The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-16
MORMON CHOIR
At WHITE HOUSE
President Entertained Singers
Who Will Appear at Audi
forum Tonight.
MAYOR RECEIVES PROTEST
Refuses. However, to Stop Per-
Torrance Because He Is With
out Authority,

Mayor Richardson was asked ycster-
day to prohibit the concert by the
| Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the City
| Auditorium tonight on the ground
| that the organization was travelling
| over the country to spread It's propa-
| ganda. y petition was presented, signed
| by members of the faculty and students
| of Union Theological Seminary. but
| the Mayor courtcously replied that he
| had no authority to stop the perform
4 ancc.
Tho Mormon Tabernacle Choir is one
| of the best known musical organiZa-
lions in the country. but whilo Mayor
Richardson was talking with the pc
| ttioncrs he did not know that II had
| been invited by the President and Mrs.
| Taft to give 4 concert at the White
House. in Washington. last night w.
l. Radcliffe. formerly Of Richmond,
| who Is bringing tho musicians here
I tonight In a special train, naturally
! points with pride 10 the fact that the
| President would not have issued the
| invitation had he suspected that the
| choir was travelling with Interior mo-
| tivcs. Moreover, the protest ycSter-
! day served cloquently as an advertise
ment, although this was hardly needed.
! as the indications are that the biggest
! audience OF the Auditorium season
will greet the performers tonight.
Cnils II Absurd.
Mr.. Radcliffe sent the following to
| The Times Dispatch from Washing
ton last night in regard to the attack
| on his choir:
| The statement that the Mormon
Tabernacle Choir is propaganda
| agency is absurd. Tonight they are
, giving concert at the White House.
on invitation of the President and Mrs.
! Taft. The concert given at the Column
rp an
! ovation for the singers. The choir
leaves at midnight on Il special train
/ for Richmond.
| II am giving the people OF Richmond
| tomorrow night one OF the greatest
musical treats they have ever had
| simply that and nothing more. II is
costing considerably over $4,000 to do il.
| There will be $50 In the party, and
they are all Mormons. The object OF
| the trip East was 10 sing AT the Inter
| national Irrigation and Land Exhibit
ton at Madison Square Garden. New
York City. November to II.
1T was possible for the choir TO
visit ten cities en- route home TO Sal:
| Lake City, and l succeeded in securing
one of these nights for Richmond
know my efforts In SO doing will be
| appreciated by every lover of good
| music who attends the concert to-
| morrow night.
| w. l. RaDC III = i IL
| Following is the document presented
to Mayor Richardson:
THE Mormon Choir is coming into
| this city. That choir ~ proDaSan-
| dist agency, and has toured the country
| for years, and is doubtless visiting this
| city with such an end In view. Wheth-
err intended to serve such Il purpose
| or not, II is in fact going to do so as
{ surely as it behaves itself with any
dccorun. II will propitiatc favor for
| Mormonism with the uniformed and
| thouRhtlcss. The Mormon hierarchy
| would not permit the choir to tour the
country unless they were sure Of 1t
| currying favor with a percentages OF
the population. The coming Of this
! choir will make the work of every
unctuous Mormon missionary easier,
/ opening access for him.
we appeal To the people OF Rich
mond. even at this late date, especially
| to the people of character. not TO hea"
| this Mormon agency perform. and thus
| to minimize and dispnragc the influence
| of the Mormon propaganda. We doubt
not that the choir will sing very welN
nor that II contains persons very deco
! roUs from Mormon point of view, but
! In giving them encouragement you in
| cvitably play into the hands OF the
Mormon Church. You aid in its main
tenance and encourage It's ideals and
I the advancement Oh us peculiar lHSlItu-
| tons
You are hospitable people. Hos
| pitality should be regulated by re-
gard for good morals. You love fine
music. Give up fine music rather than
| lead your fellowman toward standards
of Joseph Smith. Your homes will be
invaded within short time by the
agents OF the Salt Lake organization.
Many persons In this city have al
ready repulsed or succumbed TO the
efforts of these agents of the Nor
mon Church.
1--WE might base our appeal on
grounds of refinement, culture or
broad Christianity. We make our APP
peal to-day, however. simply on
grounds of regard for decent morals
and patriotism. The Mormon Church
would to-day, II it could spread nolyg-
= amy over the United States and the
world. 1t slories,<if secretly. In this
end.
| (SignedD
4 "For the faculty:
wv w. MOORE. President;
THOMAS C. JOHNSON,
&c. B. STRICKLER,