Morning journal and courier., 1886-03-01
AIN OPEN LETTER
From Calvary Baptist Church Music Committee To The Music Committee 0f The United Church Society.

Committee To The Music Committed
 of The United Church Society.
 The following letter was received last eve. ming for publication from MT. Maltby, chairman of the music committee of Calvary Baptist church:
 Mr. Edward L. Clark, chairman, and the
 gentlemen of the music committee of
 United Church society:
 In the matter of the engagement of MT. Max Kastner by you, after he had agreed to sing for the Calvary Baptist church, we feel that we have not been fairly treated by you, and we desire to place the following facts before you: In an interview on Mon day, February 10th, with one of our con- mittee Mir. Kastner stated that he had been offered $500 to take charge of the music at your church, but that for various reasons he did not want the position and would sing for us, if wanted, at $400 per year. On the evening of the same day we unanimously voted to accept his offer, and MT. Kastner was notified of the fact on Tuesday, the 18th, both verbally and in writing, at different hours by two members of our committee, and both of them were assured by Ir. Kastner that everything was all right singing @ at the 'u5s Calvary Baptist tn church. ' In fact, he repeatedly gave us every assurance that could be given verbally that he consid- cred the matter settled and only refrained
  tify the people at Hartford, but would send his written acceptance on the following Mon day. That day being holiday, we did not think it strange that we did not receive the formal written acceptance; but on Tuesday, the 23d, late in the afternoon, our chairman called on MT. Kastner to inquire if he had not then delayed as long as courtesy required of him. He was informed that everything was all right, and that although the United church people (to use MT. Ks own words) were bothering him good deal and trying to offer him inducements to go to them and not to Calvary church by raising their offer and by sundry persuasive arguments, he should not do it, but would surely sing at Calvary church.
 On Wednesday the 24th, we were notified by letter from MT. Kastner to our chairman which opens thusly: "Yeu will doubtless be astonished after our talk of last evening, etc. but the United church have offered me $650 and have agreed to give me soprano and alto singer besides a male quartette in few months when the old Third church property is sold, and have just signed 8 contract with then." The same day (24 in an inter- view with two members of our committee, and in the presence of both of them, Mr. Kastner admitted that he had done wrong, that he had agreed to sing for us and that he was In scrape He also said that he had informed you of the situation, but t ena' you had come to him and had out-talked and over-persuaded him. Furthermore, that certain members of your committee had argued with him that even though he had agreed to sing for us if was not binding, as he had not signed any writing. MT Kastner also stated that when he did finally yield it was on condition that you should consult with and make matters satisfactory to us. It is, perhaps, unneees sary to add that no attempt of that kind was made. We cannot, of course, say how far any of these statements of MT. may wrong you, but we will say that the fact that the engagement of MT. K and the makeup of the Calvary church choir were prominently published (though morning of the day on which you visited him, by twos and thrses, twice in the same