The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-23
LETTERS TO EDITOR
Favors Sunday Moving Pictures

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
In the interest Of the working man, for
the general uplift of society. for the ben
eft of the community, it is to be sincere
ly hoped that the present movement to
open the moving picture theatres on Sun
day may bear fruit. No discovery of
science has done more for the educational
advancement OF humanity than the in
vention of motion pictures. 1t is not right
to deny the worSingman, whether he
work in office or shop, who labors six
days each week, the privilege of spending
a portion of his restl day in attending
such innocent, harmless and benehcent
places of amusement.
True, bad pictures can be shown, and
may have been shown. ! have never seen
one which could be objected to ,and have
never heard of one being shown in Bir-
mingham Because 1t is possible to pro-
duce a bad picture is no reason for pro-
hibiting them. Those who are objecting
to Sunday picture shows. on the ground
that they may run bad pictures, have no
foundation upon which to base such OBJ
People have even done bad in the name
of religion. The Druids burned people as
a religious sacrifice. Women have thrown
their children TO the crocodiles TO please
their Gods, and the Bacchanals tore hu-
man beings limb from limb through re-
lgious frenzy. At the coronation of
Queen Elizabeth, she was presented with
Bible by a bishop, and on fly leaf was
written a request that all Romantics be
put to the sword. Through education and
regulation such errors of religion have
been relegated to the barbaric age.
What may have happened in times past
when motion pictures were in their in
fancy, before they became to be regarded
with such favor, and rightly so, by the
public, is of little consequence. The mo-
ton picture shows of Birmingham are
clean and wholesome. and will so remain.
1t is to be regretted that the pastors of
Birmingham are not i'm accord with the
Il nlovement, and wish to bring down tie
strong arm of the law to deny thousands
of workingmen the privilege of such
wholesome amusement on Sundays.
No man has more respect for Chris
tianity than ] have. The preachers are
our creates teachers, but being human,
sometimes err. They are naturally jeal-
Gus of the supremacy of the church as
approve every movement which they they
think might tend to infringe thereupon
or detract from the support thereof.
Since the murder on Calvary, the preach
ers have always been willing to promise
trea sures in heaven for cash down. The
religious argument that has to be sup
ported by the strong arm of the law is
hardly worth making. A few days ago
the governor of the state pardoned a man
convicted of violating a legislative law.
The preachers met and condemned it,.
That II eat forgiven and teacher of teach
ers-He who struck the chains from Paul
and SiIas-never intended that forgive
ness should go in partnership with jails
and peDitentiaries, shackles and chains.
The movement to permit motion picture
theatres to run on the Sabbath day is a
movement in the interest of society II
can do no harm. 1t stands for social and
Intellectual advancement. 1t will benefit
the worlingman, and will hurt no man..
II will not detract from the church Men
of means, churchgoers, ride in their au-
tornobiles, attend their clubs and play golf
OH Sunday. These the man who labors
has not.
out of love for our fellow men. the
toilers we should not deny to them inno-
cent and helpful Sunday amusement.
"Abou Ben Adhem-May his tribe in
crease;
Awoke one night from deep dream of
peace,
And saw. within the moonlight in mis-
Making it rich and light like lily in
bloom.
An angel, writing ina book of gold;
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem
bold;
So to the presence In the room he said
what wrltest thou?' TIE vision raised
its head,
And with gentle look of sweet accord,
Replied, "rhe names Of those who love
The Lord"
"And is mine one?" said Abou. NAY.
rot so.
Replied the angel Abou spakc more low
But cheerly still, and said: Il pray thee
write me as one that loves his fellow
men
The angel wrote and vanished. The next
II came again. with great awakening
And showed the names of those whom
God had blessed,
And 10, Ben Adhem's name led all the
rest"
Yours respectfully.
GEO. H. WATKINS.
birmingham, February %, 1918.
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