Sunday Concerts

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 273, 21 November 1934, Page 6

Sunday Concerts

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Without wishing to trend on the toes of Cr. Teunent’s religious susccptibilies, the attitude taken by him in connection with the holding of Sunday concerts is really amusing, and more suited to the spirit that pervaded the Sabbath among the villages of Scotland 50 years ago than a true reflex of the present-day outlook on what shall and what shall not constitute a breach of seventh-day observance. lilt! writer remembers the time when his ears were sou'ftdiv eull'cd tor "whilstiing” on the Sabbath, this grave desecration of a long-faced Sunday stirring to wrath a well-meaning but intolerant aunt in the Lowlands of the Land o' Cakes and Presbyterians. ,

1 do not for one moment question the sincerity of Cr. Tcnncnt’s protest, but even Christian zealots must keep pace with the trend of modern thought, and religious interpretation. No one wishes to see the, establishment of a "Continental” Sunday in New Zealand, but neither do we desire a revival of those dreary “ thou-shalt-not” Sabbaths that dressed the family in sombre black and kept the youngsters uncomfortable in starched collars and demanded an extra scrubbing behind the ears.

When all is said and done, it is the individual’s state of mind that, counts. Municipal legislation will neither encourage uor prohibit the fall iruin grace of our citizens. In any case, to carry Or. Tcnncnt’s protest to its logical conclusion, it would be as justifiable to prohibit tennis and bowling on our municipal reserves as it would to exercise a civic veto against Sunday concerts. In fact, to go the "whole nog,” wo would be consistent, in preventing doctors from charging fees lor .Sunday visits, or the City Council from running its buses on Sunday. .Both admittedly are social services, but gain is an inseparable part- of their func

If Christianity does not bring pleasure to those who practise it, what use does it serve to us-mortals Surely men and women can witness the showing of a picture on Sunday without danger to their souls; or read a book, or listen to the radio, or sit in the Square and glow to the strains of our Municipal Band. Cr. Tenncnt secs in the granting of picture displays on Sundav the ‘Thin end of the wedge.”

Bv this 1 presume he means the opening up of an avenue for the indiscriminate presentation of picture programmes by our local theatres. But have wc not municipal authority to demand that no charge can be made for these performances, and that the total proceeds must go towards a charitable cause? Does Cr. Tenncnt protest on moral grounds, or is it the fear of private gain that troubles him? He will find that a dissection of the "gain” element holds many anomalies, for do not the’ preachers in our churches earn their living by "working” on Sunday? He might claim this to be an incidental to a wider and deeper motive; but it is a vital incidental, nevertheless, as many an underpaid parson can witness. In conclusion, Sir, I would suggest that if Cr. Tennent and his supporters on the Council wish to fill the roles of modern Crusaders, they imbue their enthusiasm with a little more tolerance and an appreciation of present-day conditions. —I am, etc., CHARITY.