RELIGIOUS FILM

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 March 1939, Page 9

RELIGIOUS FILM

A MASTERTON SCREENING. The definitely religious film is now an actuality in the Dominion. Underthe direction of the Religious Film Society of England, which is representative of the various Churches there, several very line films have been produced and are already enjoying wellearned popularity in the sphere for which they were intended. Perhaps the forerunner of this work in New Zealand, the Home Mission Department of the Methodist Church in the Dominion, became interested in this new field of religious activity several years ago, and an order was placed for an up-to-date projector and a supply of the new films just then completed. Almost immediately there came the request from the parent body in England that the Methodist Church should become the agent or branch of the Religious Film Society in New Zealand. The Church felt, however, that this opening sphere of activity was too important to be held or directed by any one Church, and so steps were taken to bring other New Zealand Churches into touch, and the result was the setting up of a committee representing practically all the Church life of the Dominion and forming the Religious Film Society of the Dominion.

On Monday night last, a filming of the Religious talkies, with other appropriate education films, took place in the Methodist Church Hall, unuer the direction ■of the Picture Department of the Home Mission Board. A crowded house followed the filming with keen interest, and many expressions were forthcoming of the powerful use being made of the motion picture in this particular direction, and of the fine work of the Department in pioneering this phase of Church work during the last two years.