Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-17
MOTION PICTURES
ANDLAXLAWS HELD
DIVORCE CAUSES
Baptist Convention Commit
tee Alleges Evil and Sug-
gests Remedy.

gests Remedy.
Motion pictures. lax laws and in
temperance are blamed for the numer-
Gus divorces in the United States by
the committee on temperance and so
cial service in its report to the South
ern Baptist convention at its closing
session today. Enactment of uniform
code of marriage and divorce laws was
recommended as "a remedy.
Quoting from government statistics
cn the number of divorces obtained
annually in this country. the report
shows that in 1916. when the last fig
ures were gathered. there We're 11o,
636 divorces.
Were later figures available. the re
Iort continues. THE picture would
douDtleSS be larger still: certainly
this would be true of 1919. owing to
the large number of hasty and fool
lSh marriages contracted during the
war"
Cites Evil In Motion Pictures.
As primary cause of this sad con-
dltlon. which is characterized as AN
ugly specter which looms on the hori-
Zon of our civilization" the report de-
nounces the motion pictures as now
produced. declaring that nearly
every hlm upon the screen contains
somewhere some evil suggestion
Many of the films are based on the
eternal triangle and the suggestion
of disregard. if not open breach, of
the marital relation.
Stricken From Report.
On motion Of DR.. W. w Landrum of
Russellville. Ky, portion Of the re-
Eort of the committee on temperance
ana social Service attacking the ma
tional board of censors of motion pic
lures was stricken from the report
before its adoption. DIR. Landrum
said the. statement was libelous and
might result in heavy damages being
obtained from the convention
me convention resolved that the
committee on temperance and social
service should be made commission
on soclal service and have as it's pur-
pose the amendment to the constitu-
eioh 10 prohibit the use of public
funds for secular institutions as pro-
Eosed by DR.. Gambrell.
Lnxlty of Divorce Laws.
discussing marriage and divorce laws,
the report reads:
me laXneSS of the laws regulating
marriage and granting divorce. in the
NINA OF your committee. is unuuestion-
ably one of the most fruitful causes of
the prevalent and growing divorce evil
Each type OF law should be simpified
and strengthened. But we wish to put
emphasis especially upon the need Of
oettef laws regulating marriage. In this
as IN other matters we need to go to
the source of the evil
Amendment of the Constitution TO
give the federal government control
over the matter is suggested but, owing
70 the time this would require, legisla-
i've enactment in the several states is
recommended in the meantime
Among other things. the report recon-
mends the publishing of the marriage
@ rssfN ri
rite can be celebrated: physical exam
nation of each party by a physician
ana the establishment of uniform code
Which as nearly as possible should
come to the basis of Bible teaching con-
cerning the ground of divorce with the
right of marriage, and that in all other
cases when divorces be granted it be
without the right of remarriage."
Liquor has been .'one prolific cause"
OF divorce. according to the report.
put this cause is now removed "if we
shall demand the enforcement of the
law"
DIR. Cox Crfticfses the Press,
erai and the Associated Press in par
ticuiar. for their alleged "suppres-
sion OF news antagonistic to the Ro-
man Catholic Church. was made by
DR.. Ben Cox of Memphis. Tenn
Or. CoX's TRADE against the news
,apSis was the slSndl Tor general
discussion. The newspapers of Wash
ington We're defended by Rev. DIR.
Hugh L. Stevenson, pastor of Beth
any Baptist Church: this city, while
Frank +. Burkhalter of Nashville,
Tenn. publicity director of the con-
vention. rallied to the support of
newspapers in general.
DR.. Cox alleged that the Associated
Press has been unfair" to Baptists.
and charged that 1o per cent of the
blue pencils in American newspa-
per offices are in Roman Catholic
hands,"
The speaker sharply criticised the
of the sermon delivered yester-
day by DIR. George W. Truett of Tex
as. from the steps of the Capitol. in
which the Roman Catholic Church
was criticised. DR. Cox said he was
not complaining of the lack of space
given to the sermon. but at the sub
in the report"
DIR. Stevenson Replies.
Rev. Mr.. Stevenson. in reply, de-
clared that space in the Washington
newspapers cannot be bought. and
that the editors of every paper in the
Capital city except one are stanch
Protestants. He said to the lack of print
paper was due the brevity Of the
account Of DR.. Truett's speech When
Baptists furnish news, he said. the
print it.
Mr. Burkhalter and Rev. DIR. Alex
ander Bealer of Atlanta. Ga. declared
that the Baptists have always re
ceived fair treatment from the AS
sociated Press.
The discussion arose when pro-
posal was made to appoint a commit
tee to study the advisa bility of es-
Baptist daily newspaper.
The motion was adopted.
Would Amend L. $. Constitution.
Amendment to the Constitution to
prohibit the use of public funds for
The support of sectarian institutions
IS recomlfie ended in a resolution unani-
adopted by the convention.
Introducing the resolution. DR..
L;ambrell, president of the convention.
declared Baptists were opposed to
receiving money for their own work.
md every religious order. in the world
ought to pay its own expenses.
The convention was addressed by
Bishop James Cannon. jr.. of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South.
He said the south must stand like
St tonewall Jackson and not let the
enemy push il back. in giving his in |
louncement for the maintenance and
of the prohibition amend .
nent.
IF Southern Methodists and Bap- /
lists get together in the south. that /
settles it," he said.
Greetings From World Alliance.
Greetings were brought to the con-
,ention from the Baptists' World Al ,
lance by DR.. Robert s. Macarthur of !
Florida. formerly pastor of Calvary 4
BAPTIST Church of New York. and now
PRESIDENT of the alliance.
Plans for the proposed negro theo-
ogical seminary received the indorse-
nent of DIR. J. w. Bailey of Chicago ,
nd DR.. George o. Bullock, pastor of (
he Third Colored Baptist Church OF
Dr. Bailey declared that religion