The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-10-17
THE BEST
Photopldy Department in
WASHINGTON
Churches No1U Adopt
Motion Pictures to
Supplement
Service

Tho invasion of the church by the
moving pictures, which has oeeh
slowly going on for year or Two
is about to take on new phase. a
New York church has contracted
with a film producing company lot
a regular service, and in several
churches the custom of showing
moving pictures at the evening serN-
ice has long been recognized. In
Washington one minister for several
years used stereopticon slides fire.
,uel lily ant mot on , lures at inter
walls in the illustration of his Sunday
evening talks. From time to time
secular shows have been given IL.
church buildings during week days.
and there have been one or two
churches where moving pictures were
used to supplement the regular serV-
ices The Catholic organizations OF
the city are in possession OF I'm
dreds Of feet of film as part Of their
records, which show the manner in
which the society has turned out On
several occasions Last May motion
pictures were made of the May day
professions at one or two OF the
churches. and after these were eN-
hibited in various parish houses they
were filed away with the records Of
the churches involved. Similarly pic
lures have been made Of out-of-door
celebrations and services, and have
been filed away as records.
The movement now on foot is to
have regular motion picture stories
shown in churches for the same pur-
pose a sermon is preached. The min
listers throughout the country are in
terested in the movement. and many
of the radical minded have actually
contracted for the exhibition Of film.
AT a recent conference of ministers
at the Maryland Agricultural Col
leCe. Congressman Linthicum OF
Maryland made a most interesting
address on the subject Of the relation
Of the moving picture to the people
and the church:
The demand of the people for
amusement and instruction through
the medium of the moving picture
has presented an immense oppor-
tunity to the church, said Mr.. Lin
availed themselves of it. 1t occurs
TO me that there are great posi-
bIlities in such adaptation. We
should recognize that the moving
picture is a modern invention bring
ing to Us at small cost not only all
the important plays, dramas, and
comedies. but that it is an ideal
means of reproducing life and ma
tuTe in all parts of the world. II is
this kaleidoscope portrayal OF life,
both educational and amusing, that
appeals to the people.
Il am told that il is the policy
OF many churches that the church
ConiIne itself to the spiritual prob
lem. of leaving the other problems
10 the solution of others. In my
view. that is wrong. Wherever hu-
man rights are abridged. wherever
humanity is contending for the ad-
vancement Of mankind, the church
should he there. The duty of the
church is on the firing line in human
progress. If you go hack in his
tory YOU Will find that never was
Christianity stronger, never was it
more deep-rooted in the hearts of
the people than during the days
when il was fighting for human
rights.
If there was a problem that de-
serves the attention of the church
ought certainly TO see that the
working women in your congrega-
ton are not being paid wages that
are inducements to immortality. I'm
Ill the church takes an interest in
such problems, until the pulpit
becomes a force in those affairs OF
life that contributes TO the daily
comfort of the people who summer
T. il will not exercise its greatest
Office for good
Mr. I.inthicum then referred to
the great social service the United
States Government is doing for its
people He said the man, no mat
ter which way he turns, finds
helping hand from the Government
FOR the bettcrmcnt OF his condition.
he commended that the church should
make itself a part # the mans
daily life as the National Govern
ment is doing for his protection. and
when il does he church will be
stronger than ever.