THE GNAT AND THE CAMEL.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 94, 22 April 1911, Page 9

THE GNAT AND THE CAMEL.

TO THE EDITOB. Sir, — It is a curious thiny that the first protest against kinematograph films should bo a religious objection. And it is more curious that this religious objection, should lie not against seamy scenes such as work moral mischief, but against aa ordinary fact of history. The objection against tho St. 'Bartholomew film on tlie ground of realism, culminating in a thud to represent tho fall of Admiral Coligny, is quaint, seeing that suoh representations of battle scenery, specially South African, have been common. The real cause of tho objection is, of course, religious. And though the fact of the massacre and tha treachery of it are frankly admitted by, Catholics liko Lord Acton, it were certainly well to respect religious prejudice, and to avoid rousing religious rancour- on such occasions. It ie, however, an evil sign when objections arc levied by the religiously sensitive against a representa-* .lion of an 'ancient occurrence, while no-. thing is said concerning sexual films thai; are oa or over the marginal lino o£ decency, and which constantly appear. In Palmer6fcon North tho municipal authorities regard thomseK-os as responsible for the character of -the filing shown in their city hall. Tho Becretory has shown ni3 lilms rejected on the ground of indecency by himself as city censor. In our halla 'wo have no center. We ought to havo one. With tivalry keen betweon tho differont theatres the temptation to draw by the use of questionable films will become more and more acute. In tlie interestof the proprietors and of tho general, public this matter should be seen to Those who are inclined to etrain at thi gnat of St. Bartholomew must see to ifc that they do not swallow the camel o£ Benßuality. — I am, etc., .Wellington, 17th Aprils 19U, X%L ' 1