Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-11
oaKxooD PARK.
mai Col. Siaplss Says q H. Psiiliea jor
svadsy ciesiss.

Col. Staples was seen last evening by .
representative of the JOURNAL, and asked
what answer he had to make to the petition
for the Sunday closing of lakewood.
"My purposes and my work in counec-
ton with Oakwood," he said, .have been
from the first subject to no little misrepre-
sentation from few people in the commu-
nifty, who have never taken the pains to
personally ascertain the facts in relation
to the park, but who have, nevertheless,
been very free in their statements concern
ing it.
The petition to the mayor for the closing
of the park upon the Sabbath 10 signed by
four of the l local clergymen, and by the
president of the w. c. T. U. No one Of
them, to my knowledge, has ever visited
the park; yet they assert their belief that
'tbe interests Of public morality and de-
cency' demand its closing upon the Sabbath
day. 1 apprehend J, that the
people of Augusta are just and
that they will desire me to receive fair
treatment. do not think that they will
be particularly impressed by belief con-
corning the park that rests upon so flimsy
basis of personal knowledge. have been for
many years a resident of Augusta and have
endeavored to the best of my ability to ad-
vance its interests in all possible ways.
am perfectly willing to stand comparison
of my efforts to this end with those of the
people who now assume to be my critics.
What particular feature or features of
your Sunday services are objected to-"
"Simply the charging of an admission
fee, as understand it,. Word came to me
from the petitioners, through the mayor and
city marshal, that no objection was made to
my having band concert with sacred music
on Sunday, and that if the gates should be
thrown open to the public the matter
would not be pushed
"But how are you to pay your must
cians?" @F%t YS,{
That's just the question that the
petitioners do not undertake to
solve for me. do not
understand that any of the four clergymen
who signed the petition preach gratuitously,
or that their musicians fail to receive re-
muneration, yet they insist that if sacred
concert and religious services are held at
lakewood l shall defray the expenses out of
my own pocket"
"But do they not expect you to meet
expenses from the voluntary contr ibu-
tons of those present."
b Perhaps, but just think Of it moment.
Where is the church in Augusta that could
meet the expenses Of its music, and its
preaching services from the comparatively
small amounts that are weekly dropped into
its contribution box, coming, too, from
those who from their regular connection
with the society, are under special obliga-
tons to contribute. lakewood has no or
ganized society behind it whose members
make annual contributions to support it.
1t 10 essentially public in its character, and
the audience of one Sabbath is liable to be
entirely dietinct from that of another.
How then could anticipate
contribution box returns so largely in ex-
cess of those received by the established
churches, as to enable me to pay for the
services of a clergyman and band of 10
or Is pieces? think you will agree with
me that the idea is absurd, and that its
adoption would simply mean the discontin-
uance of the concerts or the weekly loss of
considerable sum of money
"But do not your concerts draw people
away from the churches?"
mot at all. have endeavored from the
first to work in harmony with the churches.
My concerts have therefore been held at an
hour when there are no religious services
elsewhere in the city. l believe that very
many people come to Oakwood who would
otherwise hear neither religious services
nor sacred music upon the Sabbath day. 1
cannot bring myself to believe that this ex-'
perience on their part il in any way mimi
cal to the interests of public morals and de-
cency in the city of Augusta"
Have you ever offered the park for
gratuitous Sunday. services?"
81 have used my best efforts since the
park was opened to secure the services of
resident clergymen during the vacation sea-
son, offering to open the gates to the gen.
e:al public free of charge. You will also
remember that having learned that parties
in this city had offered the services of 3
free band, provided band stand could be
furnished, l offered through the columns
of the JOURNAL to provide them, or any
others who were disposed to make q eimi-
lar proposition, free park and free band
stand; but my offer was not accepted"
Have there ever been any disturbances
at your Sunday concerts?"
None whatever. have never had an
audience there that was not - quiet and
orderly as the one you saw today, and al