South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-19
MOVIES FOR THE CHURCH
ENDORSED BY PREACHER
Rev. L. M. Edwards Goes on
Record as Desiring Such
a Departure.

The introduction OF the moving pic
ture into the church as a means Of
entertainment received the endorse
ment Of Rev. Or. Loren. NJ. Edwards.
in the course Of "a most interesting
sermon of a series on The Relation
of the Church to tbs Community"
preached Sunday evening in the Meth
odist Memorial church. During the
cOurse Of these m DR.. Edwards
has invited suggestions from those in
as well as from those outside the
church. Many responses have been
received and commented upon during
the delivery Of these special rmo
from time to time. The speaker in
commenting upon the suggestion of
the moving picture went on record
as earnestly desiring such a departure
for his church. Now that so many
films are being manufactured devoid
of Objectionable features and indeed
possessing great merit and instructive
value, DR.. Edwards frankly confessed
that he would like 10 see the Meth
odist Memorial church own such a
machine and give a moving picture
entertainment every week to cover
the cost of operation.
Another suggestion sent in was to
the effect that the church should be
open for modern dancing. on this.
however, the speaker respectfully de
sired TO be enrolled on the negative
side of the vote. In this connection
he said that doubtless both extremes
in denuciation of and in apology for
the dance are in error, and it may be
will meet some day on the ground
Of a better understanding; possibly
certain evil tendencies H. the dance
will be eliminated, but certainly the
time is not ripe for the church to
stand sponsor for the dance.
Interesting Suggestions.
Among other suggestions sent in
and quoted by Or. Edwards were
these: THE church should dominate
the social and political life of the
community" The church should
serve the community on the social
and philanthropic, as we'll as the re-
ligious side" The church must be a
political influence in the community"
The church should be a social enter
in the community" Some churches
are adding many kinds of recreation
for the young people and have week
day classes in sewing and manual
training. The more the church build
ing become a social center where
young n old may meet or other
days than Sundays and unite for
pleasure and instruction other than
spiritual the stronger becomes the
spiritual interest and the greater the
power for good" Another urged the
church to become more attractive
to older boys and girls and young
men and women with red blood in
them" THE greatest service that
the church can render any community
is to give less time to the discussion
of creeds and dOgmas n ordinances
and more TO the many economic and
social problems that press for solu-
ton
These and rlany other suggestions
were commenced OIL by the reverend
speaker, who handled each with that
breadth OF view which ~characterizes
all of his ut~terances. and which has
been mainly responsible for the re-
markable growth of the membership
of the Methodist Memorial church
since his pastorate commenced in
Mishawaka. 1T may not be wrong
to capitalize the public's instructive
desire for recreation" he said, yet
when amusement is managed for rev.
enue only, when financial returns out-
weigh decency and morality. then
the amusement life of the communi-
ty needs reconstruction and the
church should be a moving influence
in such a program. Any community
or institutiC0 has made a beginning
in the right direction when it has
established parks and Fairgrounds
and public athletic grounds. Misha-
waka would better spend money on
tennis courts and cinder tracks and
bowling greens and ball diamonds
than on police and penal institutions
to restrain or reform our youth with
tendencies toward wrong"