The Moving picture world (February 1920-March 1920)

February 21, 1920 THE MOVING PICTURE WORLD 1211 Pastors Screen Sermon Startles Conservatives in Auburn Church GOOD HEAVENS," cried some members of the Universalist Church in Auburn, N. Y., when their pastor without warning sprung upon them a movie-illustrated sermon. This was something new and the more conservative of the congregation were more than mildly surprised. Others nodded in approval and settled back to reap the full benefit of the innovation. A unique service it was — all of Auburn admits that. The Rev. J. E. Price had announced his topic as "The Storm." It was a storm in more ways than one. Not within the church did the storm break, but among some of the folks of Auburn mutterings of horror ascended. In the meantime the Rev. Mr. Price is not a bit disturbed. The minister says that by another winter he hopes to have a most modern and complete motion picture outfit installed in the "Peoples' Church." He says he knew that there would be sorne on the outside who would raise their hands in horror, as many did when musical instruments were first introduced into the churches. At that time such instruments were hailed as "works of the devil," he says. "God Gave Us Eyes as Well as Ears." "Nevertheless," he continues, "God gave us eyes to see with as well as ears to hear with, and it is part of the church's duty, when everyone is more or less picture-minded, to help present the wholesome without the trash." The comparison that Mr. Price draws is that it is no more wicked to introduce moving pictures into the church today than it was to introduce music in other days. Music is now recognized as one of the most useful and attractive features of any church service, and he feels that it will only be a short time before the same feeling will prevail in regard to the use of moving pictures in the churches. Mr. Price's animated sermon, "The Storm," shows vividly just how a sermon may be thus illustrated and how the screen can drive home certain thoughts in a much more forceful manner than spoken words. The lights of the church were turned out and little pointed preachments began to appear on the screen. One was entitled, "Respect for Mother." "Respect for Mother." A good idea of the service may be gained by a perusal, so it is given here as it was on the screen: "Mark the young man who is coarse and disrespectful to his mother. No roseate pathway can be hers who shall sustain to him the relations of wife. Not the happiest shall be the lot of those who shall come to be his children. Not to be envied is the neighborhood ever in which he must be reckoned as a citizen. "It does not matter what the mental stature of that mother is, how old, how bent, how decrepit, the man to whom she is mother owes to her gentleness, kindness, tenderness and consideration. Did she fall back; and did the children, by means of superior advantage pass her in her race? But think of the toil and trial, her devotion and denial, her mind and her years that she gave that her children might derive the benefit." Minister Explained Series. After several of these introductory sermonettes a hymn was sung. This was followed by Scripture reading and prayer, announcements and singing of old and new melodies, and then "The Storm" proper. The pastor told the story of the picture as it was shown, and here and there pointed out some of the lessons to be learned from it, but these were apparent without his words. His voice, accompanying the scenes, was merely a sort of* assistance for the audience, somewhat on the plan of subtitles, only on a bigger scale. "The Storm" derives its name from a terrific storm in nature, which was pro 'i""""" iii""iiiii'ir t.iitiij [ [luiiitiiinii Miiiiiii.iiiKiii ,it I This Minister's Viewpoint | i "God gave us eyes to see with as | I well as ears to hear with, and it i I is part of the church's duty, when | I everyone is more or less picture i I minded, to help present the whole j 1 some without the trash." | 1 He draws the comparison that | I it is no more wicked to introduce | I moving pictures into the church | I today than it was to introduce | I music in other days, when musical | I instruments were called "works | I of the devil." | I Looking into the future, he sees | I moving pictures as firmly estab \ I lished as a part of a church ser 1 I vice as music now is. I ■iliiiilillliiIlillllillrtMiiiiiiilliliiltiilliriiliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiiriiiiiliilllliriiilillllirilllllllli: duced in realistic manner, and also from a storm of anger and rivalry between two men who seek the hand of the same girl, but with far different motives. The two fall in love with the girl, the storm which threatened their lives came and went because both of them listened to their conscience and the promptings of true love. The storm came and went because a higher power did not permit them to perish. Another subject planned is "Lightnin'," from the character of that name vvho was a Grand Army man. All societies affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic have been invited by Mr. Price, and he announces that just before the sermon he will draw a crayon portrait of Lincoln. Graingrer on Way to the Coast. James R. Grainger, eastern representative for Marshall Neilan Productions, has left New York for the California headquarters of the company to consult with Mr. Neilan on new plans affecting future releases of this concern. Before leaving, Mr. Grainger expressed great enthusiasm over the manner in which bookings are coming in on "The River's End," Mr. Neilan's initial inde pendent production following the formation of his own producing organization. The production is now receiving its final treatment and the first run showings should be before the public the latter part of this month. Greene Plans Annual Who's Who in Industry IF plans outlined before the Associated Motion Picture Advertisers at its luncheon on Thursday, February 5, at the Cafe Boulevard, New York, by Benedict M. Greene, of Toronto, are consummated, the fifth industry is to be dignified by the publication of an annual Who's Who In Motion Pictures designed along the lines of similar volumes embracing notables in society, politics and industries. Mr. Greene, who is managing editor of the International Press, Ltd., and puolisher of Who's Who and Why, with offices in Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Halifax, said it was his belief that the motion picture industry is of all industries the one most dependent on its personalities, in which belief it was the intention to collect data which would by agreement and contract be placed for the . use of a Cinema Press Association, to be established along the lines of the International Press Service. To Contain No Advertising^. The speaker announced that for the first year the 'proposal was to cover personalities in the United States, including producers, directors, stars, authors, distributors and others in the industry whose standing and importance merited inclusion. Later the work is to be extended to include Canada, Great Britain and portions of Europe. Mr. Greene laid stress on the fact that it would be absolutely free from all paid advertising, that there would be no charge whatever for the matter printed in the book, that the publication would be illustrated with uniform size halftones of all persons included and that it would be issued at a price of $5 a volume. Big Bookings on "Eve in Exile." Among the recent bookings on "Eve in Exile," which have been received by the American Film Company's sales department at Chicago are the Colonial Theatre in Detroit, a seven days' run; the America at Colorado Springs, three days' run ; Marcy Theatre, Brooklyn, N. Y., two days; Knickerbocker Theatre at Cleveland, Ohio, three days; Liberty Theatre, New Orleans, six days; Hippodrome at Toledo, seven days; the Majestic at Appleton, Wisconsin; the Rex at Racine; Thalia, States, Vista, Avon and Parkway at Chicago; Rivoli at Columbia, S. C. ; Victoria at Wilmington, N. C. ; Majestic at Sheboygan, Wis.; the Royal at Green Bay, Wis.; the Palace at Cedar Rapids, Iowa; the Rex at Pocatello, Idaho, and the Alhambra at Ogden, Utah.