The evening times., 1899-04-03
SUNDAY THEATRICALS.
CIergymen Present at the Publ,
Hearing Today.


Hearing Today.
Clergymen and representatives of relig-
ious associations were present in large
number at the public hearing granted by
the District Commissioners at noon today
regarding the question of Sunday theatri-
cal performances. An agreement was
reached verbally in view of the discontinue
ance of Sunday performances to let the
question remain where it is without fur
ther agitation.
The general feeling seemed to be that
il would be better if the desired results
could be obtained without the passage of
a stringent law than with law. 1t was
stated by one of the Commissioners that
the city prided itself upon the fact that,
without any Sunday law at all ii was more
decorous on Sunday than almost any other
city and those present assented to this eX-
preston of opinion.
Those present at the hearing were Rev.
DR.. Teunis S. Hamlin, pastor of the Church
of the Covenant; Rev. G. B. Wheeler, pas
tor of the Seventh Day Adventist Church
of this city, and A. F. BailiEger, who is
conducting series of evangelical services
al that church; Rev J. Fred Hesse. pastor
of Wesley Chapel NJ. E. Church; Rev. w.
c. Alexander, pastor of the West Street
Presbyterian Church; DR.. Daniel McFar-
land: Dr. Lucien Clark, pastor of the
Foundry NJ. z. Church; B. II. Warner. and
others. They were received by Commits
sioners Wight and Ross.
Dr. Clark was the first speaker. He re-
ferred to the fact that public opinion as
expressed in the newspapers had brought
about change of conditions since the re-
quest had been made for the hearing and
that the object desired had already been
attained by the discontinuance of Sunday
concerts in vaudeville theatres He en-
ouired whether il was true that there was
no Sunday law with the exception of those
requiring the closing of barber shops and
the prohibition of liquor selling on Sunday
and asked whether the Commissioners had
any intention of recommending the pas
sage of stringent Sunday law when Con-
gress meets.
Commissioner Ross replied that the only
Sunday laws in the District were the old
Maryland Assembly law of 1928 and the
laws which prohibit the opening of barber
shops and the sale of liquor on Sunday. He
said that efforts had been made TO pass
Sunday laws but without success. One was
so drastic that II proposed to shut up stores
of every character, prevent the running
Of street cars, and shut up barber shops.
railroad offices and other places of business.
such law but did favor a law which was
sfterward framed and which was of a more
conservative character. That law failed to
pass when sent to Congress.
Commissioner Wight then stated that he
| thought public opinion the strongest law
| and added that if the community could get
| along without a stringent Sunday law it
would be better to be without it. The city
| had always had a reputation for good OBJ
servance of Sunday.
He believed that the recent expression
of public opinion would result in the Sab
| bath being observed decorously in the fu-
| ture and said that to frame stringent
| law would antagoniZe certain element
and only tend TO stir up strife.
Dr. Clark said he was pleased that pub
lie opinion was opposed to the Sunday con-
cert and said that he was satisfied if the
action of the theatres in closing was per-
manent. If not, he said, another occasion
| like the last would find the city without a
| Sunday law and the community would feel
/ the need of something that ii did not have
DIR. Hamlin concluded the hearing with
| the statement that the expressions of Com
| missioners Ross and Wight coincided with
| his own views in the matter. He referred
| TO the interest which the clergy and cleri-
| cal associations took in the matter imme-
| diately after the announc ement in the press
1 ludl Suuudy eNeulbS coHceTtS III costumes
| and with scenery were being given in the
city. He said that the meeting today would
| have been an immense one had not the
| theatres decided to discontinue their per-
| formances, but that they felt that the
| question had been settled and many that
would have come decided to stay away.
DIR. Hamlin stated that he thought an at
/ tempt to pass a very stringent Sunday law
would stir up bad feeling and he agreed
i with the Commissioners in their belief that
it would be better not to attempt to pass
such a law as long as the city could get
along without il.
The hearing concluded with congratula-
| tions on all sides.