Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-12-10
For the Rennrter

Mr.. EDITOR In the last No of
the Pilot, is an article from Mr.. NJ ". Mar
tin, in relation to the choir connected with
tho congregation that worships at Hurlev's
Hall, in which, we think, he has misrepre-
sented us to the public. If you can grant us
the space, we should like to say few words
in your columns, in explanation of the mat
ter referred to.
And first as to the assertion that some had
| ''crowded themselves into the choir" we do
not think that such is the fact. 1t is well
known to the people of this place, that, with
! the exception OF Mr.. Lang and Mrs. Harris,
we all sang in the choir long before Mr., Mar
tin ever came here. With these exceptions,
we were all members of his singing school,
two years ago the present winter, and, at its
close under stood it as his wish that all the
members of the school that chose to do so,
should practice with the choir at rehearsal
and assist in singing on the Sabbath, Sup
posing that such was Mr.. Martins desire, with
mutual consent, we went into the choir
There was no formal organization, or election
of chorister. Mr. Lang has since received
an invitation to sing in the choir, from lKr.
Marian hinsselJ. Mrs. Harris did not s'crowd"
herself in, but was repeatedly urged by sew
eral members Of the choir to assist them in
singing, and finally, against her oun wishes,
consented to do so.
1t is asserted that there was "but little eff
fort put forth by its me .nbers for improve
ment" We did the kess ace could Burdened
as most of us are, as heads of families, with
labor and care, we were often compelled to be
absent from choir meetings, and also on the
Sabbath. But whenever circumstances would
permit, we were at rehearsal, ready to re-
celve instruction, and sang, to the best of
our ability, on all occasions And, until Mr..
Martin had resigned, none Of US received any
intimation from him that we were damage
to the choir, or that he desired us to leave it,
| word in regard to Mr.. Martins resigna-
ton, and the action of the choir in choosing
another leader. We knew nothing of his
dissatisfac ton, until, one Sabbath morning
just as our minister was about to commence
the exercises of the day, he received a letter
! from Mr. Martin, stating that he had resigned,
unless the choir was re-organized. Mr.. Har
ris at once informed us that Mr. Martin
would not be present." and we went on and
did the oest We could without him. At the
next meeting of the choir, Mr.. IT. read the
letter to Us, ana stated that cit was for Us TO
4 do rl,otl, TO, i
Mr.. NJ, or continue the choir as already ex-
isting and choose another leader" Wbeth-
er Mr.. IL. was right or arOng, in referring the
matter to the choir instead of tie ''society,"
had to act on it. And, after general consul
tation III relation to it, we were all agreed
that it would be better to keep the choir to-
gether as already constituted than to re-or-
ganize on the plan proposed.
In the article referred to, Mr.. NJ. says: II
called for reorganization Of the choir and
| that members be admitted only upon exani-
nation, and / found that those best acouaint.
ed with music and poetry were ready; but
those nearly or entirely ignorant of both
were unwilling" sc. Mr. Martin, we say
distinctly, that gou found no member. of tie
! choir, 0Rtsidc Of uoesr own family, hat acas
''ready" for any such thing. Perhaps Mrs.
Martin was in favor of Reorganization
but she was not at the meeting of the choir
referred to, neither was it stated there as
her desire. And, it is we'll known to rs, if
not to the public, that Mss Martin had ,os;
ti0efy refused to have anything to do with the
choir, before you resigned. Now, acho are
those" referred to as ready ?" And why
need you misrepresent Us TO the public? We
did not dispute your right to leave the choir,
if you chose to do SO. And when YOU had
left, we did the best we could without vou-
We are entirely willing to be judged by the
public according to our works, but We desire
to be fairly represented We have sung in
the choir, not for pleasure, praise or profit,
but because We desired to do what we could
to sustain singing in the congregation Of
which we are part
L. D. HALL, J. A.. MORTON,
MARY A. EALL, l.. CLARK.
PHEBE Z. HEYLMAN, c. J. JACKSON,
MINERVA LDNlsTER, A. KNAPP, JR,y
AMELIA B. NORTON, J.H LANG.
u. \. HARRIS,
7 tENTS a day will pay for ADVERT sing 4
malt OF a column in the Reporter, and vet
some ct our business men '.canuot = ford + "
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