The Washington herald., 1922-02-13
.INVADES PULPIT
TO ANSWER PASTOR
ATTACKING ACTORS
w. A. Brady Starts Bit.
ter Argument in New
York Church.

NEW YORK, Feb. 12.-Amidst up
roar that displaced the usual Sun
day calm of Calvary Baptist Church
this morning, william A. Brady,
producer of the speaking stage
and president of the National Asso-
citation of Motion Picture Indus
tries. literally leaped into the pulpit
OF the church and vehemently de-
Tended the modern theater. both
Legitimate" and film productions
and the players in them
Dr. John Roach Straton, pastor
of the church. aroused Brady when
he mads-a determined attack upon
the stage and screen and referred
to recent scandals in both sections
of the world OF make-believe. The
two debaters carried on for mor-,
than an hour a vehement argument
which stirred the ordinarily peace
full congregation to the pitch OF an
old mixed political meeting 1t al
ternately hissed and applauded.
even cheered once or twice. Question
and answers were hurled between
pulpit and audience.
Actress Denounees Pastor,
Brady who is the husband OF
1Ao SCOA6cs Nhe
made upon stage and motion pic
ture and their people. He declared
that nowhere could a more decent
living set be. found The few ex-
ceptions, he declared, merely
proved the rule"
DR.. Straton. whose denunciation
was applauded by an audience that
packed the church said he would
maintain his argument anywhere
and at any time, even on the plat
form or stage of any theater in the
city.
Blanche Yurka leading lady in
The Lawbreaker." leaped to her
feet while the debate was in prog
ress and denounced DR.. Straton in
unmeasured terms for his attacks
upon the stage and its people. Her
comments were heartily cheered by
that part of the audience which rep
resented the stage. But from other
parts OF the nave and the aisles
of the church came Kisses and jeers
which drowned Miss Yurka's words
So tumultuous was the scene that
finally the debate adjourned in con-
fusion. even the reporters unable IL
gather just what the exchanges
were between the heated partisans
of stage and church.
Straton Denies Enmity.
DR.. Straton had chosen for his
subject for the regular Sunday ad-
dress, THE Evils and Dangers OF
the Modern Stage" He denied any
enmity toward the acting profes-
sion. but insisted that the condition
of the stage had reached such q
pass that IL was the duty Of every
minister to voice a protest.
Fear that trouble would develop
had led DIR. Straton to request g
detail of two policemen to the
church. Their services were moi
needed. Although the service end
ed' in disorder. there was no vio'
| lence.
Brady, replying TO DR.. Straton
| defended the stage as the target
| of unjust attacks. He spoke al
first from the seat he occupied In
the church. but later, as the insist
ent demands of the audience be.
came evident, he scrambled into the
pulpit beside DR.. Strston, and there
sesticulating ard Grating with al
| the histrionic ability he possesses
declared that DR.. Straton's argu'
| ments were false.
Criticises Tive Piays.
'T thank Mr.. Brady for coming
so valiantly to the defense Of his
profession" replied DR.. Straton
but / am unable to concur In his
views I believe the stage In this
country today is sown with iniquity
and / am prepared TO. prove my
charges TO the stage"
Among the plays criticised by DR..
Straton was the 'Demi-Virsin" and
I"Aphrodite." He declared neither of
these plays was fit for the younger
generation to attend. He said Il was
not question today whether q
young woman had brains and talent
for the stage but how nearly nude
she would allow herself 70 be
placed before an audience. Brady
launched into a defense of the stage
and denunciation OF It's attackers
which was quite as lurid as any
thing DR.. Straton had ssIdN on the
other side.
Brady declared the public wa,
| the cause of the few immoral play,