Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-18
M USICAL MEN TION

The following letter has been written by
the president of the Choral Society to the
board of trustees of the Congregational
Church suggesting a plan for the society
for the coming year:
The Choral Society, after your very kind
treatment in many years. eliminating in
that of last season. would not venture to
ask any more consideration at the hands
of the Congregational Church. except it
is impressed upon us that it is our duty
to lay before you the facts now confront
ing us. that your considerate action may
be taken upon them
After very careful consideration by the
board of managers We have reached the
conclusion that in the absence of the use
of your church for the concerts of the So
ciety the only alternative to keep up the
work Of the society in the form so long
specially prosecuted by it is to give the
concerts on Sunday evenings in one of the
fheaters in the city. The members of the
board generally have no conscientious
scrupes in regard to this, believing that
the concerts confined strictly to sacred
music of an uplifting character are appro-
pirate to Sunday. A large proportion Of
the church people Of Washington. many
among them being ardent supporters of
the Choral Society, object to Sunday con-
certS even of sacred music We feel this
objection strongly. coming from our
many friends of years standing. the we
do not think that ought to give our
concerts on Sunday evenings until we can
present to your board this statement of
facts in order that you may consider
whether representing the sentiment of
those among church members who object
to Sunday evening oratOrio you will take
such steps as lie within your power to en-
able the work of the society to be cOntin-
ued on weekday evenings.
our suggestion is that you should au-
thorize the Choral Society to go before
the board of Commissioners Of the District
of Columbia and present to them the ques-
ton whether by our occupying the church
for our concerts and paying you the ACTUAL
expenses for heating and lighting and jan
itor service You would render yourselves
liable to taxation. If the Commissioners
should decide that you would, we could
not expect any further consideration on
YOUR part, as certainly not in a
position to ask continuance of the purely
gratuitous use of the church which We had
last year But if the Commissioners should
grant this permission. then we should be
pleased to be advised by you whether the
use of the church could be given us. You
will understand. of course. that we do not
wish to go before the Commissioners purely
on a contingency, but think that there
should be a definite understanding if We
do this that upon the Commissioners re
ply. if favorable to our request, we could
have the use of the church.
I'VE trust that you Will regard this not
in any degree in the light of pressing upon
you for what l think was fairly under
stood wouli not be expected another
season.
The SUGGESTION contained in this letter
has been made from mal.y sources, IN ire
queut instances from members OF your own
congregation, ard we have thought That
we could not take Il step which would
ALLEVIATE some Of our supporters among
church members without first laying the
whole matter before you for your con-
Sderation.
tees The managers of the Choral Society
felt great hesitation in making even this
suggestion to the church authorities, cs-
pecially in view OF the fact that they abb
soIutely refused last season to accept d.
rectly or indirectly the least compensation
from the society for its use last year of the
church auditorium The society rendered a
complimentary performance of the Messiah
to the church, but even this was refused.
The proposition here made seems to be
the only practicable course. if the society
is to continue its work otherwise than on
Sundays Apart from the religious aspect
of the question. there can be no doubt that
the Sunday concerts with the ala or the
orchestral accompaniment and the conse-
quent great widening of the societys OPP
portunities and enriching of it's perform
ances will increase very greatly their ar
tstic effectiveness. The director and Off
GERS or the society nave long let tIle WANT
of an orchestra as greatly hampering its
work.
A letter has been received in Washing
ton from Angelo Fronani, the pianist, who
is at present in London, in which 1t is
stated that he has met with unusual sue
cess in that city He has played al five
musicals and two concerts. and has met
all the great lights in the musical world of
the British metropolis.
Kelley Cole. tenor, will make an Amer
lean tour this season in oratorio, concert
and recitals. Mr.. Cole has, for several
years held rank with the best tenors in
England by reason of the beauty of his
voice. finished art and an exceptionally at
tractive repertoire. Mr.. Cole will be here
from October 1903. to May, 1904.
Edwin Grasse, young American violin
list who has won notable distinction in Ber-
lin. Vienna, Leipsic, Munich and London,
will make his first concert tour in this
country this season.