LOW-CLASS LITERATURE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11685, 24 November 1923, Page 5

LOW-CLASS LITERATURE

’PERNICIOUS PUBLICATIONS’ RESOLUTION BY PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY. DESIRE TO CRUSH EVIL. Per Press Association.* CHRISTCHURCH, November 23. A vigorous denunciation of a certain type of pernicious literature that ■ is now gaining wide publicity was contained in a report presented to the Presbyterian General Assembly to-day on behalf of the public questions committee. On behalf of tlie committee, the Rev. John Paterson proposed that the Assembly should adopt the following deliverance: “The Assembly calls the earnest attention of our ministers and people to the grave danger arising from the increasing circulation of debasing literature. In much of the popular literature of the day there is manifest an extremely reprehensible obsession of sex. “OMINOUS TEACHINGS.” _ “Some of these publications profess giving enlightenment on sexual functions, prevention of child-birth, and the like. The teaching of such hooks is most ominous for the future of human society, and should be severely discountenanced. Others are novels dealing with sex problems, glorifying unlawful passions, and belittling the obligations of marriage and family life. Many of these came to us in innocent guise, and are in ignorance of their real contents and purpose, were allowed as reading to our young people. While we may hope for some safeguards from the recently-appointed board of censors, reference proves that neither the Government censorship nor offioial denunciations can crush this evil. We would urge upon parents the duty of protecting their children from ■the pernicious influence of such literature, but we must prevent the evil by inculcating a love of good hooks. To this end, we urge upon ministers and parents the duty of cultivating love of noble literature in the young people and upon all Sunday schools and Bible-classes to exercise the utmost service in choice of books for their libraries. We would also urge upon all who have such influence to do their utmost to see that the books circulated by our public libraries are of clean and noble character.” UNHEALTHY PICTURES. ■Mr J. Brook (Auckland) said he would like the resolution to go a little further, and that the word “pictures” should be added after “literature.” Some of the pictures now being shown, he said, were of such a nature that they made many of them blush with shame. The titles were utterly misleading, and could not be taken as an indication of the type of picture that was being shown. The Rev. Mr Paterson said the only reason why the comthittee had not dealt with the subject of pictures was that for the past two or three years the Assembly had passed elaborate resolutions, in which they had said practically all there was to be said concerning the subject of pictures. If the Assembly desired the committee to frame a resolution about motion pictures they would gladly do so. No one pressed for a motion dealing with pictures, and the original motion was carried. The, Moderator said he believed all ministers would act upon the suggestion, and that the resolution should be read from the pulpits.