The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-05-20
An Incident Which is Not Unlike Others
That Some of Us MAY Have Heard.

We have read about the newly i'm
ported Geman tenor who on an Easter
morning electrified ''heavily mortgaged
congregation" by singing over and over
again, ''He will raise re debt, He will
raize re debt in re twinkling an eye.'
But the following musical incident is re-
lated by one who recently attended a
fashionable church. The choir started
with reference to the lilies of the field,
and after ringing the changes on the
word "cCnsider'' TN il all idea of its
connection was lost, they began to tell
the congregation, through the mouth OF
the soprano, that Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayed." Straightway
the soprano was reinforced by the basso,
who declared that Solomon was most de-
cidedly and emphatically not arrayed-
was not arrayed. Then the alto ven
tured it as her opinion that Solomon was
not arrayed, when the tenor, without a
moments hesitation, sang, as if it had
been officially announced that she was
not arrayed." Then, when the feelings
of the congregation had been narrowed
up sufficiently, and our sympathies al
merous wives allowed him to go about
III SuCu IL ldSlllOll, buC SllOll tbO
in most cool and composed manner
informed us that the idea they intended
TO convey was that Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayed 'like one Of
these"-these what? So long a time
had elapsed since they sang of the lilies
of the field that the thread was entirely
lost, and by ''these" one naturally con
cluded that the choir was designated
A &c chA,,lI
think not, indeed! Solomon in Prince
Albert or cutaway coat? No, most de
cidedly. Solomon in the very zenith OF
his glory was not arrayed like one OF
these.
Despite the experience of the morning
the hope still remained that in the even
ing sacred song might be sung in q
manner that would not excite our risi
bilties or leave the impression that We
had been listening to a case of black
mail. But again off went the nimble
soprano with the very laudable though
startling announcement, II will wash. u
Straightway the alto, not to be outdOne,
declared that she "would wash" And
the tenor, finding it to be the thing
warbled forth that he wonld wash.
Then the deep-chested basso, as though
calling up his fortitude for the plunge
beloved forth the stern resolve that he
also would wash. Next short inter.
lude on the organ, strongly suggestive
of the escaping steam or the splash OF
the waves, after which the choir indi
vidually and collectively asserted the
trm, mistaken resolve that they would
wash. At last they solved the problem
by stating that they proposed to 'Wash
their hands in innocency. ."-CathOlic
Chimes.
A correspondent takes occasion, af
ter reading the above, to make the fol
lowing remarks: Readers of the BAN
NER, who can remember back fifty years
will be reminded by reading this article
that in many of the most fashionable
churches in New England at that time
style of music resembling this wa:
very popular.
1t is said that certain quartette, in {
fashionable church, used to render tha
beautiful old hymn, commencing, "Ol
for a mansion in the Skies" thus: The
soprano leading off in remarkably
sweet and persuasive voice, with articu
lation that would put to shame most
singers of the present day, would say
"Oh for a man, Oh for man." then {
short rest, and the alto took up the re
frain and made her petition in al
equally sweet and winning voice, "Of
for a man, Oh for a man'-anOthel
short rest; at this stage in the proceed
ings, it seemed as if every man in The
congregation, from pure sympathy
must be ready to yield up his own per
sonality to the fair singers, when all a
once, the tenor and basso joined theii
voices with the soprano and alto ant
repeated the refrain, "Oh for a man, Ol
! for man." then altogether singing the