Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-12-01
REFUSES TO
HOUSE FAIRFAX CONCERT


Geraldine Farrar, famous opera
star, Thursday was still without i
place to give her concert here Fri
day night, the doors of two churches
having been closed against her
after arrangements had been made
for her appearance.
Following the barring Of Miss
Farrar from the Wesley Memorial
Methodist church auditorium We'd
nesday, it was proposed to have her
appear in the Baptist tabernacle, an
auditorium of about the same size,
but Thursday morning DR.. John w.
Ham, pastor of the tabernacle, an
, nounced that the diva could not ap,
pear there.
Miss Farrar's performance in
'Zaza' here three years ago make,
it impossible for a church to per-
init the use Of its facilities for her
appearance in concert" said DR..
Ham.
S. Russell Bridges, head Of the
Southern Musical bureau, sponsor
ing Miss Farrar's concert here, was
entirely at sea Thursday morning
The auditorium is engaged for Fri
day night by the Tech High school
for its annual minstrel perform.
ance. With Wesley Memorial and
the Baptist tabernacle unavailable,
no other halls Of sufficient size are
to be had. SO that Mr.. Bridges is
somewhat at loss to provide an
auditorium for the diva.
Charles J. Foley, who is managing
Miss Farrar's concert tour, is ex-
pected hourly to arrive here from
New York.
. II shall advise against any legal
action to force the Wesley Memorial
church authorities to permit Miss
Farrar to sing there" said Mr..
Bridges, ''although Mr.. Foley has
wired me that he will insist on hold
ing the concert there in accordance
with the terms of his contract.
Foley OH Way Here
/. "Mr. Foley is on his way to At
lanta and should reach here some
time Thursday, but if he does not ar.
rive, 1 shall get in touch with JaC4;
Savage, his representative, now in
Birmingham, where Miss FarraI
sings Thursday night"
DR.. w. H. LaPrade, Jr., presiding
elder of the North Atlanta district
of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
South, whose order barred Miss Far
rar from Wesley Memorial, refused
Thursday to elaborate on his state
ment of Wednesday further than to
say that he was not at all dubious
about the outcome Of any legal
action Miss Farrar'S manager might
institute.
THE contract is not legally bind.
ing, and l am not fearful of any
legal proceedings" said DR.. LaPrade.
mo Methodist preacher, according
building beyond the next annual con
control oyer the use Of the church
i, or agreement entered into for the
use of the church after annual con
ference, becomes null and void when
or agreement entered into for the
use Of the church after annual con
ference, becomes null and void wher
the pastor making such an arrange
ment is transferred to another
charge.
No Reason Stated
THE law of the church vests tn,
control of the church building in tn,
hands of the presiding elder in the
absence of the pastor. 1t the alb
sence of Rev. Marvin Williams, whC
comes to the church from st. James
Augusta, for reasons satisfactory t
myself, [ exercised the authorit,
vested in me and declined to permi
the concert by Miss Geraldine Far
rar scheduled for Friday night.
took hits action as soon as the plans
! for such concert came to my knowl
edge