Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-13
BRADY IN PULPIT
DEF|ES HECKLERS
ooaded by Straton's Attack on
Theatre, He Assails Morals
Of Clergy
DENIES STAGE IS CORRUPT

fists on the pulpit and stamping their
feet on the covering over the baptisma'
pool in Calvary Baptist Church. yester.
day afternoon, the Rev. John Roach
Straton and William A. Brady took
turns in telling cnch other what they
thought, respectively. about stage peo-
pie and preachers.
At times hecklers among the congre-
cation became 70 obstrcperous that po-
iicemcn guarding the entrances Of the
edifce pOked startled heads inside the
doors. Quite as II they were in Cooper
Union or Madison Square Garden IN
stead of a church. the people In the
pews jeered and hisscd and appiauded
the speakers.
For three and half hours the rhe-
torical battle ragged hot ms tides OF en-.
thusiasn relied back and forth among
the congregation. which now hung with
appreciation on the words OF It's spirit
ual leader and ngain rose to It's fcet 70
shout approval of the theatrical mans
defense Of his profession. ,
The discussion had been announced
MS a debnte. with William IL. Anderson.
State anti. saloon leader, as chairman ,IIa,l,
and Judge. The speakers successiveiy
shouted their convictions from the pull
pit and interrupted each other at the
pinnacles Of Oratorical heights.
Crimes Of Clergymen
DR.. Straton had spoken for some
time, when Mr.. Brady rose In the center
of the church, asking permission to re-
ply. Speaking from the pulpit ne
said: 49,, -,.
God to defend the black sheep, ! come
to defend the decent men and women
of the profession. ..
bor,' he said, turning toward Or.
Straton, II can cite you more
crimes, murders and degeneracies per,
petrated by ministers Of the Gospel
than by ail the theatrical profession.
There have been more murders COM
mitted BY ministers and there are more
ministers in Jail than stage people.
Here the congregation rose to It's feet'
the shouts of its members indicating d.
vided convictions. 49,,
II would be proud to compare the
record of the screen and theatre peo-
pie with the record there. Of the 1ouns
Mems Christian Association. The dis-
reputable Charles Chaplin sold mil
lions and millions Of Liberty. Bonds:
When he ceased speaking DIR.
Straton resumed his indictment, and
in turn his latest statements were an
swcred by the Snowman.
The meeting ended only when DR..
Straton. who said he would like to
"stay until morning" explained the
church must be cleared for evening
services.
Brady Reluctant to Speak
The debate was on the proposition
| that present conditions and tendencies
on tho American stage are menace to
sound public and private morality.
| Brady, once a newSboy and later
roker expert. prize fight promoter. the
ntrical producer, father of Alice Brady
and husband o. Grace George, declined
| Mt first 10 60 ahead with the issue con-
fined to such limits.
He insisted on speaking, however.
| after he had heard DIR. Strator declare
that the price of promotion for most
actresses is that they surrender their
virtue.
There was something over II 900
! words in DR.. Straton's address. AFTER
tracing the theatre from its religious
beginnings and talking while about
the beginnings of civilization, he got to
point where he said:
ten girls representing the Chorus
Girls Union told the New York Globe
that it is next to impossible for cir!
TO work in the chorus without leading
life Of shame. 1t Is altogether i'm
possible for her to work without being
insulted.'
This last remark leads me to say
/ that facts now prove that the price Of
promotion for many girls and women
! upon the stage today IS that they shall
surrender their virtue.
IndignatiOn in Audience
Many persons among the congrcsa.
ton buzzed with indignation as they
heard this.
I'm fact. my friends" continued the
preacher. "this condition has gotten to
be Il standing joke in the theatrical
and movie world. 4 recent observer
writing in the Chicago Tribune and
New York News says: There is n
! lascivious maxim concerning the
gateway to success in pictures known to
every one who works in the studios,
and the testing method is a stock joke
wherever pictures are made
! "One Of these so-called Jokes was
the case of a certain manager who was
greatly agitated and perplexed about
what to do when he suddenly remem-
bered that he had absent -mindedly
promised the same position to two girls
who had paid to him the personal price
of promotion.
1--WE can we'll understand, too, how
one Of these managers occasionally turns
up with bullet through his brain.
We can understand how wrecked virtue
~, npn c;1o opJ vin1otoI nrnmisav &c