The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-01-10
Sunday Amusements Discussed By Ministers at Axis Luncheon and Middle
 ton BarnvveH akesO Opposte idle

church members in Birmingham who attend church regularly, leaving ap- proximate1y 15O,000 to wander around aimslessly with nothing to do but seek pleasure and amusement. It is from the point of view of this vast ajority that do not attend church that the city is called upon to make it's decisions. Many of these people never enter a church from year to year and these are the people who, constitute the Sunday problem.
 For some reason the churches of tho city have not claimed them de- spite the fact that our doors are swinging wide at all times to receive them Perhaps we have been too dogmatic; perhaps we have had too many rules and regulations perhaps we have dabbled in politics until churches have lost the respect of men. Perhaps the leaders of the churches have reproduced the modes of thought of the Parisees of the time of Christ.
 There are thousands or people among/us who are under no religious obligation whatever, and yet they are as much children of God as we. They are nevertheless trying to get through Sunday, a long period of idle ness, and the boy and girl who have come here from the country and live in a small hall bedroom are inwardly crying out for amusement as only youth can do. One thing is sure. They are going to find amusement and they are going to take it where they find it and will follow the line of least resistance. This is not be- cause they are wicked either. Is it rot better to have moving pictures where they could go and see a few pictures flickered over a painted screen rather than to seek amuse- ment, sneak around after it under cover of darkness in secret and hid den ways?
 The rich have their automobiles 1 and they ride to the country on Sunday or play golf or tennis at the Country club and so is the non churchg going public going to be amused.
 "These are some of the reasons why I, for my part, am for Sunday amusements. There are number of other aspects of the case to which I can but refer at this time. In the
 first place, the whole question of Sunday amusements, seems to me to be one of personal liberty that the constitution guarantees.
 "I think that if the churches wert less interested in laws and more in- terested in life; 1 think that if they gave more time to the understand
 ing of the souls that they are seek ing to save; l think that if they left their Mosaic codes and went down the streets with more sympathy for the heart that beats tired, think that if We gave less time to the vain attempt to shape all men by one pat tern and more time to the saving of things. we are indeed following the footsteps of our Savior, aLd practice ing the true doctrine of Christianity.
 The last minute of his time was taken up Tn paying glowing tribute to Mrs. Mary Echols, commissioner of health and education, who, with Commissioner W. L. Harrison, voted for the opening of Pershing Pier at East Lake.
 His indorsement of Mrs. Echols and the stand she had taken was en- Enthusiastically applauded by the large crowd present Both Mrs. Echols and Mir Harrison were guests of the club on this occasion.