Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-11

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JOHN E. PARKER.
full choral service, while in the morning the
service is read. Mr.. John E. Parker, choir
master, says: "As to the relative merit Of boy
choir as compared with gallery choir would
say the latter has had its day. During nv ex-
perience Of over twenty-five years have vet to
find q single case where q parish adopted
vested choir that 1t did not prove acceptable to
the people. A better illustration in this city
cannot be found than the Church Of the Incar-
nation, which choir l organized some en- years
ago."
st. Marks Church was formerly known as
Memorial Parish. 1t was organized june t.
1869. The present name Of the parish was
changed to st. Marks Church Nav ~, 1890
Up to this time the music was rendered by quar-
tet choirs. The present choir was organized
December 10. 1884, by MIR. Charles N. Wake and
consisted Of sixteen boys. The first service WIS
rendered by the surpliced choir February "a,
1885. The present incumbent took charge Of
the music September /, 1889. Since the organ
izatiOn OF the present choir and for several
years prior to that time Miss Mildred Johnston
has PLAYED the organ and materially sssis Led the
choirmas.er.
TIE PRESENT CHOIR
Boys-Frederick A. Wallace, Samuel NJ
Darrah. Robert L. Shannon, Walter NJ Shomo.
Dana B. Johannes, Geo. v. Earnshaw, Benia-
win, Theodore Dalton. Freddie D. Bradford,
Horace Davis, Ira Johannes, Robert Bright.
Claud Mahon, Edwin Lundy, Don Lundy, Willie
Hillyer.
Msn-Frank Moore, w. S. Hodges, A. ]. Per-
kins, DR.. c. N. b. Harris, B. 8. Town. J. G.
White, H. C. Cheston, H. P. Blair, Robert Dali
ton, Pinkney Gaddis. Miss Mildred Johnston,
orSanist. John E. Parker, ehoirmAster.
ST. JAMES CHOIR
On the night Of septuagesima Sunday. Febru-
airy l, 1885. being the eve Of the feast Of the
publication, two men and ten boys we're for
mally vested and received with service of adj
mission into The parish choir of st. James
Church. The choir was for many years under
the direction Of the rector, Mr. Bryan doing
faithful service as precentor and Mr.. Father US
organist.
r. A. H. Clark was appointed organist and choir
master. At the present time the choir numbers
fourteen boys and eight men. There is q choral
ceiebration OF the holy communion every Sun
day. such services as II. h. Browns. Monks
Redhead's. Woodward's, Merbecke's. DC. being
sung. Gregorian psalter and canticles at even
song are the rule, with occasional Anthem Mag
nifeat and Nunc Dimistis.
ST. JOHNS CHOIR, GEORGETOWN
The choir OF men and boys belonging to st.
Johns Church, Georgetown, D. c., was organ
lied some time in 1887 under the direction Of
Mr. ]. E. Parker. who remained with it about
one year. On January 10. 1883. il was placed
in charge Of DIR. F. 8. Barbarin and shor tly
afterward vested. DIR. Barbarin remained in
charge until the autumn of 1884, when he re-
signed in favor of Mr. @. A. Pearson. who con-
bers about sixteen boys and ten men and is as
sisted by ladies. who occupy positions on either
side Of the choir behind the men and boys
MIR. W. E. Middleton is the organigt The
music Of the choir Is generally well rendered
and ehurchly. no attempt being made for eff.
feet and but few solos used. II has generally
given satisfaction to the congregation. who
would not be willing to return to the old
quartet style Of music.
ENMANUEL CHURCH, ANAcosTIA, D. c.
The vested choir Of Emmanuel Church was
organized in June, 1888, by the rector Of the
parish. A choir was needed for the evening
services Of the church, as number of those
who composed the mixed choir of the morning
were unable to be present at night. A dozen
boys were gathered together at hrst and went
for practice once a week under the leadership
Of Mr.. b. Bryan. In the course of time the
number Of boys vas increased until eighteen
sat regularly by the organ on Sunday nights
and rendered the musical parts Of the service
After q few months Of trial in this way it was
choir should be properly vested and superseds
altogether the old mixed choir, and on Easter
day: 1889, the boys appeared for the first time
IN vestments at the morning service. From
J that time on the vested choir has been o regular
feature Of the worship Of Emmanuel Church.
At first 1t was composed entirely of bows,
with the exception Of the leader, Mr.. Bryan,
and they sang simply in chorus, making no at
| tempt to carry the several parts. Tho organist
was himself boy, . well-instructed muacisn,
dered most efficient and acceptable service.
In June, 1891, Mr.. Bryan retired from the
leadership and was succeeded by Col. J. E.
SNOW, who assig led few parts and began to
train the boys in singing them. But little, how
ever, was accomplished in this direction, the
vacation and Col Snow resignins in the follow
It was under Mr. Chas. F. Roberts, who suc-
essded Cob Snow in October, 1891, that the
most decided improvement was made. During
the six months Of his efficient leadership the
choir made great and rapid advancement, and
on his retirement on the first Of the present
month OF May had begun TO take rank with the
weli-trained choirs Of the city. Meanwhile the
second organist, Miss Maud Egsn, who served
BY Mr. Fred. NJ. Bryan, who. having long sup
piled the vacancy tentatively, now took the
place OF permanent ofganist
The present ehoirmaster, Who has last en-
tered upon MS outaee, - the fourth IN order
from the organization. Mr.. Roedsr takes up
the work where Mr.. Roberts left il, and has al
| ready shown himself to be fully competent to
carry 1t on to still greater excellence He pro-
poses to remit no effort 10 make the choir one
Of the best In the city. He finds excellent ma
terial and the older members have already had
good training.
II win thus BE- seen that the vested choir of
Emmanuel Church, Anacostis, IL . growth in
every way, except In point Of numbers. h 10
smaller nov than il has BEEN ct sone periods Of
/ it, history. but thNro hae bean from thu start