The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-08-22


-HE efficiency expert is found IN
all walks of life nowadays ana
he has lately tackled the churches.
Bisbee. Ariz., used to have twelve
churches of twelve different denoml-
nations, presided over by twelve
preachers VIII o
Church Efficiency prob bly had
IN Arizona some difficulty in
squaring tn e r
salaries with their living expenses
Along came an efficiency expert, the
Rev. John J. Prichard, who makes a
specialty of merging churches. The
twelve little churches of Bisbee were
united in one large congregation
called the Union church. The cost OF
maintenance was reduced to about
one-twelfth the cost of keeping up the
twelve little churches. Furthermore,
while the Union pastor may not be
twelve times as eloquent and force
full as the preachers who lost their
Jobs. he is presumably better paid
and more efficient shepherd,
There is just one dark side to the
picture, which may or may not be
gloomy, according to ones point OF
view. What became of the twelve
preachers who were displaced? Or did
one of the twelve succeed to the more
lucrative and influential pulpit?
What became of the churchless pas
tors is not stated. Maybe they caught
the cue and have gone out to be expert
organizers themselves. There is a
broad field for such work.
AS a Kansas City contemporary
truthfully says, Everyone knows that
almost every small town has too many
churches and that they would do better
if consolidated into one big church"
TT the proposed referendum seeking
L to prohibit Sunday moving pic
ture shows should prevail there would
be no more Sunday concerts in Biz
mingham. In every large city great
majority of the people spend part
of Sunday in
Also Sunday Concerts innocent diver
Would Have to Go sion, and the
movies" af-
ford the sort of relaxation that the
masses desire. No photoplay house
should present pictures that could be
objected to on moral grounds. Men
and women of clean minds would ne
disguised with scenes likely to bring
the blush of shame to innocence, or
that would offend against good taste.
A moving picture that is not fit
to be seen by self-respecting audi
ences on Sundays is not fit to be
shown on week days.
Fortunately most of the picture
plays are not only not Objectionable
morally, but they appeal to human
sympathies and are often quickening
to the esthetic feeling. And being IN
I large degree educational, moving
pictures should be accessible to The
public every day in the week.
Those persons who have scruples
about attending photoplay theatres on
Sunday are not tempted to witness a
Nmovie" on that day. But as many
good people without such scruples
feel rested and refreshed after seeing
pictures worth while, they should not
e deprived of that privilege.
Religious activities in Birmingham
were never so marked as at the pres
ent. This is a great church-going
town and thousands of the religiously
inclined devote most of the day to
pious exercises, including the hearing
of lectures on religious topics.
But there are other thousands who
indulge in Outings" or quiet amuse-
ment within doors; and it is not fair
for those who take different view
to attempt to impose their ideas on
the lest of the community.
If a referendum is submitted to the
voters the liberal element is almost
certain to win. But the leaders Of the
anti-Sunday "movie" movement make
a serious mistake in trying to abolish