The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-10-30 00:00:00

To au Zdaor.

Bir,—ln your last week's issue two letters on this In.
tereeting subject appeared. That written by 'A Visitor"
was a valuable testimony, I consider, to the troth of
the views and statements put truth by toren in my
previous epistle, and that by' Churchman "is another
attempt at evasion, as was hi+ first; but although the
writer shows himself an adept in this department of
honesty, he will fail to convince any capable jodge.
I did not In my last (as he infers) say that 05 was
not a sufficient Inducement for men to remain in the
choir ; on the contrary, I believe that the 05 is the
sole inducement for some decidedly incompetent
members remaining in the choir.
" Churchman " next infers that, because I am in
favour of three good men, in place of six indifferent
and bad ones, I am therefore one who has bad some
eathedral experience. Allow me to tell him, Mr.
Editor, that I have not had any cathedral experience,
and my only object in writing is the impr tvement of
our &rano., to attain which, I shall not be backward
in bringing before the public, by means of your raw
able paper, such things a. I may be aware of, and that
will be of service to them in funning an opinion.
" Churchman" gays "Two are better than one ; "
clever evaslooist, but logic requires aomething more
than mere numerals, and if we were to say "Two false
c tins are better than one true *tin," we should n t
expect t 3 be believed. Neither can we believe that
two be I singers are better than one goo,' singer.
"C turehman " sake where, in case of the sickness of
a £5O singer, is the qualified substitute to be taken
from? When he can provide qualified men for the
regular work (not to say others as substitutee in CYO
of sickness) under his system, there will appear to be
a little more reason for asking the question; but I do
not hesitate to say that voluntary men of a much better
quality than some of the preeant £25 men, c old be
obtained and prepared by a chaulaatet willing to have,
and capable of training, them. .

"Oblrchman" says my opinion as to the organist's
abilities in choir and voice training was uncalled for;
but I beg to remind him that, in his first lettor, he
asked to know thermions for the unsatisfactory state
of the choir • he himself called for it. If I am In-
formed correctly, the organist says he was never
appointed choirmaster, and that, in point of fact, be
has given his services gratuitously. What reason then
for jealousy, 'taint that it is the common failing
of musicians? ' Churchman " speaks of Me
satisfactory remits attending the organist's
I attempts at choir training. What a delightfully
short memory this exceedingly Ingenious person
posses; only a short fortnight before he
wished to know the reason for the unsatisfactory
state of the choir. " Churchman " also has the
humility to judge me unkind in giving my opinions ;
but I. his sense of Pistil:* so Blunt that he con'
alders it kind tt bolster up an unnecessary evil, and
unkind to do the public justice, when doin. so crn
cause no real injury tr anyone? For my part I
think, reasonably, the organist should be thankful
to be relieved of what, I am sure, has afforded him
more anxiety than plantar*, and I cannot help feel.
lug it is not the responsibility, la much as the
power of retaining in the choir whom he pleases,
that be is relustaut to part with. This opinion is
not based on mere supposition, but ou certain facts.
In the first place the organist did not show himself
averse to the appointment of Mr. Fowles; he
actually signed the miss which acknowledged him to
be in fact choirmaster, with power over the several
members of the choir, but when certain members
became aware of the intentions of Mr. I' ,wles, our

organist regretted his signature, and hastened to
recover the power he had °ow:laded.
Respecting my favouring Mr Fowles, I may say
that my objvct is not the advancement or retardaticn
of any p•ram or iwrans, but my love .1 uot.i.• and
desire for a Wing service inclines ine, ea I hive before
said, to take part in this oorrespon fence.
" Churchman " seems tu imagine in the close of his
letter that he is doing a maeteretroke of irony, or
else it may b., be believes in the in .Ito-" Put in
something unintelbgible or riti won't be thooght
clever ;" whatever his iitnti ne were is not clear to
me. Mr. Editor, I will for the present conclude, not
fearing the comparison of letters •' Churchman "
solicits.—l remain, sir, yours truly, HARMONY.