A Picture Travesty.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1914, Page 5

A Picture Travesty.

FROM MANGER TO CROSS. DENOUNCED BY A BAPTIST. [Peh Press Association.] Auckland, February 2.3. Preaching in the Me. Eden baptist Church yesterday, the Bev. Howard Elliott referred to the ever-increas-ing popularity of picture entertainments and to Auckland „ annual expenditure on pictures, estimated to he £'78,000 per annum. He said rigid censorship was necessary. The preacher then proceeded to deal with the film recently shown in Auckland entitled “From Manger to Cross,” and purporting to depict the life of Christ. Keligious pictures of the right type, such as those l»y Anna Lee Merrill, Harold Coping and other modern artists. were reverent and beautiful, he said, hut the production of moving pictures such as the one in question were repugnant to the last degree, and approached near to blasphemy. It could not he denied that portions of the film were beautiful and reverent, notably those dealing with the birth and childhood of Christ. Other scenes, however, were open to serious objection, and he enumerated these. The scenes in Pilate’s hall were coarse, and those dealing with the Crucifixion were revolting. Many people had spoken to him on the subject of this film, and he had received numerous letters. He (the speaker) had been particular to ascertain the impression made on the minds of children who had seen this film, and tile opinion was almost unanimous that it was cruel and horrible. That the life of Jesus, with all its high ideals, its tender beauty and sacked significance, should he travested in this fashion find hawked round the world in a vulgar set of pictures for the sake of dividends, was a caustic commentary on the money-making spirit of the ago. It deserved the severest condemnation of all Christian people, who would shortly have to consider the question of their attitude towards picture-shows unless strong reforms were immediately undertaken.