The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-04-27
PASTORS VIEW
0NSUNDAYLAW.
NOW REVEALED.
Position Taken City Does
Not Have "Blue Laws"
Amusements Many
MAINTAIN MOVE is
GLASS LEGISLATION

n lull vi tliN pool-
ton of the City Ministers asso-
citation in its conference with the
city commission this week regard
ing the proposal to permit the
public showing of moving pictures
here on Sunday was released to-
day in order that the public might
completely understand their atti-
tude in the matter.
The text Of the statement, rs
presented by Rev. Jas. P. Burke,
pastor OF st. James Episcopal
church holds two main arguments,
first that the community is not at
this time suffering from Sunday
"blue laws and second that COM
mercialization of movies on Sum-
day is not liberalization of Sum
day. Mr.. Burke's statement in
full follows:
At our minister's meeting on
Monday we decided that instead
of protesting the action Of the
council with regard to CONNER
cialized moving pictures on Sum
day, we preferred to confer with
the council. 1t was necessary,
therefore, in order to save time,
that some member Of our board
should try to present the point OF
view of our association.
was asked to present the point
of view of the local Ministerial
association. | want it clearly UNI
derstood that in doing this I do
not attempt to speak for any in
dividual; / am simply going to try
to lay before you what / believe
to be the thoughts and feeling Of
the members of our board as ex-
pressed at the meeting on Mon
day. The other men present will
doubtless want to add or detract
from what l have to say.
In the first place, we want you
to know the spirit in which we
come. We come to you as Chris
tan brothers, citizens Of the same
community, with very real respect
for the office that you hold and
the responsibility that is placed
upon you. When one member sug-
gested that we call the mayor by
telephone and ask for this con-
ference, almost unanimously the
members said, Gal is a good fell
low" So it is in that spirit that
we come. not so much the spirit
of protest, but in the spirit of
conference.
Second, we would like you to
feel that we are coming to you
for information first of all. We
do not choose to talk and to
preach about the subject without.
first being informed in regard to
that subject. We take it that The
Times-News of last Monday set
forth the position Of this council
with regard to the proposed legls-
lation. If we are mistaken IN this,
we would like to be corrected at
this time.
If The Times-News did fairly
present the position Of this coun--
Gil with regard to the proposed
Sunday law, and we take it that
it did, this matter as it relates to
our community is boiled down to
the very definite question as to
whether or not we should allow
commercialized moving pictures
in Hendersonville or Sunday be-
tween the hours of 100 and TOO ,
and 900 and 1900 p. m.
We understand then that as far
as this community is concerned,
league baseball need not enter
into the question, since it is out
of the question for a city of this
size to support a professional
baseball team. If at some time
in the future this community
should be large enough and finan-1
cially able to support a league
baseball team, we would be glad
to consider that matter with you
at that time.
At the present, however, so far
as this community is concerned,
the demand is for commercializing
moving pictures on Sunday. /
We want it clearly understood
that we are not opposing moving
pictures as such, or any other
amusement. On the contrary, we
favor every form of wholesome
amusement that will bring people
into a closer spirit of fellowship
and mutual helpfulness. We are
glad to assist in every way that
we can the promotion of whole
some and uplifting recreation.
We urge a greater emphasis upon
amusements and entertainments
on week days. We feel that we
have not nearly exhausted the OPP
portunities for amusing the tour
- lCnnt;nuad. on mage four)