Educational film magazine; (19-)

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SUNDAY MOVIE SERVICES IN CHURCH REV. J. C. Justice, pastor of Union Congregational Church of East Braintree, Mass., is holding special services Sunday evening which are of an original character and new to New England churches. They are called "motion picture services." In many churches films have been introduced and are exhibited Sunday evenings. Instead of a sermon the pictures have been shown on the screen, and their meaning and character explained by the pastor. Mr. Justice's method of conducting "motion picture ser- vices" is different from others. He always delivers a ser- mon, after which pictures illustrative of the points pre- sented in his sermon are shown on the screen and explained by him. These services have aroused much interest among the residents of East Braintree and Weymouth Landing, crowding the church to the doors. The attendance at the morning service has also been largely increased. Jn an interview the minister mentioned that in some instances motion pictures have been introduced into the church in order to entertain the congregation. "I have no desire," he said, "to entertain people at a religious ser- vice; in fact, I have no sympathy with any such method in conducting a religious service. My aim is to preach the Gospel as I understand it. The Christian church is now undergoing a process of reconstruction. In fact, the whole world is going through such a process. The work of the church especially has got to be conducted on dif- ferent lines than heretofore; ihe day of controversial the- ology is a thing of the past. The mission of the church is to bring people into it." SUNDAY MOVIES IN THEATER North Carolina Episcopalian Rector Says They "Soothe the Yearnings of the Human Heart" 'T'HE church of God must, of necessity, do something to soothe the yearnings of the human heart for clean, wholesome amusement, as well as minister to their souls' spiritual needs," declared Rev. Bertram Brown, rector of Calvary Episcopal church of Tarboro, North Carolina. Mr. Brown has a story which relates to a precedent in re- ligious circles in North Carolina. He said: "One Svinday night out of every month is devoted by our congregation to an amusement feature. Coupled with it, how- ever, is a religious service. "We go, on the Sunday night designated in each month, to the local motion picture house in Tarboro. It seats about 600 people. I conduct evening prayer, illustrated with lantern slides, after which we put on a five or six reel picture, which is often preceded by an explanatory talk.. "We endeavor to get a film in each instance that is wholly or partly religious. We have two sources of supply. In January we put on a reel dealing with the life of St. Patrick. Although it is gotten out by a Roman Catholic concern, it is liberally inter- preted and adapted to use by Protestants. "A purely commercial film has never been used by ns. As a matter of fact many of the commercial films of this day are not fit to be seen in the week, much less on Sunday evenings by a religious congregation. I do not mean all commercial films, of course. "I have found that the people have gotten both pleasure and profit by the method we use. Although the picture house seats only 600 persons, there are often 100 present in addition to this number. That is all the law will allow and on many Sunday nights several hundred persons have been turned away. "While the service and pictures are free, only a free will offer- ing being taken to defray actual expenses, we invite only those who otherwise would not attend religious worship. We do not wish to draw on other congregations." THREE PICTirRES FOR CHURCHES MY Shepherd is a pictorial interpretation of the twenly- ihird psalm. The shepherd leads the sheep through pastures, by the streams and into the fold, binds up their wounds and cares for them lenderly. The titles foilow the words of the psalm, and the picture would afford variety to a religious progrem. ill/ Shepherd. ProdiKid by Clii'rch and School Film Co. Distriliiiti'il t)y International Ihurtii Kilm Corporation. 1 reel. TTE that Loseth His Life. This story is of a young J. J. doctor who gives up a chance to exhibit his serum for sleeping sickness in order to save the life of a child. He leaves the field clear to his professional rival by so doing. However, he has won something more precious, than fame—the appreciation of those whom he has helped. He feels that he chose the right course and is satisfied. Then he discovers that the o'.her serum has failed and that he still has an opportunity to receive the credit for his discovery. The reviewer does not know whether the professional jealousy exhibited Jiere would make this unacceptable to members of the medical profession or not, but as a man's problem this situation is undoubtedly true, and the lesson will appeal to a church optience. He that Loseih His Life. Pro<luced by riiurch and School Film Co. Distributed by International Church Film Corporation, i reel. THE Widow's Mite. The poor scrubwoman whose last dollar is needed to save her sewing machine from going the way of all poor persons' possessions gives, and, by her giving, shames the society leader into giving. .The familiar picture of the widow dropping her mite into the box while Christ points out her gift to the rich men who stand by, is used as a background for one of the impor- tant moments in the action. This pic-ure revivifies the statement that the gift without the giver is bare, and shows the loyalty that comes from sympathetic giving. It is a good illustration, although not a novel one, of the truth. The Widov^'s Mite. Produced by Church and School Film Co. l^is- tributed by International Church Film Corporation, i reel. 9 W "THE GOOD SAMARITAN" IN JAPAN "DIBLICAL and ethical motion pictures will find an ex- ■^ cellent field in Japan. The Japanese are great lovers of the movies but the majority of films shown in the land of the cherry blossoms are the blood and thunder type, reeking with red-hot excitement," said Dr. Samuel D. Price, who has returned from Japan where he represented the World's Sunday School Association at its convention last October. During the convention "The Good Samari- tan," was shown before a huge optience, including thousands of Japnese. Dr. Price declared that the natives watched the picture in tense silence. The deep impression made could easily be read in their reverent expressions. The picture was shown at extension meetings before 33,000 people where the same effect was evident. "The negative of the 'Good Samaritan' is the property of Bishop Herbert Welch of Seoul, Korea," said Dr. Price. "He is using it in his work with telling results. More pic- tures of this type are needed in our work of spreading the light of Christianity. I am quite sure it will not be long before every missionary will be equipped with a motion picture outfit and films of this sort. 17