Evening star., 1934-05-31
MISSIONS DAMAGE!
LAID TO MOVIES
Presbyterian Assembly Told
Foreigners Initiate Amer
iCan Films.
Nv the Associated Press

| BY the Associated Press.
CLEVELAND, May 31.-A criticism
Of American motion pictures as a
harmful influence on missionary work
in foreign lands, and the filing of
two protests by fundamentalist lead
ers concluded the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America yesterday.
The indictment of motion pictures
was delivered by Rev. Daniel c.
Buchanan, missionary to Japan.
"One of the greatest detriments to
missionary work is the type Of mo-
tion pictures exported from the
United States" he said.
People in foreign lands, seeing
these pictures, get the idea that
| gangster warfare and immortality are
standards of American life: and they
are copying the lives as portrayed
in the films"
Proposed Merger Protested.
The protests by the fundamental
lists were against the assembly's adop-
ton of a plan of merger with the
United Presbyterian Church of North
America, and the adoption of a re-
port ordering all Presbyterians who
are members of the Independent
Board for Presbyterian Foreign Mis-
sions to resign from that body or
face ecclesiastical trial
Both protests, to be signed by
fundamentalist commissioners. were
placed in the record by Rev. H. Nc
Allister Griff1ths of Philadelphia,
principal leader of that group in the
assembly.
Rev. Walter H. Westerfield OF
Bergenfeld, NJ j., later requested him
to withdraw the protests, but the
latter said his conscience forbade him
from complying.
The fundamentals leader contends
the merger plan sacrifices important
parts of his church's doctrine, and
that the Independent Mission Board
in no way violates the church's CON-
| stitution.
Modernist Trend Charged.
The independent organization was
formed several months ago because
the fundamentalists believe the reg
ular Mission Board has taken a mod
ernist trend in doctrinal matters.
None of the fundamentalists offered
comment upon their intentions OF
obeying the order to resign from the
independent board
Nine members we're elected to the
general councils class of 1897: Rev
Joseph NJ. Broadly of Birmingham, Ala
Rev William T Paterson. Cincinnati
Ohio; Judge Adrian Lyon Of Perth
Ambcy, N. j.; Frank B. Bell of Pitts
burgh; Mrs. George L. Robinson OF
Chicago. DR.. Cleland B. McAffee and
Dr. E. Graham Wilson, both of New
York City, and DR.. Harold McAffee
Robinson and DR.. Henry B. Master
both of Philadelphia.
Mrs. Edward H. Smith of Chicago
Mrs. Timothy Pfeiffer of Riverdale
N. Y, and John Grief Buchanan OF
Pittsburgh, were elected to the board
of Foreign Missions to. fill vacancies
and II others were reelected men,
bers There were no other changes
in the boards personnel.
Members Reelected.
| 4tIOoC AC-C4CSOSd wC1C 1OEN 1OOOCi
r. Bryan of Paterson, N. j., Edwir
M. Bulkley, New York City; Rev
Eben B. Cobb of Elizabeth, N. j., Rev
George M. Duff, New York City
Mrs. John Harvey Lee, Germantown
Pa; Rev. Robert G. McGregor, New
Rochelle, N. Y; Alfred E. Marling
Mrs. Dubois Morris, and Rush Tag.
gart, all of New York City; Rev. G
Malcolm Van Dyke, Palisades Park
N. j., and Rev. Walter L. Whallor
of Newark, N. j.
Cincinnati was chosen for next
years meeting of the assembly or
the invitation of Elder Lewis P
Johnston, who described that city as
formerly the worst governed in the
country, but now the best"
More than 900 commissioners at.
tended this years assembly, the 146tt
| in the church's history.