Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-11
MINISTERS APPEAL
F0RLAW UNFOLDING
Baptists Declare Whole Fabric
Of Constitution Is in DAN
ger Of Rending
DR.. CRAFTS HITS MOVIES

Baptist ministers, in their weekly
conference today. urged the posting IN
all churches Of warning issued. by
the judicial section of the American
Bar Association against disregard OF
laws. The warning asserts that dragon
teeth are being sowed by disregard OF
the prohibition law by influential busi-
ness men and that the inevitable result
will be a collapse Of all laws.
The recommendation was made by the
Rev. Samuel Zane Baton in II report Of
the Civic Righteous Committee.
Education asd morals are usually
far ahead Of legislation the minister
said, "but at present the opposite seems
to hold true: that legislation Is ahead.
We are facing serious crisis In tho
temperance movement and one which
goes deeper and strikes at the very
the disregard of all law that comes from
open violation Of temperance laws.
'"Thc committee feels that every
church should place in conspicuous
place the warning along this line re-
Gently gotten out by the judicial section
| OF the American Bar Association, where
! all may see it,"
The speaker also urged campaign
in the churches TO create sentiment
which will compel strictcr enforcement
against automobile drivers.
IAN average OF one person is killed
In Philadelphia by automobile every
day. he said. That average should
be greatly reduced. Life comes first. 1t
may be necessary to put people i'll jail
| In order to slow down automobiles, but
1t should be done. IL we create at
mospherc for this, we may be able to
IN Vt,;pfi,n IN, hn If ia
up TO us to help stop this slaughter
he added. 'and We can do il by bring
| ing the facts before the people.
The youth of America is threatened
because Of the tlagrant methods adopted
| by moving picture producers. nnd is
in fair way to corruption If the in
dustry is not regulated, according to
the Rev. Wilbur +. Crafts. superln.
tendent of the National Reform Bu.
reau, Washington.
DR.. Crafts organization is backing u
! bill. now in Congress. t" have til.
moving picture industry placed under
{ the supervision Of board of men
such as the National Chamber Of Com.
mcrce. he told the Presbyterian min
| listers meeting in the Withcrspoon
! Building this morning.
"A board of men of unqucstloned ill.,
tegrlty and intelligence should be ap-
pointed TO look into affairs Of the
movies" DIR. Crafts said. 'Will Hays
! is an honorable man. but he cannot be
expected to do all the work Of elimi-
mating the undesirable stuff that per.
meatcs the industry. And I may add
that there is no industry in America
that is so little controlled BY Amcri-
cans"
The speaker also mentioned many
} other bills and amendments pending In
Congress, principal among them being
one to enact n universal divorce law
that would prevent persons divorced
from marrying within II year after they
received their decree.
The sermon nnd religious service OF
Sunday evenings should not be subOr.
dinated to IN elaborate musical pro.
gram, the Rev. J. W. Richards sait
today at the weekly meeting Of I.uth'
cran ministers in the Central y. Nj. &
A. Mr.. Richards Is pastor Of st
Lukc's Lutheran Church. lie said tina
in too many instances the musical f"a
lures are given more prominence than
the religious exercises.