Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-27
A LIVELY DISCUSSION
DEBATING THE QUESTION OF SUN
DAY EVENING CONCERTS.
View of Mrs. John Jay Knox, Founder
of the Choral Society-Vote
of the Members.

The Choral Society still keeps its COM
munication with it's founder, Mrs. John Jay
Knox who has been much interested In the
discussion of the question of Sunday evening
concerts and who sends the following con-
tribution to the subject:
Eighteen years ago when / was still Nv
ing in Washington it would have been
difficult matter to popularize any sunday
evening performance of music. Today,
should Judge, from all I can see and near
that sacred concerts of a high order would
attract not only large, but cultivated anu
intelligent audiences. The general puonc
is far more liberal in these matters than
formerly. The use of Convention Hall is
impossible for a variety of reasons. Wf,ic
certain members of the chorus might ina
it difficult to be excused from church serV-
ice by far the greater NUMBER coulo d.
range for it, and the difficulty or secul ihs
certain men for orchestral WORK Woulu w
obviated Personally. 1 feel that standard
ora torio work or mass music could De given
employing a high grade of solo singers
on Sunday evenings in theater with
certainty of success.
The German Custom.
number of the sustaining members IN
answer to the request of the board of man.
.gers have not only sent in their postal
cards but have written letters giving their
views. One of the most interesting of these
shows the German custom in regard TO sun
day oratorio: xo,,.,no
I'm response to your circular regafuhs
Sunday as a day for the Chiral Society
concerts to consist chiefly of oratorlo.
would like to state that during nearly three
wears spent in Dresden l frequently at
tended oratorios on Sunday evenings. lhey
were given sometimes in the theater ana
sometimes in the great Frauen klrche.
There was always an oratorio on the even
ing of Palm Sunday The audience behaVeo
reverently and quietly, being composed oi
music lovers l never heard the proprlety
of giving these concerts on Sunday ques-
toned by any one
Views of an Active Member.
Ono of the active members discusses the
subject quite fully and agrees entirely with
the view of the board of managers:
"Tbe pamphlet and postal card with ref
erence to the propriety of the Choral So
ciety giving Sunday night sacred concerts
of the great oratorios are received. In re-
plv to question No. on the postal card
will say that the plan meets with my hearty
Endorsement The only possible ground TOT
objection from any source, to my mind, Is
the complaint from the ministers of the city
that it would tend to take away some of
their members of the church who would
like to hear the oratOrios. However from
a purely personal view of the matter that,
to nv mind is very minor consideration.
That would only occur three or four times,
and believe they would be better benefited
by listening to the beautiful music of these
sacred poems To my mind, this sort of
music exerts better influence than does
preaching.
Certainly no person acquainted with the
facts of the can make objection to the
commercial aspect of the enterprise. So
far as using theater is concerned, 1t would
seem that prejudice only is the motive for
not utilizing a theater; certainly such
man. Secular concerts, Salvation Army
gatherings, mass meetings for men and all
sorts of meetings and gatherings are held
in the theaters and on Sundays.
1T is deplorable fact that the Choral
Society is unable to give its concerts with
out an orchestral accompaniment, and in a
city the size and Importance of Washing
ton. The Sunday night concert could per-
haps be made to be solution of this prob
lem, which l hope will be accomplished.
Vote of the Members.
considerable response has already been
made and 1t may be said that all but about
10 per cent of the active members who have
voted are favorable to the Sunday night
concerts, and expect to continue their mem
bership. OF the sustaining members about
% per cent say that they would not wish
to attend Sunday night. The question
which the society will have to determine is
whether this number can be made up by
others who would attend concerts of a high
class of sacred music on Sunday evenings.