Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-05-24
CLEAN MOVIES, Demand
Of PRESByTER|ANS
General Assembly insists That
voIstead Law be Upheld
and Enforced.

Des Moinee. Iowa. May 26s-~The
General Assembly OF the Presbyterian
Church by unanimous resolution Of it's
almost 300 Commissioners yesterdsy.
called upon the members OF its
churches TO refrain from attendance
upon any theatre which permits the
presentation Of pictures that are sug
Reetive and unclean, and that. when
ever possible. its members inform the
management Of such theatres 81 their
intention TO stay away.
The Assembly instructed It's Board
OF Temperance and Moral Welfare 10
begin a movement which will seek 20
unite all the moral agencies OF Arnerl-
ca In q concerted request TO Congress
that such legislation be enacted as will
make mandatory production Of pic
lures in accordance with certain we'll
defined moral standar ds. this Iegisls-
ton to be applied at the point of
production: that IL. before the picture
is made.
The statement declared that certain
interests in the motion picture indus
try in screen presentations make light
OF marriage, woman's virtue. the
1orde Day. tho Eighteenth Amend
ment and chastity, thus spreading a
moral blight across America and strik-
ing at the vitals Of the nation In sus-
costing to the youth Of the land habits
and attitudes Of life that tend only to
ruin"
| II set forth that whenever decent
citizens seek 70 cleanse a city Of some
vile picture they are confronted by a
we'll organized opposition directed by
powerful interests within the industry.
The statement said IL is publicly
stated in motion picture magazines
that the photoplay interests have en-
tered politics, determined to prevent
the election OF candidates who will not
pledge allegiance to their cause"
The Assembly voted 70 lend the aid
Of the Board Of Moral Welfare. when
ever possible. 10 the moral forces Of
: such states and communities az are
trying 10 secure some form OF regula.
ton Of the movies"
: The resolutions, which the Assembly
, adopted with tho utmost enthusia SIN
called upon the moral welfare forces
OF America TO demand Of the Theatr,
Owners Association OF America tina
, off the screen.
The Assembly declared unanirnousl,
/. that, az the eighteenth amendment {
a part Of tho Constitution Of the Unite
States. and the Volstesd Act the regu
/, larry enacted instrument for it's en-
forcement. the Presbyterian Churc'
comuends all who are honestly en-
desvoring TO secure the enforcement
OF this law. and earnestly urges It
membership to aid in bringing {
7 justice the violstors Of said Law
whether rich or poor
Tho commissioners voted to dsclar
n against the repeal or weakening Of tn
n Volstesd Law. and urged the continu
n sncs Of the teaching OF temperance 1
o Sunday schools and the observa nee {
e a Worlds Temperance Sunday.
{ Because the Assembly considers tn
Use Of narcotic drugs md cigarettes Z
be injurious, and becauee Of the in
crease in the use OF these things, 1
instructed it's Board OF Temperance
! and Moral Welfare to continue Wig
orous policy TO secure anti-drus an
J.. anti-cigarette legislation by the Fed
q eral Government. and similar Stat
;. legislation.
Tho Assembly reafirmed former De
liverances discouraging the use of e
bacco and requesting ministers. churc
!. officers. parents and teachers TO ir
struct the youth by prscept and 2,
ample AZ 10 the evil of this habit.
y Among the other resolutions the a,
!" sembly passed was:
a THAT W.. view with deep concer
l. the growing evil of divorce and al
z prove wise efforts being made to saf,
q guard honorable marriage"
After a long debate. the remand.
Of the Stone report. entailing a r.
duction of the agencies of the Presb,
terrain Church in the United Stat.
of America from sixteen TO four ar
the creation Of A general council
take over the functions Of executi'
VI commission and the new era NOV,
| ment, was adopted IN its entirety.