The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-13
WAG|NG WAR ON
SUNDAY CONCERTS
Reform Attempted at
Sacramento.
CHURCH-GOERS ARE DIVIDED
MANY NOT IN SYMPATHY WITH
THE MOVE.
Rev. Mr.. Mel Of st. Paul's Declares
in Favor of the Sabbath Even
ing Recreation Accorded
the Populace.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SACRAMENTO, June 12.-For a number
of years past one of the chief amusements
OF the public of Sacramento during the
summer months has been the open-air
concerts at the plaza, and the most pop
ular of these concerts have been those
held on Sunday evenings. Now and then
there has been expressed some opposition
TO these concerts on the part of certain
churches, but they were held from year
to year nevertheless. and continued to
grow steadily in public favor Not until
this year has the antagonism assumed
Importance, and there is prospect for
some lively times before music in it's
voluptuous swell again floats through the
plaza palm branches while church bells
are tinkling on the evening breeze
Last night Rev. S. J. Carroll, pastor of
the Sixth-street Methodist Church, deliv-
cred a sermon in which he denounced the
Sunday evening concerts as promoters of
immortality and as inimical TO the
churches. He protested against the ap-
preparation of public funds to aid them
and at the conclusion of his address a
series of resolutions were adopted by the
congregation calling upon the Board of
Trustees to refuse the use of the public
plaza for the concerts.
Stubborn as is the opposition on the part
OF Rev Mr. Carroll and his congregation,
it is not shared apparently by all the
churchgoers of the city. Yesterday a petit
ton was sent to each of the churches for
the signatures of those members who
We're willing to protest against the Sunday
night concerts. st. Pauls Episcopal
Church is one of the largest and most in
ffuential religious organizations in Sacra-
mento. At three separate services yester-
day the rector, Rev c. L. Mel, presented
the petition, remarking that while per-
sonally in favor of the Sunday evening
concerts. he believed that the members
of his congregation should have the OPP
portunity to express their individual
views. AS result of the presentation of
the petition at these three services only
one signature was obtained.
Tonight Rev. G. L. Mel in an interview
in the Bee asserts mis- belief that the Of
ferses of which the opponents of the con-
certs complained could not be regulated
by legislation or by other method than the
exercise of parental authority He asserts
that he has on several occasions, after his
evening service, attended the concerts at
the plaza and found there well-behaved
assemblages of people, who seemed to be
enjoying the music and the fresh air. Rev.
Mr.. Mel gives utterances to these inter-
eSting remarks:
81 do not think that statute law should
ever be substituted for the great law of
freedom of conscience. 1t may be, as
some predict, that this country is becom-
| in a corrupt country, that its people are
becoming an Indifferent, Goddess people
do not share this view, but if it be true it
is not because its papers are printed on
| Sunday; not because it's boats and trains
are not locked in their docks or sheds by
order of the Legislature on Sunday; not
because the workingman is allowed to
| become for a few hours resting man on
Sunday. but because so many Christians
are selfish narrow, little people; because
so many prefer pleasure to duty, and gain
to honor; because many love their
party more than their church, their
church more than Christianity, their per-
sopal opinions more than the truth, and
themselves more than all else besides
"These are the things that corrupt and
rot nation. But the honest labor and
its reward and medicine, the proper,
wholesome recreation Of its citzens-these
are. not the things that corrupt or rot a
nation
A delegation of local clergyman ap-
peared before the City Trustees tonight
and urged that body not to appropriate
money for the Sunday concerts, nor to al
low the use of the Plaza for the purpose.
The board allowed the concert commit
tee to use the Plaza during the summer
months without designating the days,
and appropriated $50 with the provision
that it should be used only for mid
week concerts. This arrangement is
satisfactory to the committee. which ex-
poets to raise enough money by popular
subscription for the Sunday night events.