The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-24
Welded, BUT NO MUSIC.
4 STRANGELY SILENT MiRRTAGE
AT MONUMENTAL CHURCH.
Mr.. Powers Wanted to Play the Organ
but Professor Shaw Would Not Give
Up the Key-Both sides OF the Case.

There was a wedding at the Monu-
mental church yesterday morning.
The occasion of JOY TO two hearts that
beat as one Is fully described elsewhere.
While the early comers waited and watch
ed the later arrivals. and all joined wait
ing and watching for the bridal party
there was silence from the organ-gallery.
Much comment and talk followed, es-
pecially when the ceremony proceeded
and ended without q note Of music from
the organ, and many were the reasons
and rumors given for its absence.
After the ceremony I sought out Pro-
fessor j. Emory Shaw, the crganfst at
the church. to find the cause OF it. hav-
ing heard all sorts of reasons given on
coming out of the church.
found him at home In the coy fats,
"The Bellevue" corner of Fifth and
Cary streets, and he says he has a con-
tract with the church people as organist,
and one part of the contract provides
that he Is to play at funerals, II desired,
without compensation, but that he is
TO be paid for playing al weddings. He
went on to say EXPLAINING the absence OF
music yesterday, that 1t was caused by
his refusal TO let Mr.. Philip S. Powers
have the key to the organ at this wed
ding. He said further, that Mr.. Powers
wrote him several days ago. saying that
he was requested 10 play yesterday, and
had agreed TO do so, and asked him
SHAW for the key, which he declined
to let him have for reasons given above.
He had nothing whatever against Mr..
Powers as a musician or gentleman, and
the matter was purely one Of business
principle with him.
He Shaw IS the organist and alone
responsible for the care Of the organ.
Mr.. Shaw continued. saying that he was
sustained in his action by Mr.. Thomas
Potts. the chairman of the music commit
tee Of the vestry Of Monumental church.
Mr.. Shaw said the only thing else he
knew Of II was that he had heard this
morning that a cabinet organ was intro
duced into the church Tuesday evening,
and that Mr.. Powers had started 10 play
on it yesterday, when he was stopped by
Mr.. Potts.
He knew nothing of his own knowledge
Of this, however.
| next called on Mr.. Philip S. Powers
late organist of the Monumental church.
and now acting in that capacity for the
First Baptist church.
Mr.. Powers told me that Mr.. Smith
the bridegroom. wrote a former music
teacher of Mrs Smiths, asking him 10
play yesterday. This gentleman could
not come. and he then called on Mr.
Powers. Having been organist at the
Monumental church for five years he
saw no Improperly ia playing then.
He continued: 1 have never had a
cent for playing at a funeral, and would
not receive a cent for such a service.
l wrote Mr. Shaw asking for the key
TO the organ. He would not send it TO
me. alleging his contract with the Monu-
mental church vestry as the cause for
refusing.
then dropped the idea of playing on
that organ, but being urged 10 play by
the bridegroom | agreed to play the two
wedding marches on cabinet organ
which he had put in the church for that
purpose.
on reaching the church Wednesday
morning | was forbidden the use Of the
small organ by Mr.. Potts. the chairman
Of the music committee OF the church.
That's all know about il. l have played
I'm three other churches under like cir
cumstances in the last two months, and
in nearly every church in town during
the past five years, and never had any
such thing 10 happen 10 me befor".
things under similar circumstances again.
Mr. Thomas Potts, the chairman OF the
music c. mmittee of the church, agreed
to give me his version Of the trouble,
remarkng at first that he sustained Mr..
Shaw, the organist. in his action as will
be seen by his POtts) statement follow
ing:
Mr.. Potts said the facts in the case
are these
The Monumental church, through its
committee on music, of which ! am
chairman, made contract with Professor
Shaw, and one item Of it was that he was
TO play at all funerals and marriages.
il is a common rule not 70 pay for
music at funerals. and quite as common
to pay at marriages.
The marriage on Wednesday was spoken
of last week, and on Monday morning
Mr.. Powers, organist of the First Rap-
fist church (who had been organist at
Monumental several years., called TO see
me I'm reference to his playing our organ.