Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1884-05-03
THE MOZART SOCIETY
Answers The IIirTimed. 1II.Iudged and
lll-ConditiOned Attack Of Anonys
nous Correspondents,
And Repudiates the Impression Thu.
Created that Other Than Harmony
Prevails Among Them.
To the Public.

To the Public.
At business meeting of the directory
of the Mozart Society, last Wednesday
| evening; the following communication was
read: a,. =;
To the President and Directors of the Mozart So
GENrLEMEN-In justice to the chorus, which
believe to be as decofous in conduct, as faithful
in study, and as amenable to discipline as any
mIneration @ or the hope Of reward, have been.
@ means I in % the cause Of Memphis and her musical
| progress; to Mr. Charles Z. Locke, who is intei-
outcome of the approaching Festival, and in
the, interest of those liberal and public spir-
tied citizens who have emphasized their
| approval of your enterprise and their con-
| same to the amount of some $500, / offer my
the ill-timed, ill-judged and ill-conditioned at
tacks which for some time past have been directed
and its otticors by one who, under, the cowardly
shelter Of anonymous letters, has been using the
columns of the press 20 vent his spleen upon
| every person and everything Connected with us;
1 know the generous-tempered, courteous and
| well-bred ladies and gentlemen who compose our
enthusiastic and efficient chorus too thoroughly
| to entertain, even for a single instant, the bare
thought that they T.ag be in sympathy with the
try in Observation-Disclosures of the Mozart al Society,
and therefore request that, without further de-
lay, you appeal to the active members for an ex-
preston of their views, and thus secure their in
dorsement in such shape that Vit being duly pub
lished in the dailies over their signatures) they
been led, with malevolent design, to believe the
captious, insu5ordinate and diss9nTteSps. o very
After due consideration the Board of
Directors resolved to carry out Mr.. Will
| sons wishes; and, accordingly, the next
evening the president, accompanied by
the entire directory, appeared at the
chorus rehearsal, and after few judicious
preliminary remarks (in which he ex-
pressed the said directory's confidence
| that no one belonging TO the Mozart Society
| was guilty of the contemplate action OF
anonymously abusing through the public
press his own society read the above
communication to the active members as
sembled.
On the part of the chorus, Mr.. F. p
| Poston in brief but forcible speech, in
which he paid well-merited compliments
| to the musical director, Mr.. Downs, and
the directory of the society, and expressed
his conviction that nowhere in the coun.
try could so large a body of singers be
| found on as good terms with its officers
aud each other, moved the appointment Of
| the following gentlemen, Messrs. ID. f
Jett, A. NJ. McMillin and J. A.Wiggs, as a
committee of three to prepare suitable
resolutions in reply. This motion being
seconded by Mr.. +. w. Taylor, and unani
mously adopted by the chorus, the above
mentioned gentlemen retired for space
and on their return presented the sub
joined:
MOZART HALL, May l, 1884.
WHEREAS, Sundry ill-advised articles have ap
| peared in print in the city calculated to conve,
| to our friends at home and abroad false imp-es
sion of the relations existing between the officer:
| of the Mozart Society and ourselye and to mis-
| lead the public into the belief that we are quar-
rails disann
l ciety:
| Ffrst-That we Indignantly repudists the IN
l warrantable statements in which these anony
/ nous writers have sought to impose the convic
| tion upon the public that said articles were sus
tanned and encouraged by us,
/ Second-That approaching the greatness of the
| trust confded to us by our friends and fellow
| citizens-that of illustrating Memphis at tn,
| coming Festival-we unwilling to be adver
tised 10 the world captiOus, rebellious and dis
l respectful to those in authority and unworthy o
| the trust reposed in us.
| Third-That, having the most cordial feelings
| of respect and esteem for the president, Board o.
| Downs, are in thorough accord with thei
| plans for and conduct of said society.
| Fourth-That, the remedy for all grievance
| lying within our institution and its laws, "
| heartily disapprove of members seeking redres
| for wrongs fanced or real, in the public press.
| Fifth-That we express our confidence in tn
ability and Willingness of the directory to inielli
/ gently and honestly administer the said laws.
| Sixth-And, finally, that we desire to embrae
this opportunity of returning our thanks to thos
/ liberal and appreciative citizens who have chose
us to represent our beloved city at their seeon
| annual Music Festival, and who, through thei
/ generous subscriptions, have rendered such
/ great undertaking possible. Respectfully sub
| mitted, J. A. WIGGS,
A. NJ McMiLLIN,
Committee.