METHODIST LITERARY GUILD

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 June 1912, Page 7

METHODIST LITERARY GUILD

INTERESTING DEBATE

There was a capital attendance last evening at the weekly meeting of the Methodist Social and ‘Literary Guild. The Rev. T. N._ Griffin occupied the chair. The arrangements for the debate with Trinity Club were again considered, and a subject approved for suggestion to the club; This friendly debate’ is to Take place the-first week in August. It was announced by the lady ‘members of tin; executive that the “Ladies’ Evening” .would be held in the Schoolroom nest -Tuesday, when all the • members and their friends were cordially invited. There would he competitions ffnd song-title prizes, and u varied ami interesting programme provided. Arrangements were also made for July 3rd. when the. readings and recitations are in Be given by the members.

The subject for the evening, was ; “Moving pictures: are they beneficial?” The (debate., extended, for upwards of two hours and proved,highly interesting. The affirmative was; taken,, by Mr F. Hopkins, whose address _ was ...thoroughly to the point ■ and full of interest. He maintained that this was an age of progress, and moving pictures, represented one of the important factors in the social, moral and intellectual uplifting and education of the people. In leading. cities like London, Berlin, Chicago, and other places schools and even some churches used them for their great purposes. He was a firm believer in education through the eye, a system of teaching which'was Becoming more general'every day. He ■outlined an ordinary evening’s programme at a picture show to indicate its variety, its’ attraction, and its power. , The .films shown upon the screen were generally in the order of descriptive of famous beauty spots, dramatic scenes, comedies, industrial, and those which brought )>efore the eye the great current events of the day. He thought the man would be of poor intellect who couldn’t benefit from a night with moving pictures. They were also commended to him because they Were so comparatively cheap, thus enabling the masses to attend and enjoy the pleasure, the relaxation and the’instruction which they afforded. .“

Mr H. Scrivener took the negative side and contended that they had to. deal not with ideal but with actual .shows. That they could be made in every sense beneficial he did not doubt. This lie, was sun was not the (ra.se now. The programmes were too mixed* and the bad bad to be taken with the good. The tone was tor often doubtful, and where in such (merit was doubtful it was hurtful. He did not think any good could ensue from pictures of domestic discord, &c.,-'especially when the audience \vas so largely' made up of children and young people. Some of the scenes in the dramas placed upon. Hit screen, pictures of cowboy life, ol Indiar wars, of robbery and murder,, too often fired the youth with an unworthy spirit and tended to make the children callous in their thought and feeling. He thought too many of the pictures-.-were;inflate- and ridiculous, calculated to -'tear,- a passion to tatters.” : In. these and other respects they could not be regarded as.- beneficial.-; but they might be made so by- the exhibition of historical', descriptive, industrial and genuinely humorous pictures. Mr N. White, supported'- Mr Hopkins. He had gained personal benefit from the pictures. As a class they ‘wore .good. The censorship exercised sufficiently guarded thein. He held that comic picturns alleviated and elevated alter, a weary day’s work. The' shows were something fresh and supplied a need, and kept many from the drinking bar and the gambling den. . Mr Young also held that when used with discretion moving pictures were- beneficial. Their educational value wns.ofttimes great in their revelations to the ordinary/mind of scientific facts, of insect and animal life. kf. The pictures of national centres, of art, of industry were invariably helpful, while religions'pictures .lie had' to admit were 100 often' caricatures'.

Mr Dahl didn't think tho.ro-eotikl be a negative side, There was variety,- but all sections needed to he" provided for. Mr Gray assisted the negative side. He felt that, any instruction- the pictures gave was. too superficial to be; of .benefit. If instruction was their only 'object, twothirds of those who now . attended would be absent. He supported the 'nationalisation of the shows, with only, certain classes and standards of films allowed. Too many of the pictures were silly in the extreme. Greater care was needed in the. programmes for children. The robbery and murder pictures were hurtful to their morals and made the mcallous in their spirit. They should be encouraged to study literature more and see pictures less. Mr Griffiths also supported the negative. He referred to the fact that leading educationists were condemning the shows as especially hurtful to children. The chairman thought these shows might be made much more-beneficial to all classes than they are now. The programmes were too mixed. If the morbid classes had to be provided for, it should not he at the expense of those of higher tastes, of the youth and the children. The programmes for the latter, were often more deleterious than beneficial, because of the gross mix hires in it. Mrs Griffin advanced somewhat similar views, giving experiences. Mrs Ferrend supported the affirmative side. The division was equal, some- of the members not voting. The chairman remarked that wore he voting he would dr so with the negative: party, but would afterwards support a motion that moving pictures might be made beneficial to all classes. Thus, closed a debate of con finned interest. ' :