The Portland daily press., 1891-07-06
PULPIT AND PLATFORM.
Sermon by the Rev. Mr.. Hughes on
SUNDAY Concerts.

Sunday Concerts.
Rev. MIR. Hughes of Chestnut Street Church
spoke last evening on the sanctity of the Sab
bath, taking for his text the following pas
sage:
IL thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath,
from doing thy pleasure on my holy day. and call
the Sabbath a delight the holy Of the Lord, hon
orable; and shalt honor him. not doing thine own
ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speak
Ing thide own words, etc.
He said: We all believe in the Sabbalaa
day. Few openly advocate the abolishmeh'
OF the day. A man who does that prociainS
himself the enemy of our humanity, anu one
engaged in the endeavor to wreSS iioni .ne
toiler his rest, from the ChriS1'"n MS eeisht,
and from God His glory MOI uo ho' want
all days to be alike. Dut asieo 'hat the SAD
hoth Il iov ana a blessing; that it Is a
nrec,ons Gift from God to man; that God, the
qiver has the royal right to say how how it
shall be observed, and will bless individuals
and communities as they hold sacred the
day upon which He has placed His seal.
Inc Immediate occasion of our sermon is
the knowledge OF growing laxity in regard
to Sabbath observance. With such feeling,
he who has been placed as a Waterman on
the towers of Zion can only hold his peace at
the price of unfaithfulness. The subject re-
celves additional interest from movement
originating from most unexpected quarter,
even in our city government, which has for
its object the subversion of the day into
public holiday, with the city furnishing the
amusements. The proposition comes from
the committee on band concerts. They pro-
pose to give these concerts on Sunday after
noon In Deering Oaks. The reasons for this
surprising movement, as given me by the
chairman of that committee we're two:
Ito keep many of our people away from
the island resorts on Sunday, and
20 give pleasure to those who had few
pleasures in the week.
Let me speak of these separately. 1t is
thought that an entertainment given by the
city will affect the inducements of the island
cease desecrating the Sabbath by excursions
to the islands. am glad that those In auth
Ority see the necessity of preventing the Sun
day exodus from the city. | am glad that
matter. 1t shows that they have the inter
ests of the city at heart and are willing to do
something to prevent this dissertation.
want to give honor to the committee for see
ing this necessity and for showing a desire
to do something as a remedy. Here we can
join hands in hearty accord.
But would respectfully ask il our city of
Portland is justified in breaking the Sabbath
to attain that end? Is Sabbath dissertation
any more to be condemned on the islands
than 10 the city? Is it any more to be de-
plored and condemned when carried on by
private individuals or corporations than by
city corporation? Portland would not give
a professional concert a Sunday license. Is
she at liberty to do that which she would
prohibit in others? Do we want even mod
flied type of island Sunday in our city? Do
we want to see our city the general manager
OF Sunday amusement company?
But waving that, as some may not agree
with me. let Inc repeat that l am glad that
the committee recognize the evil and the ne
cessity of remedy for Sabbath dissertation.
And l would suggest that there is no neces-
sity for them to coax the people away from
the islands by band concerts. They need
not resort to melodious suasion. There are
laws which ). if properly enforced will
sions which now leave our
wharves. l appeal to them now as those
who have recognized this necessity; as those
already contemplating one mistaken remedy;
confidence and suffrage of our people; and
as those who have taken solemn oath to
enforce our laws, to proceed lawfully to pre-
vent this recognized evil. Do not make an
unnecessary remedy as offensive as the
disease 1t is designed to cure.
Pleasure Is the other reason urged In favor
of the band concerts. l have only to let fall
the weight OF my text upon that argument
and 1t is crushed into a shapeless. pulpy
MACS, If the Bible has any hold upon the one
who uses this argument. But say some,
"These people do not go to church." Sup
pose they don't. Is the city government
obliged to amuse everyone who stays away
from church,
Bible says, The Sabbath was made for man
and not man for the Sabbath?'" True that
is, but give us the whole passage. Do not
tear Scripture into tatters This is it: 1.-THE
Sabbath was made for man and not man for
Lord also Of the Sabbath" Is there any
license in that for amusements that would
reduce the Sabbath Of the Lord to the level
OF common holiday?
But some one will say, "These are sacred
concerts. There will be sacred music on the
programme. You surely cannot object to
that" Yes do. And l may frankly and
positively state that the concerts will not be
sacred concerts" What is 1t makes any
thing (music, for examplel. sacred? There is
no moral or spiritual quality in music simply
considered Music Is simply succession or
combination of sounds agreeable to the ear.
You do not hear selection rendered and
say, That was very moral piece Of music"
Nor another and say, That air Is positively
wicked" Nor do you designate one as being
spiritual or another as indecent. That which
makes such things sacred is the uses to
which it is put or the associations that clus-
fer around them.
Just here | want TO record my protest
against the slurs that have incidentally been
directed against the various choirs of this
city. 1t has been gratuitously claimed that
their music was on par with that
to be given at the band concert. 1t is un-
just The music of our choirs.is sacred mu-~
Sic 1t is rendered in sacred place. All
its associations are sacred. 1t is rendered
for the purpose of worship, and the uplift-
ing of the souls of men In praise to God. Its
uses and associations make 1t sacred. and
any iDsinuation to the contrary Is unjust to
those who add In no small degree to the
pleasure and profit of our worship.
Mr. Hughes further argued the that giving
of the concerts with view to keeping people
at home was merely choosing between evils,
against which he protested; that at the hour
selected many who helped pay for the con-
certs could not attend them, and were thus
unfairly treated, and that the course of the
city authorities would set up an opposition
TO religious influences. The speaker also
pointed out that these concerts would be a
violation of the statutes.
Congress Street Methodist Church.
AT the close Of the sermon yesterday after
noon at C0nprnSg street Mathndist Eniscnnal