Moving Picture Shows

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 20, 1916

Moving Picture Shows

In every church and in every community are found earnest Christian men and women who deplore the evil influence attending the exhibition of popular moving pictures. A few days ago fifty-five ministers of Lancaster, Pa., united in a strong appeal to the community to awake to the moral danger threatening young men and women in the attendance at moving picture shows at that place. This appeal states that in investigating the matter in Lancaster, fully fifty per cent of the films pictured marital infidelity and illicit love under the attraction of luxurious clothes and fine homes. An inspector of schools in New York is quoted as saying:—

“The old dime novel and nickel shocker were Sunday school weeklies along side of the stuff that is now projected to appeal to the imagination and the consciences of the unwary. I have no hesitation in saying that the greatest enemy we have to encounter in our educational activity for clean, strong character building is the censored movie. This is my conviction after covering sixty-five schools and discussing the matter with over 22,000 children.”

The Lutheran of March 20, 1916, referring to this appeal, makes the following comment:—

“This plea for decency is directed to the proper source when the pastors appeal to the parents not to permit ‘their children’s idea of love and marriage to be formed by the standards of the underworld or of a decadent society, as they are now being formed through the moving picture shows.’ The hollowness of the claim that the national and State censors have weeded out all that is offensive, and that if crimes are committed, punishment usually follows, is exposed by quoting the State Censorship Board as condemning seventy-five per cent of the films now exhibited as unfit for public exhibition.”

As Seventh-day Adventist parents, we need to sense the dangers on every side which threaten the youth. Perhaps there is no phase of temptation stronger in their lives than that of popular amusements. The enemy through popular attractions today is making a strong bid for the youth throughout the land. Let us be awake to this great danger.