The Washington herald., 1922-12-21
PAST0RSP[EAD
IN VAIN TOHAVE
SINGS BANNED
Central High Programs De-
clared in Direct Competition
With Capital Church Services
BOARD REFUSES ACTION
Concerts Upheld as Filling Vi
tai Need of Washington Folks
Who Enjoy Good Selections

The Board of Education yes
terday refused to discontinue the
Sunday night concerts being held
at the Central High School under
the auspices Of the Washington
Music Association, following pro-
tests against them by representa-
tives of the Pastors Federation
and the Washington Federation
of Churches.
SPEAKS FOR CHURCHES.
Speaking for 207 white Protestant
churches. Rev. Herbert s. Ran.
dolph, president of the Pastors
Federation. asserted:
The sings being held at the
Central High School are not only
damaging our congregations but
they are depicting our choirs. l
have on two occasions lost my so
loist and organist on account of
them. These community gather
ings in the Sabbath evening are
direct competition to houses Of
against their continuance.
not see fit to discontinue them"
DR.. Randolph declared. that body
must be responsible for conduct
ing them, and responsible for the
character Of the man who directs
them"
WILL LOSE SUPPORT.
Rev. George NJ Diffenderfer. pres
ident Of the Washington Federa.
ton Of Churches. told the board
that il 1t allowed the Sunday night
sings" to continue. the federation
would withdraw it's Endorsement of
the community music movement.
II protest as a Christian minis
ter" he said. against anything
which will interfere with the wor-
ship Of Almighty God on SUNDAY
evenings" He declared that the
sings had been perverted" and
that those who had been "bam-
boozled" into indorsing them. were
"chagrined" at the turns of events.
Americans are trying to tight
a Continental Sunday, where the
morning is given over to devout
service. and the rest Of the day. to
anything and everything that
pleases," Rev. Earle Whitley stated.
REASONS FOR CONCERTS.
At the request of the Board Of
Education. the Washington Music
Association submitted a statement,
which pointed out the following
facts:
THAT there are 900. 900 white
persons in the District of Column
bia who attend no church services
on Sunday.
2-Sunday night is the logical
and only night to hold the con-
certs because it is the only time
when families are together.
3-Sunday night has been Sc
lected because thousands have
asked that the sings be held on
that day.
IF the concerts draw their
crowds from any source 1t is from
the movies and theaters rather
than from the churches.
CITIZEN COMMITTEE.
The committee which submitted
the report includes. E. c. Snyder,
NJ. o. Chance. Thomas ]. Donovan,
Mark Lansburgh, Charles W.
Semmes. Anton Stephan. Henry E.
stringer and Mrs. Lyman B. SWORN
stedt.
The Board Of Education. having
heard both sides of the case. took
no action, which automatically al
lows the concerts to continue.
Written protests were also re-
ceived from the Emmanuel Bap-
list Church and from the District
of Columbia Sunday School Coun-
ell Of Religious Education.
Henry K. Bush-Brown. president
Of the Arts Club Of Washington.
presented a plan to the board for
making Mount Weather. Va.
government reservation. summer
camp for public school girls.