The times., 1899-03-29
CHURCH PEOPLE MAY
APPEAL TO CONGRESS
Local Ministers Aroused
Against Sacred Concerts.
More Complaints Lodged With the
District Commissioners.
Dennnciations VIII He Heard From
Many PuIpits-The Grand
Opera House Yields.

Additional protests were lodged with the
District Commissioners yesterday against
Sunday sacred concerts such as were
given in three local vaudeville houses last
Sunday evening. The ministers of the city,
OF almost every denomination, are in arms
against what they consider a fragrant desc
Grafton Of the day, and no less than nine
have visited Commissioner Ross within
period OF forty-eight hours for the pur-
pose OF expressing their condemnation of
the performances. Rev Luther b. Wilson,
Presiding Elder of the Washington Dis
trict OF the Baltimore Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, accompanied
by several Methodist ministers, visited
the District Building Monday afternoon
and voiced their opposition. Rev. Asa S.
Fishe, pastor of the Gunton Temple Memo
rial Presbyterian Church, called on Com
missioner Ross yesterday Afternoon for the
same purpose. He was accompanied by
four other wellknown Presbyterian di-
vines, all of whom supported DIR. Fiske in
his assertion that such violations Of the
law as Sunday theatricals should be siren
uously resisted by the District authorities.
Commissioner Ross explained to the
ministers that the executive officers of the
District are restricted by the absence of
any law that would seem to reach those
theatre managers. AS the law now stands
a circus might give show here on Sum
day, provided, of course, it did not become
SO noisome as to be considered a public
nuisance. The only law which in any way
approaches what is desired by the church
men of the city is an old blue law, pass
ed by the old Maryland Assembly in the
days of tobacco planting in the colonies.
That law was placed on the statute books
in. 1928
&c jfy at nj ha crTiat
Building that unless the theatre managers
recede from their position and agree TO
close up their theatres efforts will be
mad by prominent and influential church
| leaders TO secure stringent Sunday legis-
lation when Congress meets next winter.
| There seems to be disposition on the part
of many church members and officials TO
| keep up the agitation until the managers
| back down or Congress provides a remedy.
Many preachers viii take up the subject
! next Sunday morning in their pulpits and
/ urge their congregations to express their
disapproval of the Sunday evening enter
| tainment
Increased agitation of the question may
really result in the passage of stringent
Sunday legislation, such as might pre-
vent the hauling of theatrical scenery on
! Sunday. all kinds of charitable and benefi-
( cent entertainments. and labor of all kinds
in the streets, including work on street
railway construction. Major Sylvester in
/ ferred yesterday that such would be the
! case. When asked what, If any, steps
would be taken against the theatres, he
| said:
I'VE are going to put q stop to it,
I'm what way?" he was asked.
We'll, ! cannot say; that would give
the snap away
How long will it take? When do you
expect TO accomplish what you say you
wiIl?"
when Congress convenes." replied the
major.
Managers Burke and Chase have decided
to held more concerts at the Grand
| Opera House. Mr.. Chase. in explaining
the reasons for this change. stated last
night that while Mr.. Burke and himself did
not think that any law had been v.o' ated
by the holding OF Sunday night concerts,
or that wrong had been dcne in any way,
yet they desire to avoid having the name
| of their house mentioned in connection
with other theatres in the city where the
regular weekly bill is performed on Suni day.
| He especially desires to have IL understood
| that this move is not an admission of
| wrong on the part Of Mr.. Burke and him
self. but is intended simply to keep the
name of the Grand out of the discussion
which has recently been inaugurated.