Moving Picture Age (Jan-Dec 1922)

When churches unite, what becomes of the remaining edifice? This solution benefited the entire community WHEN UNION MEANT TRUER SERVICE Rev. H. F. Huse Pastor, United Baptist Church, Dover, Maine. IN common with so many other pastors in America I have felt that the motion picture has come to the Kingdom for just such a time as this— to aid the church in getting its message to the people in a way and with a success never before realized. With the union of the Baptist and Free Baptist Churches of Dover-Foxcroft, the question arose, "What shall we do with the church building released by this union?" The answer has been to develop the building along the lines of a parish house for church and community service. One of the first moves was to instal first-class motion-picture equipment in 1919, at an expense of $800. With the setting up of our Simplex we began to show pictures in a Saturday-night program. Located in the heart of Maine, in a community of 4,000 people, one-half of whom live outside the village limits, we have b^en unable to do all that might have been done in a larger place and with more of a population from which to draw. However, much has been done that has been good and worth while. Our first pictures were Red Cross pictures. Educational and scenic films from the splendid Y. M. C. A. exchange came to us regularly for a period of three months. With the creation of better pictures, we have exhibited dramatic, biblical, historical, and literary films. On one occasion we extended the use of our parishhouse equipment to the local county association of physicians. Securing from Washington a dozen films, we ran them through for the meeting of the Association — films that set forth operations in pyemia, hernia, and other conditions. It was material of great interest to the physicians, and a service greatly appreciated by them. In a Near East campaign we were one of the few communities that had the use of the four films "Armenia in Distress." In campaigns for health and Americanization our presentation of pictures at the parish house has helped to bring the message home to people through the medium of the eye. The Church's Obligation If the character of a people is vitally influenced by as well as expressed in amusement, then the church has an obligation to its people to furnish the right kind of amusement and social life. The motion picture is a wonderful aid in this way. At a social gathering it takes but IS minutes to run through a fine scenic, and by so much helps out the program of the evening. Moreover, with the wonderful pictures that are now available, setting forth the important in history and the best in literature, it is a calamity for a community to miss them. As an example of this type of picture, we showed recently "The Courtship of Miles Standish," with an introductory film upon "Historic Plymouth." No one can look upon this picture without being instructed and inspired as one sees Plymouth Rock, the old burial ground, the splendid monuments that mark the landing place of the .Pilgrims and that bespeak to us the noble principles for which they left Holland for America. As for "The Courtship of Miles Standish," the picture is such that there are brought home to the heart the finest sentiments of love and religious faith, even as the great poet intended when he wrote the lines of his beautiful poem. As the greatest literature is religious, the greatest art religious,, the greatest music religious — so the greatest pictures are religiousSuch pictures as "The Stream of Life," "Johnnie Ring and the Captain's Sword," and many others that might be mentioned, are sermons on the screen. There exists a great opportunity for the church to bring the religious messages of such pictures to the people of a community The Film Cannot Replace the Sermon By no means is the picture a substitute for the sermon or the spoken word. The place of the film in relation to the spread of the Gospel is that of an ally, an aid. He errs whothinks of the picture as the whole thing, or of the church as a picture house. The film bears somewhat the same relation to the spread of the Gospel as the Gospel hymn. In the matter of missions the film today is indispensable. It was my privilege the first two Sundays in September to' have the use of two pictures released by our Baptist Home Mission Board. One of these was "Men of Tomorrow," a picture setting forth Christian education. The other was "Sunrise for the Mono," or our Gospel work among the Monos in California. Now, if there are two Sundays trying to thepastor, it is these first two Sundays in September. Labor Day enters in with the week-end trip and an extra day; vacations are extended ; people are coming and going. Ordinarily on these two Sundays I might have had present to "hear" the addresses on these subjects 50 or 75 faithful people. As it was, there were present to "see" the messages, as well as to hear the introductory remarks, more than 200 on each night. After the first a mother of four boys came to me and with depth of feeling thanked me for what the evening service had meant to her and her boys. After the second a man said to a member of the church, "No living preacher could have made us see and appreciate what the church is doing for those Indians as did that picture." Following the screening of "The Stream of Life" one of my most conservative members said, "I wish every man, woman, and child in these towns could have seen that picture." After a good picture a sense of deep regret is shared by many that everyone in town should not have seen it. Other missionary pictures we have shown are "The Story of Magan Lai," "Eyes to the Blind." We have shown Sunday-school work done in the Philippines and in South America. During revival meetings a year ago I arranged a meeting for the boys and girls at the parish house. Announcement of a picture brought a crowd that packed the house. What is the difference between baiting the hook with a good picture or with a good songor instrumental music? (Continued on page 23) 17