JEFFRIES-JOHNSON FIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 162, 11 July 1910, Page 6

JEFFRIES-JOHNSON FIGHT.

MINIS-TERS IN PROTEST. EXHIBITION OP PICTURES CONDEMNED. Condemnatory remarks in reference to the recent fight between Johnson and I Jeffries were made from the pulpit at a number of Auckland churches v.esterday, and in most cases motions against the exhibition of pictures were carried. The Rev. W. Gray Dixon, speaking at St. David's Church last evening, stated that while the world-wide interest excited by the encounter was a symptom of the . spirit of the age, it was reassuring to know that the great Suite of California had forbidden "the contest to be held within its borders, and that many Governments were prohibiting the exhibition of pictures of the figlit. For the reason that it was a degradation to the entire white race to enter into such a fight, the speaker was heartily glad that Jeffries had been thoroughly beaten. The contest descended to the plane of brutality, and it was right that on that plane the man who naturally belonged to it, who was freshest from savage conditions, should win. There was moral nobility in the bearing of the negro champion, and if he represented the lower type °f civilisation, he represented it well, whereas the other man simply belied and degraded the type of civilisation to which he nominally belonged. Allusion to the mercenary aspect of the fight was made by the Rev. H. Steele Craik, at the Beresford-street Congregational Church, and he also declared that the pictures of the contest should not be tolerated, and Press reports of such an event should be suppressed. The following resolution was passed unanimously: — " That tliis congregation assembled in the Beresford-street Congregational Church calls upon the Government to bring down immediate legislation prohibiting the public display of prize-fight moving pictures in New Zealand." The Rev. H. Khowles Kempton (Baptist Tabernacle) spoke strongly against ■the fight and the publicity given to.- it, and moved:—"That we, the members of the Auckland Tabernacle Church and congregation, met for divine worship Sunday evening, July 10, 1910, respectfully urge the Government in the interests of the young manhood and womanhood of "NewZealand to prohibit the importation of the San Reno films into the Dominion, and, if necessary, to enact legislation to secure this end." The congregation unaniimously rose in support of the resolution, whhh has been wired to the Prime Minister. The Rev. A. North, of Ponsonby Baptist Church, submitted the following resolution to the congregation, which was carried unanimously: "Impressed by the demoralisation that the exhibition of the moving pictures of the prize iight between I Johnson and Jeffries would cause, we | respectfull}' request the Government to | prohibit their introduction into the country." The resolution has been forwarded to the Prime Minister. j The Rev. E. A. Kirwood, of Grangeroad Baptist Church, submitted a resolu- j tion urging the Government to prohibit the exhibition of prize fight pictures, and j it was carried unanimously, and will be j forwarded to the Prime Minister, the Hon. Dr. Findlay, and the Auckland members of Parliament. The Rev. J. Cocker, speaking at the Primitive-Methodist Church, Alexandrastreet, strongly condemned the brutality . of the fight, and spoke against the exhibition of the pictures. (By Telegraph.—Pres3 Association.) CHBISTCHURCH, this day. In several churches yesterday references were made from the pulpit to the prospect of the fight films being shown here. To-night the City Council will be asked to receive a deputation from the Minister-' Association on the subject.