The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1916-06-15
flowing Pictures,

The American people are bit eXcit-
able. The masses are interested in
anything new. They are easily STAN
peded by fads. There is an itch for
something new. An eager desire for
pleasure. They want to be gratitied if
not satisfied. If some new fad pre-
sents itself they are after it, like child
rem after a butterfly in springtime.
One of the modern fads is the movies. )"
This fad is sweeping the country. 1t
is draining it Of millions of money. But
this is not all Nor the least by any
means. In many places it Is being used
as one Of the best means of breaking
down the sanctity of the Sabbath. Even
some processing Christians prefer these
to the services of the church. Or per-
chance they may attend services in the
morning and the movies at night. In
Seattle, little while ago, an earnest
and very prominent Christian worker of
our country, states that he learned there
were on Sabbath day, b etween $4,000
and 3d. 600 people attending the moving
picture shows. He was informed that
hundred S stood for a long time IN a
heavy rain before every place of
amusement, waiting till there was room
for them inside. Were the churches
full? Hardly! Most of them not half
full. Oh, you say that is the fault Of
the preacher. He should entertain the
audience. 1t is not the fault of the
preacher. He is not in the pulpit as
montebank, or a clown to make the
people laugh, but he is there as the
mouth piece of God, to warn the people
of their danger. to exort them to bet
ter life; to instruct them in things con-
corning the future life.
Such is the state of society, and of
the human heart that the average one
does not care for this. They put away
all thoughts of God from them; they
live for self and qualification and
care not for the admonitions of the
gospel.
Nor is Seattle alone in this. The same
conditions exist in all the larger cities;
and it is equally bad in the smaller
places.
1t is a new invention for amusing the
people. but very subtle and danger
Gus one. 1t is one of the most danger
GUS that has ever been foisted on the
public. 1t appeals to children and youth
and often they are the most frequent
and regular attendants. In fact they
compose the majority of those who at
tend.
The reading of novels. loose stories,
stories of crime. hair breadth escapes
and world adventures of the frontier is
one of the worst things the young can
indulge in. A hundred times worse is
moving pictures.
You will see displayed on the canvass
all forms of wickedness and crimes are
presented in popular and fascinating
manner, and often various crimes are
suggested to the young by this form of
amusement. Harmful! No pen can
adequately depict the harm which is
being done and the evil seed which is
sown into immature minds.
1t is a craze that is sweeping the
land like a bosom of destruction and has
already captured millions and which in
its effects deadens the mind to every
thing else.
Stopping in little city some time ago
for few nights, | watched the crowds
going into two Movie Halls" have
seen them stand on the street for a
good while waiting to get chance to
get in. for the first rush filled the hall
to overlooking, men, women and child
rem, dreadfully anxious to get in. What
was the attraction inside, that would
lead so many to stand half an hour or
more in the rain. Just moving pictures.
But on that canvass were thrown beauti-
full pictures, wonderfully executed, but
vilelY suggestive some of them, and
develish in their impressions. The