The Optical Magic Lantern Journal (July 1895)

The Optical Magic Lantern Journal and Photographic Enlarger. 11l turning on the collar (c). This having been Mone nothing further remains but to put ‘two small screws'(p) and (k) into the lower part -of the nut so as to project below (c). It follows ‘then, that by turning the nut (8) the whole jet ‘will be raised or lowered as desired. The usual «clamping nut (F) on the jet suffices to prevent Side movement. +O :—— ‘illustrated Sermons in America. By Hucr Garespy. { Have been somewhat behind in keeping up with the times with regard to lantern matters, ‘for Ihave been travelling forsome time past in the United States, but now, having returned and ‘received the missing numbers of the valuable magazine, Tue Optica, Maaic Lantern JournaL, I find that the contents are so voluminous that it will take me some time to digest them. I think it was in the last number that I had ‘the pleasure of reading that the editor had -something or other to say about the lanterns in churches in this country. Here they seem to “arrange matters in a quiet, unassuming way, but in America there is a certain amount of dash about them, at least in the particular church that I attended. Hereit would appear that the ‘Slides to illustrate sermons are made and supplied by firms to an extent devoted to the pur“pose, but there, where there are £0 many amateur photographers, even including the ministers ‘themselves, matters are arranged on a different ‘scale, in fact I may say in a bold manner. In one church in particular, the lanternist -was almost as important an officer as the ‘minister himseif. The lanternist controlled the -entire lighting arrangement of the church from his gallery, where he and the lantern were stationed. This gallery was in communication with the pulpit with electric bell and also telephone. The screen was not a large one, but -still, was sufficiently large to enable the projected view to be plainly seen, the small size -of the disc being compensated for by the brightness of the light confined to the small area, A ‘touch of the bell and the operator lowers the light and projects the desired picture. I may -here say that the reason of my being in the know, was, that I got introduced to the operator, and was invited to be present with him in his little gallery. The particular views illustrated on this occasion were, he informed me, commercial slides supplied by a well-known firm of lantern and slide dealers in Chicago, and the life models were all taken by either the minister or his son. As far as my memory carries me, the parson himself posed in suitable pose, and garbed in suitable garb, represented some good man. His wife, daughters, and sons also figured largely in the tableaux vivant looking sort of groups. Possibly he had conscientious scruples about allowing any of his own family to appear as the devil, for this personification, I was informed, was represented by his manservant or butler, and I must admit that, dressed as he was, he madea very good devil, complete in every respect, including tail and pitchfork. One thing, however, was very noticeable, and that was that in the life model slides the minister’s family represented the good and shining lights mentioned in the Bible, and that all the questionable characters where either photographs of his friends or his servants. I need hardly say that the attendances at this church were very large, consequently the collections must have been somewhat on the same scale, especially as a special device with a floral design reminded us that “The usual collection will now be taken.” Personally, I make no comment upon the above with the exception of saying that we in England have not yet arrived at such the reader can insert either the word perfection or imperfection. ———. 0. —— Politics and the Lantern. By Tae Muprarx. Ir is quite evident that no election can take place now without the lantern being called into requisition to enlighten the electors by some means or other. During the last County Council election it was largely used all over London, and many candidates turned lantern lecturers for the first time, and endeavoured to strengthen their arguments as to the work the Council had done for the people by slides of the parks, slums, improvements, drainage works, fire brigade stations, and the various projects either contemplated or which the late Council had in hand; also by special diagram slides showing the attendances of members, cost of schemes, etc., etc. These were shown for the most part in halls or schoolrooms in the usual orthodox manner, and as it was known before hand when ; the election would take place, ample time was given to prepare the lecture and get the slides ready ; but at the recent Parliamentary contest