Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-07
Movies in the Church
BY Frederic j. Haskin.

Chicago, H., Aug. 7.--"Unless enter
tainrnent is provided in the churches
young people will seek il out OF them /,
said Rev. G. u. Guthrie, president Of tho
Epworth League, at the Desplaines camp
meeting near here.
The Rev. Guthrie said much more on
the same line. The church that wishes TO
hold the jaded interest OF the modern
youth or maiden must furnish more than
spiritual thrills. II must be amusing. IT.
must have gymnasium classes, social
clubs, entertainments and various other
harmless attractions. This is in line with
the whole modern church movement,
and seems 20 be logical idea.
In the days Of our grandparents the
competition between the church and the
world was not 80 keen. Religion was
recreation as well as a duty. But now, with
the movies, fivvers, golf and cabarets all
striving 10 wean the weak and erring soul
away from his inherited habits Of worship,
il begins to look as II the church will have
TO be up and doing. IL is O deplorable fact
that the light Of spiritual truth from the
church does not seem 20 shine as brightly
IN the eyes Of the younger generation os
the lights Of the movie theater across the
way.
The answer 10 this, according 70 the
more modern divines, is TO bring the movie
to the churches rather than let the con-
gregation 20 10 the movies. Indeed, sur
prislng as It may seem to some Of us, there
are already over 5000 churches IN the
country equipped with motion picture
machines, which are used in various ways
in connection with church work Some
ministers preach sermons illustrated by
films. So far, however, the greatest work
done by the church movies is in afford
ing wholesome entertainment for the flock
on week days or Sunday afternoons.
PREACH TO THE EYES.
In attracting and holding church mem
bers the movie has been found 70 be with
out an equal. The Rev. Leslie Willis
Sprague, one Of the first ministers 70
preach a sermon illustrated by movies,
says that this is only natural. IL is sesen-
tifIc fact that we get 81 per cent Of all our
information through our eyes. Hence q
sermon preached 70 our eyes instead of To
our less efficient ears ought to produce
more results.
1t seems to be much easier for the mod
ern man to concentrate visually than auric-
ularly. Life moves too swiftly for him 10
concentrate upon some heavy tome or
abstruse lecture His mental stimulus
comes mostly from the newspaper headline
and cartoons, the illustrated magazines
and the moving pictures Preach a moving
picture sermon n MIN and you meet
him on his own ground. HarangIe him
for an hour with resounding phrases and
he falls asleep. All this shows, says the
Rey. Sprague, that church that Il not
equipped to show motion pictures IS az
incomplete as the church without an organ
And as the head Of the church department
Of the Community Motion Picture Bureau
Of New York, surely the Rev. Sprague
should know.
Another even more important use for
the church motion picture machine Is
the educating and amusing of children
Not only is It a great help in the Sunday
school work, by enabling the children to
visualize the simple Bible scenes and
parallels, but it also plays q much-needed
part during the week. Mr.. A. ID. ". Storey,
executive secretary Of the American
Motion Picture Association
suggests that the church should give one
Special Children 5 Show each afternoon.
The child could stop on his wav home
from school and see proper films especial
ly suited 70 his age, and then come home
TO his dinner, have all the evening to do
his home work, with his craving for the
movies properly satisfied and 90 peaceful
" TO bed, having spent An absolutely IN
nOcuous day.
UPsETs TNFASTILE INNOCENCE.
As it Is, the child spends his after school
hours IN the streets. races through his
home work IL time TO get to the first
showing Of The Vampire Revenge and
goes TO bed with scenes in his mind that
are not compatible with infautile innocence
And IN al this day the church has played
40 part. Mr. Storey plan would change
lll that by having the church and school
work together 10 fill the child's PLAY with
education and healthy amusemeEts. This
plan would not only benefit the child,
but would also give the church another
member. make it more vital
factor IN the life OF the community. and
prevent its good influence from being
even partially diverted.
Mayor BroenIng of Baltimore IS one of
many well-knoWn public men who be
ieves that the movie could be made a
trong influence for good in the community.
1e would like To see the churches of Balti-
more take up the motion picture serious
Y. and Is having the laws and regulations
applying 10 the use OF motion picture
looked INTO, particularly those
laving to do with the danger of FIRE
Iowever. this IS a minor consideration
hat can soon be adjustedifenough church
members take an active interest in it,
Another problem in connection with
he church movie idea Is the securing Of /
uitable films Many film which might .
lelight deacon on Broadway would FIJI .
gith horror deacon in his natural habitat /
Ind until the demand for tho church n,o,-ie