Educational film magazine; (19-)

'THE GREATEST FORCE FOR GOOD OUTSIDE THE CHURCH' Dean Learned of All Saints Cathedral, Albany, New York, So Regards the Motion Picture—Views of Movies by Other Albany Clergymen—International Church Film Corporation Commended' THAT motion pictures, if their standard is uniformly raised, may become a powerful religious, social and educational factor for the good of the com- munity, is the opinion prevailing among prominent Albany churchmen. "Moving pictures," declared Very Rev. Albert C. Learned, dean of All Sain'.s Cathedral, when questioned as to his views on the subject, "are the greatest possible force for good outside the church existing today. Since when used for good their valuation is beyond limit, the evil they can achieve is consequently in proportion." Movie Standards Need Uplifting The Rev. Dr. Luther A. Brown, pastor of the Calvary M. E. church, gives it as his opinion that the motion pic- ture issue is one that cannot be overlooked and that must be met as they are drawing the pleasure seeking public with unparalleled force. "There are wonderful possibilities for good in the moving pictures if their standard is lifted, and an effort is made to make them educational and ele- vating," said Dr. Brown. "The International Church Film Corporation, an interdenominational organization which is striving to produce a high grade of films, is thoroughly approved by the church," he further declared, adding "The motion pictures are something we must meet and lift up and cannot overlook." "Motion pictures can be improved and become of splen- did use," said the Rev. R. G. English, pastor of the First Christian church. "We use them here and will more and more." The pastor of the Emmanuel Baptist church, the Rev. M. E. Van Nostrand, stands emphatically for any im- provement possible in the moving picture situation, but does not approve of them in church on Sundays. Glorification of the Unmoral The Rev. H. W. Mueller, pastor of St. Paul's Evangeli- cal Lutheran church accepts the moving pictures at their full value. He says, "I have seen little of them but one thing is clear to me from what I see in advertisements and posters, and hear from persons frequenting them, and that is, that they are by no means 100 per cent elevating. It is the same old story as when the actors reigned supreme, before the advent of the movies—the glj^rification of things unmoral along many lines, which include immoral things, glorification of divorce, scandals and freedom with women. "However, motion pictures, for educational purposes, have untold value, in developing an artistic sUndard, in creating an intelligent knowledg.- of industry, in teaching Biblical history. I had an experience of the good that can be performed by the movies when pastor in New York, where not far from my church was a picture house de- voted exclusively to the showing of Bible stories. What was the result? Ninety per cent of my Sunday school children could tell me off hand any Bible story I asked them. As for showing religious pictures in church on Sunday, I see no objection, as long as worship is not inter- fered with." SEAMAN'S HOME ACTIVE WITH FILM Open Square Adjoining Seaman's Church Institute to be Equipped with Projection Machine and Screen for Summer Entertainment ■PiOWN at 25 South Street, New York City, where "the road to Jericho" leading from the docks to the Sea- man's Church Institute is lined with crooked dice throwers, three-card monte fakers and others of that ilk, ready to fleece the returning seamen of their money, the motion picture film has proved itself worthy of its hire as an en- tertainer, a diversion rivaling at times the street attrac- tions. Here during the past year seven feature films a week have been shown to the seamen in the auditorium of this immense institution, built thirteen stories above ground and three below, where the men of the sea find a clean bed and a good meal awaiting them at an infinitesimal cost. Owing to a lack of appropriation it is expected that the coming season will not be as well supplied with the neces- sary film article. Looking from the top of the building, with the Titanic memorial tower stretching toward heaven quite another story above one's head, one can see far below in the square occupying the opening of Coenties Slip a busy group of men at work mixing cement, hauling broken stone, sand and other articles necessary for the work of covering the entire block, once a miserable imitation of what a park should be, with a clean covering of concrete. A platform is already erected, and the exact spot on which a motion picture booth is to be built has been spaced off, prepara- tory to making the square into a comfortable lounging place for vacationists from the sea when the next summer season is usheied in. Here the sailors can sit and talk, read, or look at pictures, and at the same time get the air of a warm summer's evening. This splendid idea was originated by Dr. A. R. Mansfield, superintendent of the Seaman's Church Institute. The Federated Church, ot Morris, 111., recently screened "Miracle Money." The Mm shows the native life of China as influenced by the work of missionaries and was made for the Interchurch Movement by International Church Film Corporation. Dr. Condc B. Fallen has withdrawn as editor of the Catholic Encyclopedia and will devote his time to literature, liis lecture courses, and his interests in the Catholic Art Association, which is engaged in the production and distribution of Catholic I)li(itoplnys. M