BAN ON A SINGER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 984, 29 May 1930, Page 16

BAN ON A SINGER

JEWS AND CHRISTIANS PART IN SACRED CANTATA A proposal that a Jewish singer should take the part of Christ in a sacred cantata, “The Last Hours,” at Grafton Square Congregational Church, Clapham, was promptly banned when it came to the ears of the minister, the Rev. J. Welham Clarke. The singer, Mr. Maurice Bannister, librarian of the Zionist organisation in London, had been engaged by the organist of the church, Air. Reginald Jevons, and had been rehearsing the part for some weeks. “Air. Jevons did not mention until a few weeks ago that the singer whom he had engaged to take the part of Jesus Christ was a Jew,” said Air. Clarke. “The matter was raised at a deacons’ meeting, and it was unani mously decided that Air. Bannister should be asked not to take the part. “There is no political, personal or racial feeling in the matter. It Is merely a question of religion. We felt that it would be quite incongruous for a Jew to take such a part. This is a religious service, not a concert. It will take place in church, and we felt that it would hurt the feelings of many of the congregation if they knew that a Jew was singing words supposed to have been uttered by Chirst. “In any case, it would be impossible for Air. Bannister to be sincere in such a part. Being a Jew by religion, ha does not believe in Jesus Christ as we do. The words that he would be singing would express thoughts which are quite contrary to his own faith.” Mr. Reginald Jevons, the organist, said: “Mr. Bannister is a personal friend of mine, and consented to take the part at a very reasonable fee. He is rather hurt about it. I have engaged another singer, who is not a Jew, to take the part of Jesus.”