CHANGING METHODS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1923, Page 4

CHANGING METHODS.

AY IR ELESS AND PICTURES. SYDNEY. April 12. In a variety of ways the churches arc showing that they share, or are the victims of, the modern thirst for "something now.” Either the message of the Church, or its methods of conveying it, has lost the old power to attract, and, in the belief that it is merely that people, have grown tired ol the mediaeval atmosphere about things Ecclesiastical that is responsible for so manv empty pews, some churchmen are heating about for spices of novelty with which to flavour the old, old story. Iltii nothing quite so daring in Ibis direction has been witnessed before ns two innovations one m Sydney ami the other in Melhotirm—which were introduced last Sunday. In the latter city the Rev R. G. Nichols has not contented himself with following in the footsteps of a few progressive brethren by introducing a very mild cinema,ograph production: lie has "plunged," so to speak, by screening straight oil a fielm with an arresting title—“My Friend the Devil,” to wit—and the story has a pronounced human interest flavour about it. Church-goers have already gazed upon missionary work in New Guinea and even a familiar Bible story or two to sustain their interest in their religious exercises, hut at Mr Nichols's Church, Ft .Mark’s, P itzrov, a suburb of .Melbourne —the story is of more pungent stuff. The congregation is introduced to a doctor who is an atiiiest, and good advantage is taken of the opportunities for dramatic portrayal that such a state of mind offers when overwhelming trouble.' tall upon the head of the disbeliever. H is certainly what the "movie” hills would define as a "gripping" story. Of course, eventually the hapless doc-

tor comes to see tiic error ol hi.- views, and thus, while the interest is sustained, a silent sermon is preached. In introducing the him privately hoi ore a party ot clergymen ami church winder- ii few days ago. Mr Nichols remarked : "1 challenge the most eloquent man in Melbourne to produce in a sermon the me-sage which that him coneys." He added that the whole trouble with, the church was that it was trjing to iit old garments on a new generation whom they would not fit. They were expci imenting at St Mark’s in the fashioning of new garments. He had hcui wonderfully impressed with the possibilities of the motion picture h.r good, lb re was one of the greatest inventions of the twentieth centurr.v. one that religion and education were too slow in recognise. It was for the church, instead ol sitting on a lcncc. or damaging pictures iiccause ol some evils in them, to got behind them and suiu-tilv them. Air Nichols declared that the film used at present, although o| great value, were not made for religious purposes. The Church had some difficulty to exclude 1 lie undesirable p.utioiis. They must rouse the imagination o! men with capital lo Lack the church in producing if' own pictures. liccause pictures were certainly going id enter Hie < hureh some day. The Rev D. E. Brandi’s innovation til Chalmers ( hureh ( Rresbyterian> in ■Sidney, w a-. Ic-.-, sensational: hill ,i'M as much a i om-e-sion to I lie lit tog and was the more notable because ho is an ex-moderator ol the i’lesb;, - lerian As-embly. <lru<*k by Iho possibilities of lie daily "bt eadeasl ing” of news, and conceits by wireless u-le-pbw a, ! o arrangm! wii 0 U " o; gang cr- I.f the service for the nppn ra tu " in be <1! to,| into hi ( TuH'oh, and bull.ill an ho'ii on Puiidav irghl hum! red- (.1 amateur- whose nightly recreation comes through trucklesspace, were treated to a theological discourse, e-im.daily suited lo the novelty of tiii.‘ occasion.