The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-07-07

holding OF band concerts under the auspices OF
the city government on the Lords Day:
A. X y. Small, w. CORTLAND Robinson,
A. III. Wright, Percy Billings,
j. G.. Merrill, G.. A. Ottmann
II. L. Bayley. e.. /. KERN,
M. s. Hughes, j. +. Clymer,
q. Morton Sills, j. G.. Wilson.
ID. w. LeLacheur, III. A. Nicely,
ID. NJ. Pratt, q. T.. Cate,
w. ii. Fem, j. M. Frost.
Several motions for hearings were made
and it was finally decided to ask for a joint
convention aud give the delegation OF clergy
men who were present chance to be heard
at once.
After assembling In joint convention
Mayor True stated that the convention was
called on account Of a remOnstrance that
had been presented by the clergymen Of the
city and President Strout read the remon-
STRANGE. The Mayor called upon the remon-
strants to address the convention and Rev.
Mr.. Bayley Of State street church spoke sub
stantlally as follows:
ave take 1t for granted that this body de-
sires to do that which shall be for the well
fare OF our city, and that 1t wishes, also, TO
give due consideration to the wishes OF our
citizens. We believe that we represent
very large body Of citizens in our protest;
and also that we seek the highest interests
of the community. The thing proposed Is
the provision Of public entertainment, by
the city and at the city's expense on the
Lords Day. 1t car be nothing else; surely
not q provision Of public worship, or Of reli-
glous exercise; that would be clearly con-
trary TO the spirit Of our Institutions. The
only proper attitude of the civil government
towards religious worship Is that Of permis-
sion and protection. Against this we pro
test. in the name Of a very large number OF
our citizens, and In behalf Of the highest In
terests of the city.
1--WE protest. first. on tie ground that this
would tend to the further secdlariZs;lcn OF
the Sabbath. We DO not desire return Of
the seventies of the Puritan Sabbath. We
are no bigots, nor are we fanatics. We re-
c0gnize the right OF private Judgment as to
the use of the Sabbath, and also a large diff
ference Of opinion among good people as to
the best use OF 1t.
"But, without entering upon any discus
sion OF the general Sabbath question, allow
me to call your attention to two patent facts
which are pertinent here:
"The Christian Sabbath Is recognized in
sttution In America. 1t has standing,
both in law and In the regard and affection
Of the people. 1t may be said to be general
ly recognized and cherished both as a day Of
rest and a day Of religious worship. And
this is notably true in such communities as
our own.
"We are all familiar, by hearsay at least.
with the continental holiday which takes
the place of our American holy day-the
continental Sabbath. And our regard for
the sacred day may we'll be deepened by the
contrast between the two. The seeulariza
tl0n OF the Sabbath on the Continent has
robbed the laborer Of his rest, weakened the
power Of religion as a moral force, degraded
men and cursed communities. 1t Is a nOta-
bic fact that there Is now strong and wide
spread movement in Europe for the REIN
statement of the Sabbath; a movement by
no means confined to those VINO would be
called religious people.
"And, gentlemen, the sober, Thoughtful
people Of this city do not want the continen-
| tai Sunday. They prize the Christian Sab
bath, and desire to preserve 1t for them
selves and their children.
"A second fact. There Is a marked ten
dency already towards secularlzation OF the
American Sabbath. 1t Is perceptible In our
own community as elsewhere. Particulars
need hardly be cited. They abound under
our eyes. Nor can l detain you with even
word as to the deplorable consequences that
lmpend, should we ever lose our American
Sabbath through its becoming like other
days.
81 have adduced these two facts simply as
a basis upon which to urge our first remon-
STRANGE against the proposed Sabbath con-
certs; we believe that they would tend In
eyltaDly to farther seculariZatiOn Of the
Sabbath. And In view Of the regard
In which the day Is held among us.
and the already existing tendency to It's des-
ecration, this tendency Is peril which we
beg you seriously to consider.
1T Is said, there can be no harm In the
rendering and the hearing Of sacred music
IN the park But, gentlemen, that Is not
the whole Of the matter. This will be but a
first step. Who shall decide what Is sacred
music?
And If concert under city auspices, why
not under private?
I'VE protest, secondly. on the ground that
the city government has neither legal nor
moral right to use the public moneys for the
furnishing of amusements on the Sabbath.
And thirdly, we protest on the ground
tnat Such a concert Is violation OF the laws
OF the state. See Revised Statutes, ch. l3l,
sec. 20.
Under this statute the giving Of such a
concert on the Lords Day would be illegal.
1t c0nnot be otherwise II held under the aus
pices Of the CITY,"
No one rising to speak after Mr.. Bayley,
on motion Of Alderman Gallagher the con-
vention dissolved.
In the Common Council, after the joint
convention, the remonstrance came down
from the upper board with an endorsement
calling for public hearing on July 18th, fol-
loved by motion to nOn-:Oncur with the
upper board. Mr. Josselyn moved to amend
by making the date Of the hearing July sth,
but it was voted to concur with the upper
board. Then came an order that the CON-
mlttee on band concerts be instructed to
cancel any arrangements that had been made
for the giving Of Sunday concerts prior to
the hearing to be given the remonstrants
against said concerts This order was dis
cussed, and brought out the statement from
the committee that no time for CIV
| ing band concerts had been appointed.
| by the committee. Mr.. Randall was asked
| il anybody had asked for these band concerts
on Sunday, and he replied, Yes, great
many people had told him they were glad
they were to be given, and they were people
Of as good standing as the clergymen who
had appeared before them The order had a
passage in concurrence.
The aldermen reconsldered their action,
giving the hearing on July 18th. and this ac
tion Of theirs. as far as that board went
killed the order just:passed, and in its stead
they sent down an order that the commit
tee give the Sunday concerts for which they
have arranged" This board declined to
reconsider. Mr.. Josselyn said, and he was
supported In the argument by the poaru,
that the two boards had agreed 70 give
hearing to the remODstrants July l5sn, aho ha
that date Of hearing would be known 70 20 'ho Io
public through the papers, so that Ihoso IA ~
favor could appear. as well as the remon,
strants against them, and both boards nad
passed an order cancelllng Sunday concerts
until that hearing and I was sgpPTsed ,ssS sso
1a mastoi va AZ fair or lust TO 90 back on that
atn actiob Tbey said they might be in favor Of
se1arai Sunday band concerts, but they be-
IieVed in hearing both sides fIst If they
,loted in favor of the concerts afterwards.
The aldermen took the ground that the
nearing had already been had and that Il
consequently did away with the necessity
for any future hearing, and they passel d
resolve that 1t is the sense Of this board that
it is the proper thing for the special commit.
tee on band concerts to give q number OF
concerts on such Sunday afternoons as may
seem suitable to them, ana sent II down, but
| the Common Council considered snch action