National Republican., 1880-03-26
S25 solid Ii Carat Gold Watch,
very handsome, worth S35. Jacobs Bros, 1929
Pennsylyauia avenue
ST. LUKE'S CHOIR.
A Threatened Rupture in tho Church-Card
from Henry JohuGnn.

from Henry johnson.
Tho recent trouble between the choir of st.
Luke's p. i. church and the rector, which re.
suited in tho resignation of the choir, threat
ems 20 cause serious rupture in the church,
as many of the members consider that the
members of the choir have been unfairly
treated The matter Is assuming serious
look, and Is being considered in an advisory way
by the rcCtors of other parishes who do not
all sustain the action of Dr. Crummell. In
order to preserve harmony in the church IL is
not improbable that Bishop Pinkney will be
called upon TO settle the dilliculty.
Tho following communication is interesting
in this connection
To the Editor Of The National Republican:
SIR: painfully regret the necessity of en-.
tering into a controversy the cause of which
bids fair to wreck the fond hope we had of
aiding in establishing on . permanent basis
an Episcopal church for colored people in
this city. Having read in THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN, an account of tho trouble be-
tween DR.. Crummell and his choir aud a sub.
seuueut card signed by Il. Nugent, who is
neither member Of the choir nor associate
rector, priest or deacon, l desire to make n
plain statement of the case, and let the re-
sponsibility ior the threatened disintegration
of one Of the most promising congregations
rest where it properly belongs. The rector
| DR.. Crummell, is q man of marked ability,
y
not able to suhdue his passionate temperament,
hence at times becomes exceedingly violent
and tyranuical toward those associated with
him in subordinate positions in church affairs
Tho writer was one of five gentlemen desig-
mated by DR.. Crummell some months ago to
organize 3 choir, when no (the Doctor failed
/ to do So the result of which effort was the or.
| ganization, under Mr. c. A. Fleetwood Of the
choir recently connected with st. Luke's p. E.
church. Notwithstanding the labor and effort
on the part of Mr. Fleetwood and the Indies
aud gentlemen composing the choir to do all
| in their power Cehearsing four times a week }
| to make the church music attractive and q
success, their efforts were moro than neutral
lied 10y tho obstructive course of the rector.
| The choir, after praCtiCng music for Thanks
giving Day, were, a day before directed by
| the rector to substitute othor music, aud he
was informed five weeks ago Of the intention
| to sing the Magnfcat rs voluntary, Easter
| Sunday. OthersimilarC cases can be presented Of
! like latO changes made by him, but the above
| is fair sample Of the treatment accorded n
volunteer choir composed of some of tho finest
musical material among the COlored people of
! Washington. Tho rector not only selects the
! hyms but in many and most cases tho tunes,
and, not being an educated musician, would
require the director to whistle several tunes
| i'm order TO make his selection. Mr.. Nugent is
unfortunate in his card in every respect save
one, the length of his cars. The impression
that he seeks to convey is that the choir de.
! clned to sing simply because the rector
made change in one piece" While that may
be primarily the case, yet AS far as am ad-
vised that could havo happily been bridgod
over had not the manner and language of the
rector toward the choir in presence Of disin-
tercsted parties, closed the door to friendly
intervention. Tho difference between a choir
and music may be discovered by MT. Nugent
after Easter Sunday. The following is the
programme which was to have been sung by
the choir Easter Sunday, in the order given
Christ, the Lord, is Risen To-day" arranged
| from Mozart by james III. Rogers; Easter
anthem, "Christ our Passover" +. Spencer
| Lloyd; "Te Deum," @. Meincke's largo in G.
"Jubilate," J. r. Thomas, in b fiat; "Maguif.
cat" II. Millard. Voluntary service, Hymns
| 100, 1903, 10i; Communion Hymns 209, 462
"Goria in Excelss," old chant.
The rector directed tho choir to sing Ascen-
sion Hymn ll6in lieu ofthe MaguiaGat as a vol.
untary, and when informed by Mr.. Fleetwood
that the samo rule that would exclude the latter
would apply to tho former, remarked that II
made no difference, he wanted IL sung. The
opening words ofthe Maguifcat-"M Magnificent
arc the works, 0 Lord My soul reioiceth in
the LOrd"-.uppr ar TO our humble mind not
any more inappropriate for Easter service than
the words Of "lDAammatus," from Rlssinp'
Stabat Aator-"lo thy holy caro- elected, Yir'
gin, let us be protoCled"--to be sung Easter
Sunday in the Church Of the Ascension,
Respectfully HENRY JOHNaoN,
1914 Columbia street northwest.
J WAsHINuToE, ID. c., March 2j, 1850.