Evening star., 1922-12-11
LINE UP FOR FIGHT
ON SUNDAY SINGS
CONTINUED from First Page. }

sings. After careful deliberation. the
board decided that before taking any
definite steps in the matter it would
refer the protests to the Community
Frank W. Ballou. superintendent of
schools. expressed the opinion that
the protests were directed against the
undertaking and not to the fact that
the community concerts are held on
Sunday night.
The school board. however. will not
make another move in the contro-
versy until the music association
submits to it formal report in an
swer to the protests.
Church Attendance Dwindles.
Ministers and church organizations
who will fight for the abolition Of
the Sunday night community sings
will do so principally on the grounds
that they are detracting from church
attendance. The supporters of the
concerts will center their fight on
the basis that they do not draw from
the church attendance and are of
social and educational value to the
citfzenry at large.
AS one of those not opposed to the
Sunday night concerts. Commissioner
Rudolph. chairman of the board OF
District Commissioners. voiced the
opinion today that the holding OF the
community sings" would not have
the churches. The Commissioner said
he feels that person who would
go to church on Sunday evening when
there is no vocal entertainment would
not be inclined TO stay away be-
Of singing.
Rev William s. Abernethy. pastor
OF Calvary Baptist Church. on the
other hand. contends that the Sum
day night concert at Central is a
plain "secularizing" Of the Sabbath.
Il am disappointed" he said. that
these concerts are being held on Sun
day and object to the public schools
being used for such purposes. 1t is
the wrong use of the school. Besides.
there are six other nights in the week
Rev. Jason Noble Pierce. pastor of
the First Congregational Church,
questioned the accuracy Of the state
ments that the concerts are not draw
ing persons away from the churches.
He declared. however. that the COM
able effect on his congregation and
expressed the belief that one of the
best methods Of combating such en-
terprises as the Sabbath concerts
would be for the churches to offer
programs that would attract. THE
up stin competition just as the mer-
chants
Endorsement Withdrawn.
Dr. Pierce. who is a member of the
executive committee of the Washing
ton Federation of Churches, pointed
out that the organization recently
had withdrawn It's Endorsement OF
the activities of the music association
when the community sings were
G nj
Sunday night.
Rev. James E. Freeman. pastor OF
the Church of Epiphany, was among
the ministers who declined to ex-
press their sentiments regarding the
Rt. Rev. Alfred Harding. and Rev.
David R. Covell, pastor of Trinity
Church.
Protesting against the concerts for
the Kinnear class of Calvary Baptist
they are aoyt dreet Insult to she
churches Of the city" 'It is bad
enough for the movies to be open on
Sunday" he said, but many, many
times worse for the schools to be
pseple psep 0a away from the Churches % ON
that one day in seven. We are proud
of the great American school and
want to see its standards raised. but
not at the expense of the word Of
God"
Religion Seen in Music.
There is religion in music. and
therefore the Sunday night COM
munity sings in Central High School |
should continue. This was the sense /
Of opinions gathered from prominen |
who are behind Rob- [
ert Lawrence, who is directing the !
night concerts at Central.
Henry E. Stringer, president of the !
1syh rnA
1.-The community sings take up a lot |
II people whom the churches are un- |
able to take in. and good music takes
some closer to God than many minis I
he city is not to permit the extension
II blue laws. and I also believe that
he churches should be made attrac-
i've for all the people. Every theater
n town was open last night land and was
community singing should alone be the
Iubject for discussion"
Chance Defends Sings.
Postmaster Merritt o. Chance was
mphatic that there should be COM
nunity singing on Sundays or any
,ther day." 1t will not interfere with
he churches and; in fact, CIT viii make make
Music is an "uplift." and it fills
he need Of people who probably do
lot 70 to church, Gen. Anton stephan,
PRESIDENT Of the Merchants and Man
Ifacturers' Association, declared. He
rave it as his opinion that those who
ttended the community sings on Sun
lay night can do more good than II
hey were not there.
Mrs. John J. Stahl, chairman of the
music committee of the District of
Columbia Federation of Women's
.lubs, however. was not well enough
couainted with the situation to give
! decisive opinion. She stated. how
ver, that "if 1t is shown that these
.vening affairs do interfere with
hurch attendance. then they should
,e held on Sunday afternoons, but II
t is shown that they do not have a
on this question. they are
certainly more wholesome than some
,ther forms Of Sunday night enter
ainment.
Canvass Made.
In an effort to ascertain just what
are represented among
he attendance at the concerts, Mr.
lawrence took q canvass last night |
among the gathering at Central. As
/ result he learned that thirty-five
were represented.
"I had a list containing the names
II thirty-seven citizens associations"
,aid Mr.. Lawrence, land as I read eacn
,ne ! requested . representative OF
hat particular organization to stand.
Every one except two OF the thirty
seven was represented"