Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-16
PASTORS MAY UNITE
IN OPPOSING LOAN
Sunday Movies Denounced as
unfair and Unjust to
Churches
PARK GAMES DEFENDED

Prominent churchmen who head the
Victory Loan, committees in various sec
tions Of the city may decline to aid IN
the loan drive. if the plan to show mo-
tion pictures on Sunday. April -. to
boost the sales. is carried out. according
to the Rev. DIR. 4. 7. Mutchler. secretary
/ Of the Philadelphia Sabbath Association.
Doctor Mutchler's intimation follows
the announcement of the Rev. DIR. Percy
Shelley. to the Presbyterian Ministers
Association. that the Sunday campaign
is an insult to the churches and TO
Christian people. and that they would
be within their rights in refusing to have
anything to do with the Victory Loan
drive If it was persisted in.
The motion pictures are TO be shown
on one evening only. April ~. and not
on all Sundays during the drive. it was
announced today. The plan is to send
the films from one theatre to another on
that day. so as to furnish inspiration to
support the campaign. No admission
fee is to be charged.
Unfair TO Churches"
When Doctor Mutchlcr was informed
Of the project. he said he was unal-
terably opposed to any motion picture
exhibitions on Sunday
ut is unfair and unjust, 10 the
churches" he said Sunday is their
day. The churches Of the city have
given the best kind Of support TO the
Liberty loans. and for the Victory loan
people to arrange motion picture exhi-
bitions on a Sunday night is nothing
short of an insult
Moreover. it is going to make trou
bic in some of the Victory loan commit
tees. Feeling is so strong that some
Of the district chairmen are seriously
considering the advisabilty Of diSband =
ing their committees because of this in =
suit
Doctor Mutchler would not give the
names of the district chairmen who
were considering this step. but he as
serted that these men. prominent in
church work, were angry at the pro-
posal.
Doctor Mutchlpr secs an "ulterior
motive" on the part Of advocates Of re-
vised blue Laws" in the plan.
IF they can fill the picture thea =
tres on the night of April 81 for the
Victory loan picture" Doctor Mutch
Ter said, they will go to Harrisburg
and tell the legislators that the people
Of Philadelphia want moving pictures
on Sunday
The Rev. DIR. William 2. Fulton.
who conducts the Presbyterian city mis-
sion work for the trustees Of the Pres
bytery. said he was opposed to Sunday
moving pictures, even when used to ad
vertise the Victory loan.
Sunday is the day for the work oI
the church. Doctor Fulton said at his
Office. 1T is our day. The churche,
will be open. j see no good reason fol-
any departure from the methods uscc
in former Liberty loan campaigns"
William Findlay Brown. member OF
the commissioners of Fairmount Park
today reiterated his position with re
spect to the opening Of the city parks
on Sundays and permitting tennis
baseball and other athletics TO be play
ed.' He regretted that his idea had
been confounded with the proposition to
open the theatres on Sundays. and dc =
clared that those opposing the opening
Of the parks are obscessed with a mar
row view of affairs
Opponents Are Raped
He suggests that rigid Sabbatarian n.
stroll out to the park on Sunday anC
get a little sunshine and air. adding
that he is against dismal religion
which makes Sunday IA day of gloom.
1T is only right and just that thu
property of the people should be thrown
open to the people, said Mr.. Brown
''The people. if they so desire. have a,
much right to the property that belongs
to them collectively as any man has tc
his own private yard or any member o.
country club to the golf links, ant
"a tennis courts of that club. And yet thu
commissioners of Fairmount Park are
asked TO say that the people Of Phila
delphia shall not use their own property
in a proper and healthful manner.
ITO open the parks for recreation