THE OFFICIAL ORGANOF THEB.Bcs
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Radio Times, FebruaryTHE MAGIC6th, 1925.OF THE MICROPHONE. ByP. P. ECKERSLEY. eed 1 imi Perea (a tLarh a Pothin er}ie pecan TS AoAi?Le Lat b8 -Sra See BF Seal THE OFFICIAL ORGANOF THEB.B cS Regieberead wt bil Vol 6 No. 72 . lens ‘a a Sewa_—| EVERY FRIDAY. OFFICIAL The Religion ‘Thatis.is, Broadcast. PROGRAMMES AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. OF OUNSELS of caution are rarely able and sympathetic spirit. It is not THE BRITISH lacking when a pubhc organization presented as an added accomplishment, adopts 2 definite constructive policy but a5 an integral part of hfe, born ol | BROADCASTING on matters commonly associated with need,” controversy. We decided at the i fr at ai beginning to give religion a permanent Given these basic ideas, we are not COMPANY. place in our programmes. There were concerned with doctrine. Normally there those who resented this attitude on are no transmissions during church hours. For the week commencing the ground that our legitimate function This rule is rarely broken, and then only SUNDAY, _February8th. was entertainment and that religious when a complete religious service is being teaching was certainly not a form of broadcast. There are two hours of MAIN STATIONS. entertainment. There were those who specially chosen music on Sunday after- foretold serious trouble in striking an even noons. Then in the evening at 8 or 8.30 LONDON, CARDIFF, ABERDEEN, GLAS- balance between the various accepted a short religious service is sent out from GOW, BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER, forms of religion. There were others again all studios. Familiar hymns: or metrical BOURNEMOUTH, NEWCASTLE, who saw in our decision the death-blowto psalms are sung. Usually there is an BELFAST the already .declining habit of church anthem, and a fifteen minutes’ address, attendance, * * ¢ a HIGH-POWER STATION. me * 4 TF Each station has the benefit of the (Chelmsford) Two years of experienc¢ would seem to advice of a Committee of clergymen prove that our policy is right, and that representative of all the larger denomina- were unfounded. tions. It i worthy of note that the RELAY STATIONS. the fears of early critics There was an advantage perhaps in the Roman Catholics are represented on most SHEFFIELD, PLYMOUTH, EDINBURGH, fact that our conception of the religion of of these Committees. About once a LIVERPOOL, LEEDS — BRADFORD, broadcasting was-more the product of the month a complete church Service is taken HULL, NOTTINGHAM, STOKE-ON- lay mind than that of the ecclesiastic or instead of che ordinary studio service, To convey atmosphere, nothing is missed, TRENT, DUNDEE, SWANSEA theologian. We began from the simple premise that to the average man and from the ringing of the belis to the Bene- woman religion satisfies an important diction. The monthly broadcast services SPECIAL CONTENTS : need, We were not content with ethics are usually held after the ordinary evening WHICH 1S THE MOST POPULAR SONG? or universalism. To influence conduct, service, and are specially framed in con- and raise the standard of citizenship, the sultation with us. Lg * am = DO YOU BROADCAST? religion of broadcasting had to be definite Rules for the Amateur Transmitter. and concrete. It had to embody a robust Our correspondence leaves no room for doubt that the distinctive character of WIRELESS AND WILD WEATHER. and generous faith. Our aim was to com- municate “a thorough-gomg, optimustic, Sunday programmes is Widely appreciated OFFICIAL NEWS AND)VIEWS. and manlyreligion . lt does not and welcomed. The exclusion of doctrinal present the Almightyiin the guise of what controversy’ has silenced ‘theological LISTENERS’ LETTERS. criticiem. here are stiilsome whothink we has been described’ as a lawyer's God CONTINENTAL BROADCASTING. policing His wniverse, but asa companion- (Continual overleaf in column 3.) 1 a) RADIOKelson eoBe {Fuanvany 6rn, 1925, The Relieson That is Becadeast: Whichi1S's the Most Popular Song? Continnsd from (Ag “prewegita, gee. | keep people away from church, But what evi- dence there is pulnts to an oppoeite conclusidu. A Problem for Music Lovers. By A. B. Cooper. There is aleo good reason to believe that our ys the question “ Which is the most popular they will sing * Land of Hope and-Glory.” Tat strvices stimulate religious thought. - = = L4 . song f°’ thera would he many different itwill never be sang very familiarly. [It has all the esi. replies, aa perhaps most people would declare elements of immortality, bot not of wide When the Rev. H. BR. OL. Sheppard, of St. it was inwpossible to-say: yet that very difficulty popularity. Martin-in-the-Fields, asked listenera to meet cece MHkes the discussion of this question ail the It would appear to require a special brard him in the Albert