, 1873-09-01
SuNpAY.CONCERTS.

10 tho Editor qf Tae Chicago Tribune:
Bin: Tho Lincoln Park Commissioners havo |
lntoly beon requested to sanction q serios Of |
Sunday concerts, which woro to bo arranged
mainly by Bonao Of cur German fellow-cttizenn,
and to;bo hold at Lincoln Park, for tho benefit |
Of tho n,asseB Of the population. Tho Commits
Bionors hayo rofusod to grant my such per-
mission, md We shall have to contont onraolvoa
without this change in the mode OF celebrating a
Chicago Sabbath. Legally there cannot bo any
objection to tho action Of tho Commissioners,
tho law authorizing them to uso their discretion
in allowing or prohibiting musical por-
formances within tho limits Of Lincoln
Park. Looking at tho matter from
tho standpoint Of public mo1als and
public Justice, however. cannot accept the de-
oision Of the Commissioners az eitler just or
wise. Tho Commissioners allow conoorts, under
the management Of Prof. Dalatka, on other days,
which leaves us to infor that tho rofunnl to lot
the same gentleman conduct similar music Oh
Sundays originated In the laudablo desire to
ahield tho eaucttty Of the Sabbath from any un-
duo oncroaohment. In this doaire tho Commits
sioners undoubtedly acted from tho bost and
p1rebt motives, and In thor decision tloy will
probably bo sustained by large portion of.o
population. This, howeyor,. does not place their
action beyond rational criticism.
To bo plain aboutit, shink tho Commission.
orB we're greatly mistaken when they judged all
open-air concort Of the first ORDER given in a
bonutiful public park. to be deaecration Of the
Chrstian Babbath. OF oil tho nrte. no ono so dt-
/ teetly snoaks to the human mind, no one 80 in
epiroa the soul or purities and eloyates human
sentiment, Us tile Divine. art OF music The poeta
of al nations and of all ages have glorhcd music
ne1 to the purely hnman feanSe Of gye hs os
ont religious eystoms, with very few exceptions
| only GaYe made music part Of thoir
religious exercises; !; and, in our own city.
in ali our churches. you may this Tory aay neaf
tho Almighty, In unison with tho harmonious
| strains Of Divine music. Is there. then, my
thing irroverent or antl-religioua IN musio9 Can
! what nc doom appropriate IN our houses OF wor-
ship bo doHoozauny among tho beautisH Of na-
ture, under tho great canopy Of Heaven, IL tue
| tompulo built for Himself by the hand Of God
No, sir; shall noyor be made to understand the
| sin in listening to exquisite music on sunday
afternoon; and, in fact, cannot think Of . moro
appropriate way Of spending one'B Sunday le!s-
uro than by attending good concert tn public
park. by the prohibition Of snoh concerts tho
Commissioners hnro done nothing to aid tho
| cauBe Of tho Christian Sabbath.
But have another objection to mako to their
decision. Tho decision Ia an unjust dlsorlmina-
tion in favor Of the rich and against tho poor.
Tho laboring olaaseB cannot attend tho Saturday
50 popat snonF ra our u ase
days pay. Yet they aro the ones upon
whom the elovating Influence Of art should
ho chiefly directed. They have no
dny left for their recreation, or their mentn3 mon
you not allow them to employ Sunday towards
thoso purposcs7 You complain about their fro.
quenting saloons; would you not afford them
Entertainment as vastly superior to- debancher,
aa yirtuo ie to vico7 You boast Of liberty ane
equality would you conf1ne superior education
esthotio improvements. md general culture te
! tho Privileged fow, excluding tho labor,ne
many? Would you create wider chaBm oe
| +wonn the mannvnd nriHtOCr0cV AIT
, tasteB Of lhe former towards tho beauties Q
art aud condemning tho latter to perpootna OBJ
security and yngasyf asip ano" Inc Inc A'rGn1 th;n
Tint the German gentlemen who hayc interested
, themselves in behalf Of sunday-concerts are en-
itlod to the gratitude OF the people, unless au
. Themselves at war against Tontonsrn. tho
would have us believe that "Nothing good cal
, como from Nazareth"
t Let US think Of tho poor and the lowly amonl
| uB. Let us remember that they arc, in q moas
uro, intruAtod to our care. Let 1t be our aim t
!, make thom bottor, visor and nobler, II we eau
I and, If We can do 1t on tho Sabbath, lot us re
oioo at the opportunity Of SO VEL se temn.oyln
practical religion is what we want. and practtof
y religion means TOLERANCE and CHARITY. As
r matter of sympathy for tho laborng 1nasses,
i proclaim myself an advocate Of Sunday concert
at tho Pu0llc pafA anu. ID t1ln ARnt, !ouoll
mend this question to the consideration Of thoE
j. OF my fellow-citizens who have hitherto sternl
refused to let their poorer brethren listen to ait
i full music on Sabbath day. Lot I'LL Of tho:
. who do not think themselves infal'iblo, and VIII
Q in their houses Of worship to-day will enlaayt
v to become better, wiser. and more charitab
J. men, devote small portion Of tho Sabbath
il reflection upon tho subjeot Of Sunday. concert
ruling spirit Of tho Christian religion. so beaut
Q fully Expressed by the great Apostle paul, G.
: rinthiann l., 1i and q: "1rhough I spou
u with the tongues Of mon and Of angels, ar
d have not charity, am become as sounding bra
n or q tinklipg oymbal; and, though T have +
n gilt OF prophecy. ana undorstaau al n}yaso.t
d and oil knowledge, and though I have oil fait
II so that could remove mountains, and have nj
j. charity, I am NOTHING"
n An AMERICAN CITIZEN.