Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-25
PASTORS RENE "
VAR On SUNDAY
MOVIE SHOWS
Evangelical and Methodist
Ministers Associations Meet
to Plan Their Fight.
-s ministers of Atlanta to-day re-

Methodist Ministers Association and
.-o evangelical Ministers Association
-ss,u+rons denouncing the moving pic
.-,ra men and declaring that the idea
- giving "philanthropic' shows on
sunday is but a subterfuge, to be used
an opening wedge for general vto-
r,-for Of the Sabbath were unant-
,-o,erv adopted. The resolutions adopt
~ 5,. tbe Methodist ministers emboi
t.- call for a meeting of the Atlanta
Stewards Association. when further
,r.ra 70 acht the Sunday picture shows
I'm he formulated. The ministers de-
-is5 that they were fighting for bluer
sunday.
motion offered by DR.. Robinson,
.rs- a committee from the Evangelical
,s.oriatfon wait upon the city council
and acouaint that body with the action
.sr-en this morning, was withdrawn
sr-a~ DR.. John z. White, chairman OF
.-7 resolutions committee, said he
-,a,r5 be personally responsible for the
er~aarfug of the tidings. The assoca-
.5,o voted unanimously to take no steps
.,-taar than the adoption of the reso-
r.,,fons until another conference can he
Resolutions Adopted.
Tho resolutions adopted by the
r-,.,rq71ical Association follow:
..-frst. That this association in pro-
.-s,+ro AGAINST moving picture theaters
tr Atlanta on Sunday IS not seeking to|
force upon the public any so-calIed
.rYriranical blue law prejudices' on the
suhiect Of Sabbath observance. but are
resisting an organized combination or
-ornnarriaI enterprises. which Is seek
tre 10 force upon the public peculiar
and alien customs Of Sabbath violators
contrary to the established customs and
convictions Of the people Of Atlanta and
NJ the South. We are meeting an ag-
g-sssive attack upon the Sabbath day
which is founded in the conscience and
civilization of Southern people as q day
NJ rest from labor and commercial ac-
t'v,+fes engaged in making money In
law and In the religion Of our people
ou- ideals Of this day are fully con-
femed 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
5ered 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
uire religious and educational purposes
under the auspices of churches and
0on-commercial philanthropic organi-
4l. IN
movement Of the motion picture thea
rers. which have adopted a palpable
-ubterfuge under the guise Of charity,
whose real aim and hope as admitted
TO this committee by their spokesman,
IS To create a situation which may give
them an opportunity to make money
for themselves on the Sabbath day We
so have reason to know that other
commercial enterprises of most doubt
fgl character are in the background Of
this movement, hoping with anxiety toI
-ake 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 discrimi-
rated against because others We're MAX
ing money i'm Atlanta Sunday. and that
they therefore ought TO be allowed to
.a0 also
Thank Labor Bodies.
Third The Evangelical Ministers
association extends to the representa-
iives and members Of the labor organi-
zations in Atlanta our appreciation Of
'aeir sympathies with our protest
against the opening wedge of Sunday
moving picture theaters as a danger
GUS movement against the laws of the
state and against the principles of
their organizations, which are seeking
IN every way to save the workingman
mis- day of rest from toll. We pledge
70 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
evidence in hand that this movement of
me picture show theaters 10 break
down public sentiment in favor OF Sab
oath violations is doomed to a natural
and timely death. The great mass OF
ne substantial citizenship of Atlanta is
msnlfestly opposed to all efforts to
ing ABOUT a. condition in our city on
sundays that prevails in Jacksonville
Memphis and New Orleans There are
'odhtless hundreds, and possibly thou
SANDS. who have responded to the eX.
''tement Of a questionable attendance
apon the picture theaters during the
past two Sundays, but the greater part
pr them have no deep or abiding inter-
's5 IN the movement A dwindling
public attention and attendance is the
inevitable result in this city when the
real issues involved are understood by
'a'aers and mothers and good citizens
]ao appreciate the value and the sane
"ty Of the Sabbath day free from such
pubic excitements. in which the ulti-
maze aim IS selfish and dangerous to
me moral wei being of the people We
.7-.eFe, therefore. that should the NOV