep or abiding inter
IN the movement. A dwindling
8uohc attention and attendance is the
eNIlaole result in this city when the
al issues involved are understood by
''ers and mothers and good citizens,
lV appreciate the value and the sane
II OF the Sabbath day free from such
UOhG eXcitements, in which the ulti-
a'e aim is selfish and dangerous to
moral well being of the people We
"e'e, therefore, that should the NOV