The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1909-05-19

tic that they could only be prevented
from working for the city by the ac-
ton of the courts; and greatest of all,
no other city in the northwest had
such an organization as the Oratorio
society nor such a building in which
1t could be heard.
President Robertson
President e. p. Robertson of Wes-
ley college discussed "The Public
Ministry Of Music" speaking as fol-
lows:
Music as a Public Benefaction
leral education has been made a
pu., :: benefaction through private
benevolence and collective activity,
through church and state, buildings,
equipment and instruction await every
child in the land free of cost to the
pupil, or requiring SO small fee that
none find it prohibitive. In the glor-
ious days of Greece when Plato was
reckoned among her teachers, music
was common art and the guest at
any feast was ready always to sing
the praise of heroes. In those days
the teacher was a volunteer and pu-
pills flocked about him as disciples. In
the process of making education a
public benefaction, music has largely
been left out of the reckoning. Music
and musical culture are held for those
who can pay the whole cost of in
struction. To gain an education in
music is different matter as compar-
ed with the open way to all other
learning.
"This is not as 1t should be. The
ministry of music adds joy to the hap
py. brings solace to the sad, quickens
the pulse Of patriotism and gives
wings to religious aspiration. Why,
then. should music thus lag in the
budget Of public endowment?
THAT here lies open great field for
public benefaction is clear at glance
Conservatories Of music are usually
commercial enterprises in the plan of
support. Buildings, equipment and
faculty salaries are exacted from pu-
pills in fees. Colleges and universi-
ties that stand as monuments of pri-
vate or public benevolence, throw
wide open the doors to free culture in
science and literature. The cost Of
self maintenance is upon the student,
but not the pro rata charge necessary
to provide the means Of culture.
Music instruction is commonly on a
percentage basis, the teacher sharing
In the fees and the advertisements of
conservatory are in the nature of
those Of commercial colleges.
Moving Toward Ideal
"Tn this community we are laying
foundations of new order. We are
moving toward the ideal of music
education and musical entertainment
as a public benefaction. Our conser-
vatory teachers are paid salaries like
other teachers and have no direct
share in tuition fees. 1t makes no diff
ference to them whether the students
are taught free or only upon payment
of the required fee. The conservatory
machinery is ready fitted to prospec-
tive endowment. We fondly hope the
| time is not far distant when lovers Of
music, possessed of wealth, will pro-
vide endowment for instruction and so
make it possible to cultivate talent
whenever found and multiply the num-
ber of those who through the ministry
of music shall be enriched personally
and become agents Of delight to 9TH
ers.
"The building Of this auditorium
lie expression of this same purpose,
as it provides for the wider enjoyment
of music by those who may here find
delight in it's artistic expression. This
enterprise represents the embodiment
Of public spirit Of high order. In this
city of intense business competition.
! r~S,r 1,os,o
to promote the public good through
the ministry of music. Both time and
money are invested. 1t is the avowed
purpose to pay back the money, but
the time is clearly an investment and
so are the earnest planning and in
tense solicitude. We have good right
now to challenge all music lovers to
examine our motives and see If we
are to make music public benefac-
tion.
"a day is coming when this build
ing shall be free of financial claim and
shall stand as great, free, peoples
institute. Then, whatever is calcu-
lated to promote social convenience
and public welfare may here be en-
gagged without cost except of mainte-
nance. He who will hasten such q
cOnSummatlOn Will De pioneer IN the
neglected task of making music a pub
lie benefaction and so mark new day
in the progress Of education, the edu-
cation of refinement and of personal
and social delight"
Dean Bruce's Address.
Dean Bruce on behalf of the univer-
sity, spoke as follows:
Il have the highest admiration for
any person, agency or thing which
smoothes the pathway of life and lifts
men and women above that which Is
sordid and material. feel. and
think every thoughtful man also feels,
that Wesley college and Professor
Stout ystanding for the best that
there is in music, and that the busi-
ness men who have stood back of their
enterprises and made both the May
festivals and this auditorium possi-
BILE, have conferred lasting benefit
not only upon Grand Forks, but upon
the state university and upon the
state itself. There is and can be no
competition in the ordinary sense of
the word in the world of intellect and
of culture. The world of culture. the