New-York tribune., 1921-06-05

have organized village tours to reach the rural
communities with wholesome entertainment
through the medium Of the cinema, Projec-
tors and other equipment, with the operators,
are transported from village to village on
trucks, carrying entertainment and instruc-
ton to the people in scattered districts IN
much the same fashion as the Church of me-
dieval England sent its groups of players
from village to village presenting mystery
plays.
Nor has the Church of England been slow
to recognize the power of the cinema as a
medium Of teaching the practical application
Of Christian ethics. A recent writer in The
Challenge, Church of England publication,
suggests that the Church has at its disposal
IN the cinema a medium for bringing the rep
resentatives of labor. and representatives of
the Church together
Here is clear call for the Church TO re-
turn to the old paths" says the writer. "For
it is new thing to teach by pictures and
dramatic art, and the instrument is ready to
hand, immensely more powerful and
adaptive than in the old days of morality and
mystery plays. to, Almost unconsciously
and unknowingly, the discontented are ham
kering after the priceless gifts of knowledge.
,. >. The bringing home to the mental or
spiritual consciousness of man the beauty
and attractiveness of the highest is terribly
hampered by that most imperfect and unre-
liable medium Of speech or the printed word.
It is here where the pictured representation
of the films is capable of scoring immensely.
=. =. The cinema might well be the connect
ing link between labor and it's legitimate
aims, expressed and driven home by the pic
lures, and organized Christianity, recognizing
to the full the right of every man to the free
play of his best energies in the direction OF
physical perfection, mental development, so-
cial enjoyment and spiritual advancement.
"The clergy, with some leisure and, pre-
sumably, capacity for organizing and
demonstrating the value of increased joy in
work and intelligent use of leisure, would find
their efforts amply repaid by sense of more
friendly relations with many who have
hitherto looked askance at their ministrations"
That there is rapidly increasing senti-
ment among church people against the vast
amount of questionable material now used in
the commercial motion picture field is too
obvious to need statement The growing in
terest of the Church in the better class of
films is probably not so well known. Nor is
IL SSASId44y hIIoWlIs pSGIdJSy IildI Heafly O,uop
churches in the United States are now
equipped with motion picture projectors, and
that most of these churches are giving motion
picture shows regularly at least one night
week, and, especially in smaller communities,
are already cutting heavily into the business
of the commercial houses. These churches
still find it difficult to secure sufficient sup
ply of films, both religious and secular, Of the
type they wish to show, and are waiting inn
patiently for full production on the part of
several companies organized to supply
the non-theatrical field.
The danger of very real competition from
the churches is recognized by the big produc-
ing companies Nearly two years ago in Los
Angeles Mr.. Cecil De Mile refused to give
statement favoring the use of motion
pictures by the Church, saying that he could
not do until the large producers had de-
cided on some policy toward a movement
which they frankly feared from the point of
view of competition That competition is
already beginning to make itself felt.