The Washington times., 1922-07-06

A NUMBER OF conclusions are
~ presented In the concluding
L n section of the study OF the
motion picture problems of the
country by the social service COM
mission OF the Federal Council of
the Churches Of Christ in America.
The chief of them," says Dean
Charles NJ Lathrop. In his report.
|is that motion pictures should be
thought OF and talked Of. not as a
troublesome. problem. but as one Of
the chief assets OF the community
for education and betterment.
"A number Of conclusions are
obvious. First. the mass Of people
recognize the need of some social
control Of moving pictures. They
have become the greatest source OF
amusement and recreation. We can
fairly say, in. the world. And they
are a, commercialized amusement.
The mere fact that the moving
picture interest can afford to draw
into their employ a member Of the
Cabinet of the President of the
United States to be their head and
representative suggests their POSI-
ton and their power. A great COM
mercialized amusement calls for
some measure of social control.
This principle holds true quite
without regard to the opinion one
may hold Of the standards Of art
and morals maintained in the NOV
ing pictures that are being shown.
The only question is. what
measure and what kind Of social
control?.
1T certainly ought to be q con-
troll that places the responsibility
squarely on those who produce the
pictures. And-since they produce
for the whole nation-it ought to
be national control. There will al.
ways be great opposition on the
part OF a large proportion OF Amer
lean citizens to a law establishing
a Federal board OF censorship.
"A large part Of the American
people object 10 censorship. They
feel. rightly or wrongly, that 1t sug-
gests limitation Of American lib.
erty, especially In situation where
there are no settled standards and
where the pictures often present
the news and opinions of the dav.
The board of censors can easily be
capricious. prejudiced and narrow.
Many are thus brought to the
conclusion that the system OF
licensing would obviate this criti.
cism and offer a better method.
The decision as to the wisest and
fairest method of control is left to
the reader.
Another conclusion stands out
clearly. The people locally, in a
community, can effect good results
by organized cooperation. in fur.
nishing a medium through which
the community can register it's
judgment and its desires in the
matter Of e.choice OF films, work
ing. in cooperation with the pro.
ducers. This kind Of effort is
easily within the reach of any local
group Of people who really want
better things.
Certain situations exist in
which the church or the 'commu-
nifty center can exert a direct and
immediate influence on the screen.
When the social and recreational
life Of a community is centered in
such an institution the exhibitions
which II provides tend to be a sub
stitute for commercialized amuse.
ments. The true community
church-that Is. a church which
actually ministers to a physical
community as a whole-can some
times 60 far toward filling the
popular demand for recreation~
But all social betterinent is
ultimately a matter OF educating
the oncoming generation. What
ever may be done to enrich the
lives Of all of US who control the
present order of things should, OF
course. be done, but the. progress
OF the world Is mainly in the hands
Of those who are still young.
The public school and the re-
ligious education departments OF
the churches can do more to i'm.
prove recreational standards than
all other agencies combined. The
method may be indirect. but none
the less effective.
Romantic love Is the dominant
motif of the screen. as of the stage
and novel. The education of this
impulse both on its instructive side
and in it's more voluntary and splr-
itual phases will furnish the perm
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