The Stereopticon and the Motion Picture

J. W. Rich (Huntington Park, Calif.) : I use the stereopticon quite extensively throughout a series of meetings, as I find that people get a more lasting impression of the truth taught when they see it and hear it at the same time. I have had many people say to me that the lesson taught remains in their memory, and they get a better conception of the truth when it is illustrated by the stereopticon. I prefer to have the auditorium in semi­darkness.

J. E. Shultz (Boston, Mass.) : The stereopticon is especially helpful in the song service. An illustrated song service will draw an attendance as nothing else will, and by the selection of songs that are generally known and that have strong spiritual appeal, it is possible to obtain a very gratifying response by the use of the song slides.

A. J. Meirlejohn (Denver, Colo.): I find it is an excellent plan to have texts of Scripture printed on stereop­ticon slides, so the people can read the texts as they are presented in the lec­ture.

Chairman: How many are using ma tion picture machines in connection with evangelistic effort? How? Why? What are the results?

A. J. Meicklejohn: I have not had extensive experience in using the mo­tion picture films, but to my mind, the most satisfactory way to use them is to have one film of about a thousand feet, which will require ten or fifteen minutes to run on the screen. I prefer to use films on health topics. We se­cured from the Battle Creek Sanita­rium two exceptionally good films on tobacco, showing in a very nice way the effect of nicotine on various forms of animal life and the consequences of tobacco smoking. There are many so-called religious films that can be ob­tained, also films on various scientific and industrial subjects. The General Electric Company and the Ford Motor Company put out a good line of scien­tific films. I do not think we should go into the use of films very far, es­pecially those of a religious or scien­tific type; but in teaching health re­form, I believe there is a much wider and very effective field for the film.

A.O. Sage (Fresno, Calif.): I would like to inquire if it is considered out of order to use a film which does not deal with the subject of the evening lecture.

J. W. Rice: I do not think so. We have used motion pictures in connec­tion with a series of meetings as pre­liminary to the service of the evening, and have used a variety of subjects with good effect, such as scenes in Bible lands, or other travel views. We found people coming early to be there when the pictures began, and they would stay all through the preaching service.

L. E. Folkenberg (California Con­ference) : Some years ago I conducted an evangelistic effort in which the mo­tion picture was used as a travelogue to interest and entertain the people. We selected very carefully, and had every film examined before we pre­sented it, but notwithstanding every precaution, we failed to get a single picture that did not present some ob­jectionable feature; and I do not think this is a proper phase of evangelistic work. I found there was serious ob­jection to the use of the pictures, not only by our own church people, but by others also. I believe that the use of such things weakens our cause, and in making use of them we are placing dependence upon the wrong source.

Chairman: Much depends upon the objective which leads to the use of films. There is a higher use for the film than simply as a matter of enter­tainment.

Meade Macguire (Associate Secre­tary, Ministerial Association) : I don't suppose I am entitled to say anything in this meeting on this matter of using stereopticon pictures, motion pictures, or any other kind; but I do wish to say that any picture representing the face of Christ is very repulsive to me. Many times I have shut my eyes to keep from seeing the features por­trayed by the artist to represent the face of Christ, which to me reveals an utter misconception of what I be­lieve Jesus looks like. My conviction is that such pictures do more harm than good, and I have had many people say the same thing to me, after seeing some of the films displayed in connec­tion with our meetings. Many of the popular Bible pictures are so utterly cheap and so misrepresenting, that I cannot believe there is a great deal- of benefit to be derived from looking at them.

C. C. Ellis; (Southern California) : I am sorry that Elder Richards [H. M. S.] is not here to speak for himself; but as his associate in evan­gelistic work, may I say that during the last effort we tried using pictures as a prelude to the sermon, devoting fifteen minutes before the song service to this feature. The plan did not prove to be a real success, although I do not consider it due to the fault of the idea or of the pictures. The reason that Elder Richards prefers using the pic­tures before the sermon, rather than during the sermon, is that his sermons are of such a nature as to end in a personal appeal for yielding the heart to Christ, and it seemed to be out of harmony to use pictures in connection with such a service. It seems to me that the use of pictures is largely a matter of educational value, and that it may be possible to carry their use to such an extent that Christ is left out of the experience. The film has its legitimate place in connection with evangelism, but this place is always decidedly secondary.

