Palisadian., 1923-01-12
CHRISTIAN SPIRIT is
SHOWN BY WILL HAYES

Arbuckle stars; in fact, when Ar
buckle was at the height of his spopu-
larity we sedulously avoided witness.
ing the films in which he took the
leading role.
But our distaste for the Arbuckle
style of movie does not prevent us
from seeing the perfect justice of
Will Hays decision to give Arbuckle
an opportunity to come back" We
are pleased to note that Hays states
that he sis not reinstating Arbuckle"
that is a matter for the public
and adds that my decision is simply
a declaration that / shall not stand
in the way of this man having his
chance to go to work to make good
if he can. | neither sponsor him nor
stand in his way, but in spirit of
American fair play and Christian
charity | propose that as far as |
am concerned he shall have his
chance and / am sure we are doing
the right thing to accomplish the
great good in the end"
The foregoing is part of the re-
ply that Will Hays made to several
Los Angeles pastors who protested
against any further screening of COM
edies in which Arbuckle might take
part The movie chief also made the
following comment in his reply to the
objecting pastors:
81 am sure that in your considera-
tion of the matter you will not be
unmindful of the words of Him who
first taught us to forgive"
Let us repeat: So far as we are
concerned we do not care for Ar
buckle comedies, and that as an in
dividual we think the screen might
be better off if there were no more
pictures with Arbuckle as the star.
But that happens not to be the ques-
tion at this time. Here is the issue
at stake:
Shall Arbuckle be given an oppor-
tunity to reinstate himself with that
large majority of the public which
enjoys his type of films? In other
words, shall Arbuckle be given a
chance to seek forgiveness from his
VI tlOuSdhu lol uCl Ii iChuo
Unfortunately, and to our surprise,
the pastors of Los Angeles are adam
ant in their opposition to "the for
giving of Arbuckle." The comedy
stars chance to earn living in his
chosen profession would be denied
him if VIII Hays did not stand firmly
as he should stand-against the un-
forgiving spirit of the Los Angeles
pastors who are supposed to repre-
ent on earth the Mansthe Christ
whose whole great, generous, gentle
spirit yearned over the sinner.
We wonder If those pastors realize
that there are great many persons
who cling to the belief that through
the spirit of God is salvation to be
gained; and that none should be more
Christ-like than the men whose cho-
sen duty in life is both to represent
and interpret this spirit-the spirit
for instance, that Christ showed, and
of which st. Luke tells. 1t was at
the great feast made by Levi and a
great company of publicans and of
others sat down with them. And the
scribes and Pharisees were annoyed
and murmured, saying, why do ye
eat and drink with publicans and sin
ners?" Let us quote Christs reply
as given in Luke 6:31-32:
"And Jesus answering said unto
them: They that are whole need not
a physician; but they that are sick.
"I came not to call the righteous,
but sinners to repentance.
Are we to believe that the parable
of the lost sheep as told by Christ
has no longer any force? Let us re-
fresh our memories
shall be in heaven over one sinner
that repenteth, more than over ninety
and nine just persons, which need no
repentance"
And we have in that same chapter
the story of the Prodigal Son, for
whom the fatted calf was killed. And
the brother who had remained at
home, steadfastly obedient and filled
with all the domestic virtues COM
planned to the father that not even
so much as a kid was slain for him,
and added:
But as soon as this thy son was
come, which hath devoured thy liv-
ing with harlots, thou hast killed for
him the fatted calf"
According to Christ, the father ex-
planned to the virtuous son thou art
ever with me, and all that l have is
thine; and he said also:
1T was meet that we should make
merry, and be glad; for this thy
brother was dead, and is alive again;
and was lost, and is found"
The other story we will not try to
sketch--it is known to all of us in
its beauty and richness of love and
humility and forgiveness-the story
of Mary Magdalene.
Surely the pastors of Los Angeles
example and words of their Great
Preceptor. Incidents like this are cal
culated to cause the unframed lay
man to wonder If he has gone astray
in putting so much stress on the
teachings which seem to set apart
the Christian religion from the sell
fish individualism of ancients beliefs.
If these pastors who protested to
viii Hays in terms of unforgiveness
are not careful it may follow that
they and not Arbuckle will be on trial
before the bar of public opinion. And
if they are, we shall hope that a
greater mercy will be shown them
than they are today offering Ar
buckle.