Evening star., 1922-12-12
PROTESTS DEF|ED
ON SUNDAY SINGS
Music Association Votes to
Continue Programs at
Central High.
SCHOOL BOARD TO ACT
Will Take Reply Under Considera-
tion-Defended by House
Chaplain.
SCHOOL BOARD TO ACT

Defying the protests of ministers
church organizations and others
against the Sunday night community
auditorium, the Community Music
Association voted unanimously at a
meeting in the City Club this after
noon to continue the community
sings. The association will inform
the board of education of its action
in report to be drafted by a COM
mittee of five.
The school board will take the an
swer under consideration in answer
to protests submitted to 1t.
William knowles Cooper. secretary
of the y. NJ c. A. and chairman OF
the music association. read a letter
he had directed to Rev. Cove Griffith
Johnson, pastor of the Emmanuel
Baptist Church, in which he defended
the sings as mot prejudicial" to the
interest of the church and of the
kingdom. The letter reads. In part:
Says Y. M. e. A. Has No Part.
ut is true that 1 am chairman of
the executive committee of the Com
munity Music Association. l was ap-
pointed to that office through my con-
nection with the Rotary Club and l
have tried TO make it understood that
the Young Mems Christian Association
has absolutely no connection with it,.
tally interested in the church the
conviction that the community sing
on Sunday night is not prejudictal to
the interest Of the church and Of the
kingdom.
ton is about 325.GO0. OF that num-
ber not more than $4,000 attend all
the Protestant churches together on
Sunday evening and the Roman Cath
olic churches do not hold evening
services.
"The audiences at Central High
night.
"Of course, since the meetings are
held in the schoolhouse. the municipal
authorities will not allow any re-
ligious address to be introduced, but
1 think the spirit Of the meeting is
clean and Wholesome and has a dis
tinctly cultural value
In defense of the Sunday comEu-
nifty concerts, Robert Lawrence. the
director, declared in his report to the
association thet the underlying prin-
ment Is "the bringing together Of our
people in harmony and true neighbor-
liness."
SUNDAY night is. the one time
throughout the week when families
are united and at leisure" said Mr..
Lawrence's report.
I'm the early part of the present
year the community concerts were
held at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, but
it was found to be an impractical
time for two reasons: First, the de-
sire for outdoor recreation by the
great mass Of our citizens, who spend
six days Of the week shut up in ofiices
and stores, and second, because Of the
household duties Immediately follow
ing the Sunday dinner hour. Chang
ing the hour from 4 in the after
noon to 8:15 at night in the latter
part of April. was done in response
to a general request, and the atten-
dance doubled Immediately"
Denies Admission CHARGED.
Mr.. Lawrence denied. in his report,
that admission is charged to the Gen.
trail auditorium for the community
sings. "a section Of seats is set aside
on the lower floor and another section
In the balcony for those holding eea-
son tickets, and any others desiring
to purchase reserved seat privilege"
he said.
OF the 1000 seats in the auditorium,
he pointed out. but 416 are reserved
in this manner, leaving 1854 seats
absolutely free. Since the concerts
began, on October 20, he said. collec-
tions amounting to $496.32 have been
taken up as follows: October 20,
s29. 40; November S. $S3.27: November
IL, $72.45; November 10. $102s6; No
vember 26. $11S.70. and December 10.
$S9.54.
A report on the luncheon meeting
Of the music association and the va
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column 7).