SUNDAY SACRED CONCERTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14280, 31 July 1908, Page 5

SUNDAY SACRED CONCERTS.

PROTESTS AGAINST COUNCIL'S ACTION • A special meeting- of the executivo of the Dunedin Council of Churchcs was hold yesterday afternoon to consider tho decision • of the City Council to permit Sunday band concerts, and it was unanimously resolved —"That this executive of the Council of Christian Churches expresses its oxtreme regret at £he action of the City Council.in. granting permission to the Ivaikorai Band to hold Sunday evening concerts, and resolves, along with others, to wait npon the ■' Mayor with reference thereto.") The : Rev. D. J. Murray ; secretary of the council, lifts arranged with the Mayor to receive the deputation at the Town Hall to-day at J p.m., and is making arrangements to have the deputation thoroughly* ropresentativo of the Christian Churchcs of the oity. At a meeting of the members" of the Central Mission, held in the Stafford Street i Hall last night, the Rev. W. Slade referred to the permission giv6n fey tho City Council to the Kaikorai Band to hold Sunday con- i certs. Mr Slade regretted that the council had dealt with this important matter without giving the citizens an opportunity of expressing; themselves about it. He. thought the council had pot sufficiently realised the gravity of their action in permitting this unnecessary invasion of the sacrednesa /of the Sabbath. In view of what had recently taken place in Sydney, whero an attempt to give Sunday concerts had been defeated, it was to be greatly regretted that, of all cities, Dunedin should lead the way in this direction. In a matter which affected the deepest conviotions of tho beet people in tho city, Mr Slado said he thought no council ought to depart from the rule hitherto observed without ascertaining the feeling of the public. The meeting unanimously j&reed with Mr Slade, I and expressed a strong hope that the per- / mission will be withdrawn.