Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-12
SUNDAY NIGHT ORATORIO,
The Question AfiirmatiVely Decided |
by the CHORAL society Last Night.

At the regular weekly meeting of the
Choral Society last night the question of
holding a concert Sn a Sunday evening
was discussed, ana the recommendation of
the beard of directors favoring such a
course was indorsAd by vote of Il to IL.
oh:te a large proportion Of the society's
membership atssn7ed last nights rehear-
sal in Typographical Hail. as during the
day postal card notification had been re-
ceived by all the members to the effect
that business of vital Importance to the
society would be lad before the meeting.
Owing to the publication in Saturdays Star
that a misunderstanding existed between
the board Of directors and the managers
of Convention Hail over the date agreed
upon for holding the first concert of The
season. it was generally unders God that
the question OF Sunday concerts would be
preached After rehearsing three or four
choruses from the Messiah" the work
now under course of preparation. Director
II. c. Sherman gave place to President VIM.
II. Daniel, who made plain the position of
the board Of directors in the matter.
Mr.. Daniel said: Acting upon an under
standing verbally entered into by the man
agement of Convention Hall with the Cho-
lal Society. the board of managers has
made arrangements for three public con-
certs to be given by the society this sea-
son, and has entsred into contracts with
the soloists for the dates upon which. it
was understood. the oratorios would be
sung. Recently, when an attempt was
made to consummate the agreement for
the rental of the hall. the board was as
tcn.shed to learn that the society could
rot give the concert on the appointed date
unless costly and extensive Improvements
were made to the hall. This the board
considered impracticable Finally, the
hall management refused to give any date
to the society during the Christmas holt
days
Immediately affairs had taken such an
unexpected turn. other resources Were look
ed to. 1t was learned that during holiday
week none of the larger theaters could be
obtained for single night unless the com
pany booked for that time We're bought
off. which would entail an expense of $1,000
upon the society in addition to the usual
amounts for soioists, orchestra, printing.
etc. Other places of amusement Were con-
sidered. bat found unsuited to the purpose,
as they were so small that high rate of
admission would nave to be charged In
order to cover the expenses of the con-
cert.
In fact concluded Mr.. Daniel, after
searching diligently for some way out of
the difficulty and earnestly considering the
whole question in all its phases, the board
OF dtre1.ors can arrive DIT no other con-
clusoii than that the Messiah must be
given Sunday evening at Ole of the the
aters or the Choral Society must suspend
its work for the season.
The issue was sharply defined and pro-
Voked ar animated discussion. Those OPP
posed to Sunday performance had three
nam lines Of arguments, viewing the QueS-
ton from religious, polite and business
points or view. 1t was urged with some
feeling that the religious sense of the COM
munlty would be outraged If a Sunday
evening concert were given; that the So
ciety ought not to lend its influence to
those forces which are seeking to destroy
the American day of rest; md that as 1t
was mainly the religious portion of the
community which supported the public
performances, a successful concert could
not be given on q night when that element
was attending religious worship in the
churches
On the other, hand, it Was Represented
that the oratorio of the Messiah was
Itself a Sacred work. AMI its production
under such conditions as the Choral So
Getty proposed would be en1inently fitting
and proper on Sunday 1t was argued that
1t would be an act of worship to attend the
rendition of sacred oratorio Sunday. and
the influence of its sentiment and inspiring
choruses could not be otherwise than up
lifting. There was cited the example OF
Boston and other northern cities in which
Sunday oratorio was a regular thing. and
brought together the best audiences, and
Washington was said to be way behind the
TIM IS in this particular.
Finally a motion was made that the board
of directors be requested" to ranounce
Their intention of giving the Messiah Sun
day evening, and this motion was defeated
the yeas numbering 46 and the nays II
Several members refrained from voting. 1t
as noticeable that though the gentlemen
we're pretty evenly divided on the question.
the ladies We're largely in favor of Sunday
concerts. and it was they who carried the