SUNDAY CONCERTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 491, 26 April 1909, Page 6

SUNDAY CONCERTS.

DEFINITELY .APPROVED. ;.' Replying to: the ■ suggestion of' the' Council of Churohes that the City Council should prohibit all ■ Sunday wmcorts in halls under its jurisdiction,' save such as-are held for charitable purposes,,Councillor.'Fletcher has stated:— "As the;TownVHall.belongs to .the,people; the community as a whole," and not a'portion, has to. bo considered, and I prefer'to take-the; broader .and more humanitarian view of the matter,; imd ;'canhot .imagine , any interference : with : the:','oh'eTished custom of- ; ':the:<':British race,' -viz.',;,-' that of a : quiet Sunday,' by . the; rendering of high-class; and elevating musio, to the'many hundreds of people who avail themselves ;'_'of.'; the-':opportunity, psrhaps ..the -only, one, given .them- on a .Sunday evening. I am' quite of. the opinion that, under, careful supervision; -which .. I believe the proper , p£Scer;:of : ■the .council'is capable of: exercising, ' the con-, certs are ' beneficial to a . large . number ' of ohuroh-goers, as well as'; non-church-goers,' who in all'probability would spend their time in a much less; profitable .way. I presume, that you are,; aware -that quite, a number of the leading dignitaries of '.'various denominations in the Old Country not only favour the Sunday' concerts; but* have become .enthusiastic 'promoters' of-, them,; 'believing - that ,'they. are conducive to a_ better social life : and; the cultivation of: higher : ideals. I have n'o desire to: introduce .the Continental Sunday, - neither am: I an ; advocato of, Sunday work,, but I am a firm beliover in tho ' grand . motto, 1 ' The . greatest good to ■ the. greatest ; ;number.' In order to, be logical your next step would have to bo a,crusade against tho running, of Sunday trains, ferry boats, tram # services, . and 'soon, resulting ' in the curtailment;; of _ the liberty. and - privileges- of the; people, ' which ; would ;indoed, be ■ a: return to vtne' Pnritanical; times; .which are hapoily.past'and gone. I have.not! heard of-the vfolatioii of'any. hy ; law in connection:with, the subject under review, and seeing you have' not advised" the council of any .breach; -I must assume . your statements are' more; imaginery than real.': During the two years I havo had the honour: to; be a member: of; the. City. Council I have always been strong in. advocating 1 tho enforcement of, the by-laws, and any instance of'non- • ;conipliance- has always; received ~bybest.,;and' immediate attention. :I am quite, as anxious : as your council to uphold the best traditions of the race, to : safeguard the.commnnitv, promote 'good citizenship, create a healthv iorill tone .'and true religious spirit, ,:whish is not necessarily, brought about by attending church; and while I am ever ready to respcct your opinion and that iof my follows, in return. II claim the ;same:treafanent for my.qwh, ;but'l : am not 'prepared. to sacrifice my principles and .'convietions' in order to secure . your 'support;'at the doming : poll;; the' reasons ' above stated, -1 am sorry that I cannot agree to your proposition." ....