G. R. West (Kansas City, Mo.) : Are there any men among us who have found out that they can get along just as well without using pictures, and secure just as good results? I have worked along both lines, but I am curious to know if any of our evan­gelists have reached the conclusion that they can get along without any of this paraphernalia. Personally, I have been deeply impressed with the conviction that we are depending al­together too much on paraphernalia, and altogether too little upon God.

C.B. Haynes (Vice-President for South American Division): I hope that impression will deepen, Brother West. In my evangelistic efforts I have never found it necessary to use pictures of any kind; in fact, I felt that they would be entirely in my way. Now my conclusion in this matter is not based on the belief that the stereopti­con is of no value, but is largely due to the fact that I never took time to learn how to use the stereopticon suc­cessfully. On one occasion I attempted to make use of it, but I then made up my mind that never again would I try it. It got under my feet, and was decidedly an obstacle in my way, serv­ing to divert the attention of the peo­ple. I will confess that I don't know how to use the stereopticon. But I feel quite sure in my own mind that the evangelistic work that I have done has been just as successful without this paraphernalia as it would have been with it.

P.E. Brodersen (President, South­ern California Conference) : Some of us attend these meetings as listeners, but I am wondering if it would be appro­priate to express a reaction to the pictures. Personally, I would much pre­fer to listen to the sermon without having to look at pictures.

N. P. Neilsen (South Brazil Union, S. A.): There was a time when I used pictures in connection with my public efforts, thinking this was necessary in order to draw a crowd. I think they did draw a certain class of people; but I am coming more and more to the conclusion that unless pictures are used very judiciously and carefully, they do more harm than good. The in­fluence of the picture has a tendency to break the connection between speaker and people which is so necessary in order to touch the soul. Instead of pondering on the truth presented, the mind is apt to be absorbed in wonder­ing what the next picture will be.

T. G. Buiccu (Bible Teacher, College of Medical Evangelists) : I have not had any experience in using the stere­opticon. I never got started in using it, and personally I do not like it. When a stereopticon lecture is announced in our church, I do not attend unless I have to be there. I think the stereop­ticon lecture is fifty years out of date. It may be that pictures draw our own Seventh-day Adventist people fairly well, because we are not supposed to attend motion picture shows, but when it comes to attracting the public by that method, I think we are making a mistake by attempting to compete with the world. Many of the people who attend our services consider that the pictures we show are very cheap; and in this they are correct. We cannot in any way compete with the world, except in presenting the glorious mes­sage which we have. We have the start of the world there; we have some­thing that has no competition any­where. If we start to entertain along the picture line, we might as well give up.

I long for the time to come when we will not think we have to use these raethdds to draw a crowd or to hold the interest. I long for that Pente­costal power which drew the crowd to listen to Peter's sermon, and held them spellbound and brought them un­der conviction for sin. These discus­sions which we are finding so inter­esting here at these meetings are all good, but they ought to serve to re­mind us of the fact that we are greatly lacking in power, or we would not seek resort to so many methods for getting hold of the people. The sit­uation which is revealed ought to bring us to our knees to pray for the out­pouring of the Holy Spirit. The Lord can use the most simple means to make impressions and bring the hon­est-hearted to hear us.

J. G. Dasent (Cleveland, Ohio) : I have found the use of the Alm very helpful in drawing the people to the services, and it has been my observa­tion that those who come soon lose their interest in the pictures because of their deep interest in the message they listen to. I like to have people say to me, "We do not care very much about the pictures; we prefer the teach­ing from the word of God." While I am interested in the stereopticon, and believe that it serves to good advan­tage in the song service, yet I have come to believe that the power of the message is a stronger factor than pic­tures.