SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17844, 27 July 1921, Page 6

SABBATH OBSERVANCE.

HOLDING OF CONCERTS. CHARGES FOR ADMISSION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. The Council of Christian Congregations, the new body formed as an extended development of the old Council of Churches, has addressed a letter to the City Council protesting against the disturbance of the quiet of Sunday by the holding of concerts on the evening of that day at which admission charges are made. The letter is as follows:— " It has come to our knowledge that an attempt is being made to break a good custom that has obtained in this city from its foundation. The custom we refer to is the quiet Sunday and the threat against it is made by a band of musicians who are seeking the right to make a fixed charge for Sunday perform.ances. Our council desires to lodge a protest against the suggestion. We do not do so in a narrow spirit. We believe that quite apart from all religious interests the quiet' Sunday is a great civic asset. We believe that once the right is conceded of plying week-day avocations on Sunday on ordinary terms the claimants for such a privilege will speedily wreck the day, they will be so numerous. We urge when the City Council permits sacred concerts on Sundays they should insist that the door of the concert hall should be as free as the door of the church, and all offerings should be entirely voluntary. We believe that any departure from this equitable principle will be resented by the citizens at large."