Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-06
OUR CHORIsTERs.


singers in our city. Unlike other cities, there
are comparatively few paid choirs, most
churches adopting the chorus choir system. II
seems 10 be believed that the qusrtette
choir will, sooner or later, monopolize the
singing IN the church. IL the quartstte be q
well selected and good one, a m sjority of the
uncultiv ated worshippers prefer to listen rather
than mar the harmony by introducing their
discordant voices, and if the guartette be in
ferior the w0rshippers have nothing to help
them on or support them, and again they re-
main silent. The stringency in the money mar
ket has had the effect to curtail church expenses
in this line. Paid choirs have had to disband,
and congregations are at the mercy Of the be-
nevolent vocalists in their own flock. SO,
in one way and another, the practice Of con
gregational singing is being introduced with
Among the Episcopal churches the majority
OF the choirs are composed OF the simple quar-
tette.
At the Church of the Incarnation, corner of
18th and streets northwest, Rev. j. r HUI
bard. Mr.. Robt Ball is the musical director;
Prof. e. W. Chapman, orgsnist; soprano, Miss
Sallie Flynn; alto, Miss Jauie Bryant; tenor,
Mr.. W. Parker; bass, Mr.. RObt. Bsll-an
ceedingly well balanced quartette, giving great
satisfaction to the church.
At the Ascension Church, II street, between
9th and 10th, Rev. DR.. Elliott, congre stional
singing is in vogue. Mr.. Walter is the orgsnist
and Miss Davis leads the singing. Some years
ago this church was rather noted for its choir.
We well remember the iiue quartette, composed
of Chapel, Burnett, Mrs. Reynolds and Miss
Kaufman NOV Mrs. Crosby The new church
edtce being erected, on the corner of Massa-
chusetts avenue and 18th street, will call for an
adequate musical auxiliary to the impressive
Episcopal service.
At the st. Johns Church, Rev. J. Vaughn
Lewis, the choir is a male octette the only o.
tette (malel in the country, and Ia under the
direction of Mr.. Henry Bradley. 1t is a small
detachment of the Masonic choir, all the mem
bers being Masops in good and regular stand
Z inn ord 10 lvid ad LAT tam nm
V. Noyes and George L. Sheriff; I'd tenor, as.
Patterson and G.. A. Whitaker: LIST bsssi, VIM.
1eatman and H. II II Bradley; "a t Ssssi, John B.
Bradley, is acting as Organist for the present.
Some OF Washngt0h's oldest and favorte vo-
ealists will be found in this choir. Who
does not remember Dawson's "Oli sexton?''
The choir is well balanced, and has introduced
some very valuable selections for its service.
The Epiphany Church, Rev. Wilbur F. Wat
kins rector, has ALWAYS had a reputation for
good music since the days of Heller, (Palmer,)
who was for q long time chOr-master. The
choir are Mrs. Camp, soprano; Mrs. Root alto;
bass. MIS- Kate Pierson (nes Quail) is the or
ganiste and direetress. This choir achieve
wonderful musical results, considering the in
strumental adjunct, which is old, wheezy and
unit the name of organ. With the large and
musical congregation IL is remarkable that such
box OF discordant pipes should be allowed to
remain. We commiserate the choir. They are
worthy OF better instrumental support.
At the Trinity Church, Rev. DR.. Addison,
there is also a 1uartette choir. Miss Moxon,
OrgaDist; Mrs. MOrrell, soprano; Miss Willard,
Alto Mr.. II. c. Pierson, tenore, and Mr.. ID. W.
Middleton. jr., basso. This il likewise well
balanced and well organized choir. The organ
is a very good one, and the bellows is worked
by water power.
At Christ Church, Navy Yard, Rev. Charles
d. Andrews, there is a!sa Inartette Prof.
Miss Kate Hardin, contralto; MIR. VIM. Hutch
inson. tenor; Mr.. Frank Gross, bass. a good
choir.
At the Rock Creek Church, episcopal Rev.
Mr.. Buck, rector the choir. which was once
under the charge of the Misses Wood, of the
neighborhood of Soldiers Home, has assumed
the proportions OF congregational choir, AMI
all unite in singing the chants. The Misses
Wood were a valuable addition to the choir,
and rendered some select and classical church
music while in charge.
