The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-07-13
PASTORS PREACH ON SUNDAY CONCERTS
Rev. Or. Fem Cannot see Any Rea-
son for the Innovation.
Rev. DR.. cymer Says Some Kind
Words on the Subject.
Rev. Or. IngaiIs's Able Sermon on
Another Topic.

Last evening, DIR. Fem, pastor of the High
| street church, preached a sermon on the
Sunday band concert question, treating it as
he said, on the basis of his own personal
| opinion and in a spirit of charity and fair
ness. His text was, Rev. l., 10: 81 was In
| the spirit on the Lords Day" I'VE have
every reason to believe" he said, "that
Christians received the Sabbath from God,
and that 1t is positive institution. When
the Christian Sabbath was originated 1t
stood for definite purpose, and we believe
that, allowing for the change in the spirit of
the times. 1t stands for that same purpose
| now. We believe that the institution was
instituted TO confer a benefit, and that the
same demand for 1t exists today. And l be-
lieve that it is wise to observe 1t. 1t is the
| most precious bulwark Of civilization. 1t
proved Of advantage to our fathers. and has
proved so to us. 1t is grounded on need Of
human nature, and is thus as much a COM
mandment as any written in the Bible.
"The Sabbath lies at the foundation of the
churches, and is the health of all Christian
institutions, and we should carefully OBJ
serve the distinction between it and other
days. 1t is a vital matter for us to do so.
We have only to consider how life would be
with no change between Sunday and other
days, to see that it is, and will be, necessi-
ty forever. Sunday comes as the commemo-
ration of the resurrection of Christ and
should be observed as a continuation of
Easter throughout the year."
Passing then to the question of the band
concerts. Mr.. Fem repeated his opening
etatement that what he said he said only for
himself, and was alone responsible for his
words. II am" he said, deeply grieved
that sneh suggestion has been made,-of
invading the Sabbath l am grieved In the
first place because can discover no possible
asslgnable reason for 1t. In other cities
where the people have desired TO have mu-
senms and Libraries opened on the Lords
day monster petitions have been sent in to
to the city government for or against the
measures, bearing as many as $4,000 names
In some cases. / have asked earnestly and
Inquired diligently but have failed to hear
tnat any petitions have been pressed upon
the Portland city government for the further
ance OF this measure. l can understand how
certain things should be done for the poor
people who have so little sunshine and plea
sure; l can see why parks should be devised
Dy phllanthropic citizens and then set apart
0y the city government. But when II comes
TO the city government OF Its own instance
setting about great change (as, so far as l
know, they did in this instance), without
Il
stand 1t. 1t Is scarcely warrantable There
may be people who need these concerts, but
l say, let them first come up before the city
government and ask for them"
DIR. Fem then described at some length
the foreign population of some of the cites,
and explained how they, having always been
used to the continental Sabbath, felt some
reason for demanding such diversions on
our Lords day. but" said he, .,is there
are stepped in music from their childhood
up, and must have it. but have we any Ger
man population here? Are we such artists
and critics that we must have public con-
certs, and those on the Sabbath? Is 1t not
strange, then. that without any such people
here, we should have all of these things
thrust upon us without the asking?
1T is not the duty Of you gentlemen of the
city government to begin experimenting, and
to institute reforms. The pulpit and plat
form and the press should do that. 1t Is
scarcely dec0r0us to think that such a meas
ure should be introduced by you, when $50
ias,ssoS lar as we know nobody stood behind and
DR.. Fem next took up the legal phase of
the matter, and gave 1t as his firm belief
that the proposed concerts came fully under
the theHlS OLD colonial Sunday law, and that al
had fallen into disuse. it was still in
force, and should be enforced. He paused
Tor moment in his main argument
40 ips. PCins H. s9S S9t other laws. as those
unenforced, yet" he asked, "does the fact
tnat the law itself has fallen into disuse ius-
tify lleentious disregard of its spiritP"
Inc genllemen who are set in official places
10 pc cqstodians of the public morals and the
pubic laws, should not speculate upon
changes In the public mind, and deciding
how far they have gone say that because
they nave less need of policemen to regulate
tne observance OF the Sabbath, therefore the
old Sabbath law no longer holds place In
the public esteem. 1t does seem strange
tnat the very people who should be pom
slDle for the preservation of law and order
are the aiders and abettOrs in lis violation,
Il care very little" said DIR. Fem. "for
the legal aspects of the case, but | do care
very much for the rights that underlie it,
believe that to live Christians must still be
under the Golden Rule, of doing TO others as
they would have others do to them, and the
maxim OF law that man must not use his
right to injure another mans right, We
have moral rights and sacred scruples, and
should strive to magnify and enlarge them"
The speake.: then instanced several forms of
disturbance of public worship, including
the passage OF the Salvation Army by a
church door with din Of drums and trum-
pets, In which he said common consent would
De given to calling on the police to abate
the nuisance. The case in point he claimed
was exactly parallel "Music," he said, sis
peculiarly aggressive and penetrating, and
the sounds of these concerts would float on
the breezes from the park and would invade
uOuoco w uiotuEU bu6 CdDDdLQ thoughts ana
break up the holy calm Of the day. 1t seems
strange to me" he said, shat men elected to
office to represent all of the people should
undertake to throw frebrands among the
people and stir up religious feuds. / don't
believe" he continued, that the city gov
ernment intended to do this. l think they
acted thoughtlessly and hastily. and really
went further than they intended. They did
not, am sure, want to offend the Christian
Judgment Of the people, and to become ag-
RreSS0TS m0Vlmlnt QuQinat Va
sometimes hear Of Christians forcing their
opinions down peoples throats, but there Is
an intolerance OF liberalism that needs to be
noticed"
Mr.. Fem closed with eounsellng peace
and patience. He said that questions could
never be settled in anger, that large bodies
moved slowly and that Christianity would
undoubtedly triumph In the end
Mayor True was an attentive listener to
the entire sermon.
Or. Clymer on Sunday Observance.
At the Pine street Methodist church, yes-
terday morning, Rev. DIR. j. F. Clymer de-
livered 'Some Kind Words About Sunday
Concerts" He began by expressing his
wish that none but kind words had been
spoken in the current discussion OF the sub
lect, and said he was grieved that vindictiye
feeling and personal abuse had been inciden-
tai to the controversy. When children are
restrained by their parents who see them
drifting towards wrong, they show a spirit
OF rebellion, and it Is childish rebellion for
men OF mature years to deal in slurs and
vindlctive abuse Of those who are working
for the highest interest Of humanity. In
this case, godly men haven't grown angry,
and have cultivated no class feeling or spirit
The preacher said he had done his best to
come down where his fellowmen are. He
believed in rest and recreation. and wished
the working people could have dozen holl-
days year. A Sunday concert may seem
little thing, but big principle is involved.
1t is not the music, but the environments
thereof which are dangerous. A razor Is not
DANGEROUS in itself, but in the hands of a
child 1t is, on account of its environments.
AS small break in a dixie may let In the
ocean, so this little break may admit sea of
corrupt pleasures. He defended the minis
ters who hsve taken part In this discussion.
When he sees anybody going wrong he Is in
terested to prevent 1t. Mr.. Clymer said the
sailor who is placed as lookout may not be
greater man than his fellows, but he is