New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1922-05-31
Eight Protestant Clergymen Take
Up Fight Against Dance Pavilion
Oppose It on Both Moral
and Civic Grounds-Hot
Fight on Proposal AS
surcd in Council.

Eight prominent cergymen. repre-
senting eight OF the largest Protestant
churches in this city, today came out
publicly as opposed to the proposed
municipal dance pavilion at Walnut
Hill park. Their objection is based
on the belief that such dance pavil-
ion would prove a nuisance rather
than benefit 10 the public. Further
more, they express belief that it is
not good public policy for the city to
go into the business Of providing en-
tertainment for revenue.
These v clergymen are Rev. Samuel
Sutclffe, rector of st. Marks Episco-
pal church: Rev. DIR. George w. c.
Hill. pastor Of the South Congrega-
tional church; Rev. William Ross,
pastor of the First Baptist church;
Rev. Henry w. Maier, pastor of the
First Congregational church; Rev.
DR.. j. +. Klingberg, pastor Of the
Elm Swedish Baptist church; Rev.
John i Davis, pastor OF Trinity Meth
odist church; Rev. G.. II. Schneck,
pastor of the German Baptist church,
and Rev. A. B. Taylor. pastor of the
Peoples church Of Christ.
This formal opposition is expressed
in letter to Councilman David L..
Nair OF the First Ward, who had been
quoted as saying that he had inter-
viewed social workers, ministers, etc,
and found them to be in favor Of the
proposed municipal dance pavilion.
These clergymen, in their letter, re-
quest Councilman Nair to explain to
the common council it its meeting this
evening that they as clergymen and
citizens, are not In favor of the propo-
sition. Their letter follows:
Protest of Clergymen.
New Britain, Conn,
May 20, 1922.
Mr. David J.. Nair,
New Britain, Conn.
Dear Sir
In the issue of the New Britain
Herald of Thursday, May 25th. 1922,
in the report of the public hearing on
the matter of establishing a public
dancing pavilion in Walnut Hill
Park, it is reported that Councilman
Nair stated that he had interviewed
the social workers of the city, min
listers and workers who were all In
would do sbod to the city" The
words in quotation marks are taken
directly from the report in the Her
aid.
Since this report might give the Inn
preston that all the ministers in the
L. i s,,y, III
ter, and further, that all the ministers
in the city favor the pavilion. we, the
undersigned ministers desire it to be
known that we were not interviewed
on the subject, and also. that we are
opposed to the establishment Of a
public dancing pavilion in Walnut
Hill Park.
We believe that it will prove to be
a public nuisance instead of a public
benefit nuisance to the
New Britain General hospital, if not a
nuisance to the residents in the vi
rinity of the park.
1t is our feeling that it is not good
public policy for 4e city to engage in
The business of providing entertain
nent for revenue.
We are convinced that the project
s fraught with grave dangers that
would more than offset any possible
good it might do, because there is no |
guarantee in the proposition for the
proper policing of the park, nor ad- |
,uuate supervision of the dancing, nor
of the pavilion and of the |
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