Hall on a certain date, that “2, “*, more interesting. Of all the songs that the and blend of qualities to constitute a song great building waa filled to overflowing: More- ron oer** necple sing, which ia best beloved, oftencat Which has in it immortality and popularity over, broadcasting has brought the message of a.” 3 “es, heard, most widely known ? combined. There are-songs which are immortal religion to many thousands of men and women =" We raat confine iurmclves, naturally, to which have never been widely popular, such os who, otherwise, might never have felt its cn- .., Songs riching and purifying inf renee sung by the Engtishepeaking peoples, “ Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes” aad ik i és a “ . whitten, as to ther words, in the English tongua, “Go Where Glory Waits Thee,” and many of 7 and this restriction just a8 naturally brings to the great songs of Shakespeare, but there are Most of the various church authorities have ++«+ the fore the various mational anthems and others, whieh inherently have not half their been quick to realize the value of the new patriotic songs which are, undoubtedly, very worth, which will not only live for ever, but be medium, Bishops of the Church of England, wilely sung, and, in some cases, fervently loved always, Roman Catholic, Nonconformists, and the loved, hic Rabbi have all spoken from the London A Touch of Tragely. studio during the past year. The broadcasting More Hanourei Than Loved. But there are songs which both aa literatore of such great religious mectings as. thoze of T suppose “ God-Save the King” is os well and in their musical setting seem: to achieve a Gipsy Smith at the Albert Hall has tncreased the andienoe from thousands to millions, ancl known aa to ita liret verse and ite tone os any: donhle claim to immortality and popularity. In thing of ite kind in existence, and ia played and Scotland Burns achieved this double victory has not diminished the number of those attend- ing the services.. For the bed-ridden—the aged Sung as often as any other piece of music im with “Ye: Banks and’ Braes": “ Monk" an] the steck—the broadcast services lave heen existense, For that very Peasgon one does net Lewis cehieved the feat with “On the exactly love it, even if one can be sail rather an inestimable boon. Banks of Allan Water," and it will be neted is #‘ * fo respect amd-honour it. Ite univeraal nse does instantly that these two songs, one by the bot mean an equal popularity and affection for greatest of Scotemen, the other by ao. rather Nearly all the religions. journals- are. en- the song itgell, apart from ita official assocta- commonplace Englishman, achieve. their end thusiastic supporters of our Sunday programmes, tions, by very similar means. ‘There is in both songs The Charch of Exglamt Newpaper devotes the front page of « recent iseue to an appretialive As for the Scot, although his patriotism ts A tonch of tragedy, a wistfulness of centiment, review of Mr. Reitha book, After declaring not to be doubted for a moment, no one supposra a reminder of the ever-recurring sodneeses of that he would rather sing etther God Save life. That is why Shelley said a profound and that “the Churches posseas a priceless asset in the goodwill and co-operation of the B.B.C,,* ihe King” or “ Rule, Britannia!” than“ The tleeply authentic thing when he told ws that the Editor remarks that ** ia abaord to sigirent Campbells Are Coming,” or “Scots Wha Hae,” our Bweetest songe are those that tell of or “ Bonnie Dundee,’ of “The Cock. o tho saddest thought." that churcheoers will eorrender ther habits of North.” Ewen if be wished to express his attendance for what is obviously a poor sub- highest patriotic fervour, however; be might Akin to Tears. ttitute.s’ But he wants more. He sugpests the formation of a aociely, and the cetablish- not choose any of these, but would more probably Take “Home, Sweet Home,” for instance, ment of a special fund to improve our Sunday turn his thoughts and his voice to “Tho Blue Who will deny thatit is a cud song t Although programmes, particularly on the musical side. Bells of Scotland" or “ The Lando the Leal,” it seta out to be-cheerinl, it ends with a sob, and it is always akin to tears. Even * Annie While we are unable to adopt the suggestion of asociety and a fund, we are none the less gratefil Reachmg the Nation’s Heart. Laurie” seems to have in it “tears from for such splendid encouragement. And why? -Beeause it may be confidently the depth of some divine despair.” It seems ih CJ J c lnid down that no sing which simply and to contain the seeds of perting even in Unfortunately, there are still some ‘church solely voices the spirit of patriatism, of pride of meeting, organizations that will have nothing to do race, or appeals only to the fighting instinct, The same can be said of “ Auld Lang Syne," with broadeacting, St.