The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1917-03-12
STIRRED BECAUSE
SUNDAY SHOWS
WERE HELD
Clergy and 'undsy SchooI Workers
Adopt Resolutions
MISUNDERSTANDING BROKEN
Effort VIII Be Made to Stop Sunday
Moving Pictures Given Under
Name of Benefits. M

The clergymen and Sunday school
leaders of the village are much stirred
up over the opening of the opera
house for picture show Sunday af-
ternoon and evening. They make the
following statement of the case to
the Banner.
The following resolution was
unanimously adopted by rising vote
at large gathering of the Congrega-
tional, Methodist, and Baptist
churches assembled in the Methodist
church, Sunday evening,
Resolved, that it is the sense of
this meeting of Christian people, in q
union service of our churches, that
Sunday benefit entertainments So
called. by moving pictures or other
shows, whether designed to aid
benevolent objects or local organiza.
tions. are Objectionable.
We protest against this practice be-
cause it does serious harm to the
spirit of the day, commercializing it.
and tending more and more to destroy
its sanctity and unique helpfulness.
We believe it is for the highest inter-
ests of the community that one day
in the week should be different from
the others, affording opportunity for
the worship of God and for rest.
1t is only just and fair that the
churches should have the right Of way
in their moral and religious service
Of the community on the Lords Day.
Whatever makes their task more diffi.
cult must be damaging to the best in
terests of all the people.
We, therefore, respectfully request
persons who have been interested in
providing these Sunday Benefits" to
find other means for raising money
for worthy objects. And we petition
the village trustees to refuse license
for entertainments TO any parties who
will not expressly declare their will
ingness to accede to this reasonable
wish and will of our church people.
Last fall when it became evident
that Sunday was being used for SO
called Benefits the Minister'S Club
appointed committee to wait on the
management of the opera house and
Harte's Theatre and inform these
gentlemen that these concerts were
against the best interest of the Day.
Later when there was talk Of a
change of management Of these play
house the Minister'S Club drew up the
following resolutions which were
printed in the Banner.
The following resolution was
adopted by the Bennington Minister'S
Association at its meeting February
5th, 1917:
WHEREAS, from time to time it
has been customary in Bennington to
aid benevolent objects by shows,
moving pictures, etc, on Sunday af
ternoons and evenings, and
WHEREAS, such entertainments,
for no matter how worthy objects. de-
stroy the spirit of the day and require
labor from those who have charge.
musicians and others, who should
have it as a day of rest. be it
RESOLVED, that the Minister'S
fully request persons who are inter-
ested in benevolent objects to refrain
from giving entertainments for gate
money upon the Lords Day.
Philip T. II. Pierson,
Secretary.
printed in the Banner, Tuesday,
Feb. 6, 1919
1t was with a good deal Of surprise
that the announcement was received
late Saturday night that another con.
cert was to be held yesterday. It
was too late to have meeting but
each minister brought the matter to
the attention Of the churches Sunday
morning and Sunday Benefits re-
ceived tha unanimous oondamua fiou
of large proportion Of the public.