The Portland daily press., 1894-06-11
AUGUSTA is EXCITED.
Col. Staples Gave a Sacred Band
Concert,
And Had Minister Deliver a Sermon
Besides-It Scanda1ized the Good People
of Augusta and They Have Warrant
for the Colone1's Arrest 1t Will Be
Served Today.
Especial to the Press.l

Augusta, June 10.-A few years ago Col.
Henry G. Staples, well-to-do real estate
owner in this city, established summer
garden in the southern part of Augusta,
near the Hallowen line. The place is on
the line of the electric railroad that runs
between Augusta and Gardiner, and the
attractions offered by Col. Stales have been
the means of bringing to the parks on Sun
day afternoons, especially large numbers
of the inhabitants of the three cities, Au-
day afternoons band concerts have been
given at the park during the past two sum-
mers.
Occasionally, several of the evangelical
churches of the city, through their pas
tors. have objected to the continuance of
these concerts, on the ground that it was
contrary to the spirit of Christianity, and
was desecration of the Sabbath day. The
Sc ason this year was to begin today.
Saturday night, while a dance was going
on at the park, Mayor Mllliken and City
Marshal Bean waited upon Col. Staples
and told him that they had petition
signed by Rev. E. G. Hayes of the Free
Will Baptist church, Rev. J. M. Wyman of
the First Baptist church, Rev. J. S. Will
hanson of the Congregational church and
Mrs. Eugene S. Fogg, president of the
Young Woman's Christian Temperance
Union. The petition requested the mayor
and city marshal to prohibit Col. Staples
from holding toe band concert, which he
planned for this afternoon; and informed
him that if he persisted in breaking the
law by holding such concert, they would
have him arrested.
Thereupon Col. Staples went to Halo
well and invited Rev. Mr.. Peckham, very
eloquent preacher. to deliver a sermon
during the progress of the band concert.
Mr.. Peckham is interested in the Interna-
tional Interdenominational and Missionary
Evangelist, working in all parts of the
United States and Canada. He formerly
lived in Boston and was arrested in 1885
for preaching on Boston Common on Suh-
day.
AT three O'Clock, the time set for the band
concert, a fair sized audience was present,
despite the fact that the event .had not
been advertised. After Higgins's lockwood
band had given few fine selections, Col.
Staples, in a brief speech, introduced the
speaker of the day, Rev. Mr.. Peckham.
Mr.. Peckham spoke at some length, MAX
were there present.
With the petition came the word of the
mayor and city marshal that they do not
object to having the concert Sunday after
moons if no admission fee is charged. This
Col. Staples refused to do, as he agreed
that if some one would furnish band he
would furnish the band stand and the park
free of charge. Mr.. Staples has been very
kind in allowing the G. A. r., Sons of Vet
Grams, Loyal Temperance Legion, the in
mates of the Hallowell Industrial school
and the Maine Insane hospital free passage
to the park.
The matter has created no end of excite
ment in town. The all-absorbing talk is
Col. Staples and Oakwood park.
1t is quite novelty in Augusta to have
sermon preached by a regularly ordained
minister of the gospel in the open air.
Papers are all made out for the arrest of
Col. Staples for.breaking the peace of the
Sabbath day, and as the arrest can not take
place today. it will the first thing in the
morning.