The St Johns Episcopal Church in G eorge-
town, Rev. A. II. Atkins, rector, have one of
the best choirs in the District The organist is
Mr.. Charles McCartee. Mrs. Bailey is the
prano, possessing voice OF great purity,
and is one of the most reliable choir singers in
the District. Miss Emily Hyde. the cOntralto,
tenor and Mr.. Harvey A. k0hr the bassO ami
director OF music. We think this the best bal
anced choir in the District. They render some
of the finest church music, and conscienciously.
The organ is a tine Erben, and under SIR. Me-
Cartee's control is very effective.
Christ Church, Georgetown, Rev. Mr.. Will
liaIns. Here they have a double quartette. Col.
Hermann Seligson is conductor, and Miss MIN
mo, of Baltimore, the OTganiste. The soprani
are Misses Me and Abbott; alti Miss Dot
son. Mrs. Brice; basSi, Mr.. w. W. prme. Mr..
Barrett; TENOR, DIR. Jouy, Mr.. y. L. Brlcc.
Col. seiigson, tenori, takes the leading tenor
PaIts.
at Grace Church. South Washington, Rev.
DR.. Holmead, Mrs. Hannah Holmead is organ
.t and musical drectress, Misses Davidson aud
johnson soprani; Miss Williams alto; Mr.. Ed.
James bass, and Mi. Davidson ten0re. This Is
a good and reliable choir.
At the Fifth Baptist Church, Island. Rev. G.
G. Meaoor, Mrs Neador is organist; MIS-. Boy,
ard Mrs. olive are sOprani; Misses Allen and
Charlton alti; Messrs. Beyers and " illiams ten
orr, and Messrs. Hopkins and Taylor bassi.
At ST. Paurs Church, Rev j. A. jackson, j.
P. Franklin is organist, and the choir is com
posed OF the following ch0rister boys: ID. l.. Nor
Tison, +. b. Hay, ID. ID. James, j. ID. DOYLE,
Richard Stockton. +. A. Whiting, X. III Viii
Kerr, Robert Perrott, Barton Easily, VI: V.
Kerr. c. Belt, George Cook. }. Sessford, Q. Bal
ley, WIN. Hopkins, j. Il. Pierce, ii. d. Many
der.
at st. Adams Episcopal Church, near Ten
nallytown, Rev. John H. Chew Mr.. VIM. Mid
deton is the organist. The choir is not in reg
Ular attendance, b1t upon special occasions IL
composed of Miss Bessie Chew, Miss Sue Hon
2ier, Mir. 5. l.. Middleton, and Mr. Dennis
Lyles, tenor.
AT the 18th street Baptist Church, Rev. Mr.
Cuthbert, the organist IS Mr. Moultrop; Mrs.
Seifiert and Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. DIR. sampson,
Miss Ida Phoenix, Mr.. Robert McMurrsy, Ed
gar speiden, and DIR. Sampson. The congrega-
ton at this church sing with the choir.
AT the Calvary Baptist Church, Rev. j. W.
Parker, D. d., Mr.. Henry Il. Aver is musical
director; Mr.. q. II. Moore organist; sOprani,
Misses Hattie Meyers, Katie Wells, Emily Mi
rick, Christiana Bates, and Anna Sterling; alti,
Misses Fannie Richardson, Farence, and Root;
tenor, Mr.. David Haynes; bassi. Ellis ". Clapp,
Mr.. Adams, and David McCoomb.
AT the street Baptist Church, Rev. ID. d.
JGtten, pastor, the leader and basso is Mr.. j. ii.
Patrick; alto, Mrs. Pa trick.
At the North Baptist Church, Rev. Or. Gray,
Mr.. Zalmon Richards is the musical director,
and Miss Augusta Cray organiste The singing
is congregational, and is led by Mr. X ichards.
At the Metropolitan Presbyterian Church,
Capitol Hill, Mr.. David McGOwan is musical
director, and Miss Emma an Doren org aniste.
Here congregational singing is used.
At the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church, Rev. =. s. Mitchell, pastor, the singing
is congregational exclusively. and under the d-
recti0n Of Hr. Samuel G.. Young, who is the
preCentor. Mr. Frederick kroell Is the organ
list. new organ has just been placed in the
church, and is one OF the best instruments in
Washing Mr.. Kroell Is one of the abiest
organists i'll the city, and under his hands the
fun tone and beauty OF the instrument Is
brought forth.
The Fourth Presbyterian Church, Rev. John