Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-26

To the Editor OF The Timcy,Dlsn,tch
S'r.-W" are Informed of an nd-
dress delivered by the Rev. John
iioach Stratton. pastor or Calvary
BAPTIST church. New York CITY. be-
Tor" IN" w"ni%-scvcnth annual
meeting Of the Boston Lords poy
i."aEn" aud the Evangelical Am
ahc". January .. in which. comment
ing on ;hc DEVELOPMENT and ,ncr,
of some Of the ~. gent dav am,isc-
m"nts. Dr. Strnttun made the sturt-
linl assertion HAT 5000 bows and
I!riH from Protestant hamcs In New
York did not go to SUNDAY school. -
:. consequence OF the lure and CLAM.
our Of the movies" which no holds
responsible for the E,aring default.
Th's situation dcplorablc as Il IA.
may hc better appreciated and un-
d"rstooh when one stops TO con
slider the report OF the New York
state Motion Picture Commission
Just Issued, which shows that these
c"nnors OF moving pictures ECU,
out" AZ scenes during the year.
eighty five az indecent. hfty-four az
crime melting and sixty ono as i'm
moral.
IN" motion picture Industry of our
hhy presents the most striking nnd
""s' RiGahtc instance of CONNER
cia!ized amusement that has over
pceh witnessed NisIbly II hears tho
'"int OF mamnonism. 1T exploits in
"h exceedingly clever and subtle
manner fundamental instinct OF
man for the sake ot pront Ar, !,
- can he mentioned at an I'm CON
n""tion with the photonlav OF tho
present. constitutes only "A sccnu-
"aFy consideration. As "a matter Of
TACT. out Of tho deluge OF pictures
nat IL almost daily released aud tina,
hoods the puhiic. only rarely and at
long intervals. n production rises
mat with some benevolent iuterprc-
t''i"n may b" classified under tho
heading OF art. \ blight seeing TO
NAY" come over the realm OF IN.
shadow play since il has entirely
been surrendered 10 commercial OK
plnitatInn. Beauty and commercial
ism are hostile 10 each other: art re-
fuses 10 be made tho handmade Of
trade and commerce
Tn. Influence OF Ia. sc-.o,
"aSi'E ne orercst!matcd Few vi
lagos and towns VIII he rn,nd nm,
| q" not boast Of :, noviurnic,n-
'h"at"r. and the statistics that doal
With the attendance q, IN. nic,,,ro
shows offer staggering npur..
viewed from this STANDPOINT. Tho
| problem OF III. photoplay is ono q,
| supreme Importance and far-r.ach.
u.s. 'es"i'S' III particular, IL Is
necessary To remember that children
| crowd the pictur" houses and tina,
som" OF them develop an aImos,
irresistible craving for this kind OF
entertainment. III. distractions
caused BY ~ reorganization ot the
| MN ~ is"S are neither conduCiy. 10
IN" acquisition uf knowledge. nor the
! uphuid,ng Of moral character. Tn.
r"Stivcncss and impulsivencsS oh
| served In our children, Ia. impos-
sihiiity Of getting them TO max. an
effort 81 prolonged and auqtain.l at
| '"ntion. the !rritahility noticed anon:
| them. must in a large measure be
traced I" the influence. OF the screen
| which has tendency To make tho
| mind entirely dependent upon cX-
t"rnai stimulation and TO render it
completely passive.
Th"r" Is such a thing ms a
| cinema peril All except those th,,
are financially Interested in tn. mnv.
ing picture industry will admin I,
IN" hest protection against this mon
ar" Is we'll educated mud enlicbt.
ch"d public opinion that VIII ho
| quick To sense and ready TO rescut
| every infringement Of morality and
good taste.
MRS. JULIAN RALPH EARNET'rE
LNhchbuTg. Va, February I6. 1922