PICTURES IN CHURCHES

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12424, 19 April 1926, Page 7

PICTURES IN CHURCHES

A PASTOR’S EXPERIMENT WANTS PROPER THEATRE SEATS CATERING FOR HIS PEOPLE (By Telegraph.—Special to “Times.”) AUCKLAND, April 18. Special moving pictures iu church are to be inaugurated shortly ii Mount Eden Congregational Church bj Rev. Stanley Morrison. Cinema services will only be held at intervals on Sunday evening, but an educational picture show will be held in the church hall on one night each week. Many well known parishioners are assisting Mr Morrison in his movement, as the result of which he has been able to purchase one of the latest types of cinematograph machines. Next week contractors will begin altering the hall ? and the machine will have level projection. The pastor had hoped to replace the forms in the building with proper theatre seats, but these are expensive items, as he had not been able as yet to find any cheap enough. A small orchestra will also be employed. ■ “It is not that I am trying to Btart anything new,” said Mr Morrison. “I don’t want to break away from established order, hut I believe that we have got to make this approach. I will probably raise some opposition, but I think that I have a complete ans-

wer. It I can give our people an( children something clean and healthy I have achieved my purpose.” Mr Morrison believes that the right type of film plays an important pari in education of to-day, because th« time has qome when a greater appeal is made through the eyes than through the ears, especially in regard to the younger generation. Visual memory has replaced to a great extent the oral one ? outlining the reason foi*+,he 'Experiment” which he is going to make. THE SEX QUESTION Mr Morrison said: “Many films are really decent and could be made to assist greatly in the work that the church has to do. Many of the accepted films of the day are oversexed, and while sex is a big factor in life it is not th eonfy one. Othez sides of life are far more beautiful and healthy. There are sewers in the city, hut I do not poke my kiddies* heads down them and say, ‘These ar« sewers.* Other sides of life are quit 4 as real, in fact more real. The trouble as far as a picture proprietor is concerned, is that he is in business as a public entertainer, and he has to give what is demanded of him. I came upon a proprietor some year# ago when I was younger and a little more rash than lam to-day. I protested to him about the character of a certain film he was showing. He was a very decent chap and listened patiently. After I had finished he told me that he agreed with all I had Baid, but he added that he was running a picture stow and not a Sunday school, and that so long as his audiences demanded the type of picture under discussion he felt that ha had to give it to them. ‘lf you anc your children and people want a bettci type the best thing you can do is to show me so by your attendance, and I will give it to you.’ he said.” BLUSH, AND GO AGAIN “That is the position,” continued Mr Morrison. “Church people oftei conplain about tbe characters of cer tain pictures as being unfit for them to look upon, and some go to the extent of saying that they make them blush, but somehow or other they go off to shotfs again and continue their blushing. It is of no use complaining about these types of films simply because the proprietor has to cater for mixed audiences. The only solution to the problem is for the church to step in and cater for its own pcopl< and seize the opportunity presented hy a picture show of instruction, interesting and amusing the people. Mr Morrison stated that lie was being given the whole-hearted support by tbe film distributors of Auckland, who sympathised with what he was trying to do and did not consider luin in any way a competitor, hence they were cloing whatever they could to help out the experiment. Tbe opening night of the innovation will be May 6th, with the film. ‘Abraham Lincoln.” Tlie show will begin at 7.30 p.m. and end about 9-Jf' p m Small prices of admission will be charged. Thereafter the pictures will be shown on Thursday evening or each week. In each ease wluni a film like “Abraham T.inreln is •‘‘‘"'<s shown, it will be preceded hy a short address by Mr Moitibod. GAZETTE AND COMEDY A gazette and a comedy will he included on the programme. As far as comedies are concerned there will be no Bathing girls disporting t :cu. ■ selves on beaches. As far as Sunday evening picture services were concerned, Mr Morrison said he would hold these whenever be could get a suitable film. “When I do I’ll take it as my text,” he said. “The whole service will !>o held in tlm hall. Instead of a text. I will show the picture and speak about it afterwards. I will not he able to do this often, as it. will be difficult to get appropriate pictures. However. 1 have managed to get a film of Channing Pollock’s play ‘Tlie Fool.’ and thii I will screen on Sundav evening, Mar 30th.”