River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1893-01-12
a COLORED BOY CHOIR.
q. Phillips Church Boasts the Largest
One In the United States

-. Phillips Church Boasts the Largest
One In the United states.
New York boasts of the largest sur
oliced colored boy choir in the United
States, and, so far as is known, in the
world. Such choirs are not numerous,
and are to he found only in large cities.
There are two in New York-one be-
onging to a Roman Catholic and the
other To Protestant Episcopal church.
The latter is the one here meant, and
as the music Of the Episcopal is so far
different from that of the Roman Cath
olic church no comparison between the
two can be drawn.
St Philips church in West Twenty
fifth street, between Sixth and Seventh
avenues, is one of the oldest colored
congregations in America. The present
building is an ordinary affair of brick
and was once used by Methodists. The
trustees are discussing plans for a
larger and far more imposing structure
Up to last Easter the music at st. Philips
was furnished by the ordinary mixed
.hoir of colored singers. Some months
before Easter il was decided to change
to boy choir, such as are to be found
N Trinity, St Agnes's, ST. Andrews
and other more or less high"
churches in the city. The present or
ganist, Mr.. f. i. Kinney. was engaged
TO organic the choir. and the first serv-
ces'un6er the new order of things were
heard on last Easter Sunday. Mr.. Kin
ney, however, found the task of organi-
zation difficult one. He discove red
that, as far as the constant desire to
have fun and play pranks with one an
other was concerned, there was not
much difference between colored and
white boys. And as the choir consisted
Of thirty boys. in addition TO twenty
men, he had TO keep his eyes open. In
time the youngsters began to submit
fairly well to discipline and are now
quite tractable. OF course there was
no trouble with the men.
The colored race is essentially mu-
steal. both in ear and voice, and this
fact has caused the choir of IT. Philips
to he rccSoned among the best boy
,hoirs in the city. Once the youngsters
are interested they enter upon the
work with an earncstness that would
put many white boy 20 blush. In the
choir there are several remarka bly,
good soprano voices. Two little col
ored chaps. Prentice Hutchinson and
Howard Braxton. are regarded as
especially fine. and to them most of the
solos are given. The ages of the boys
range from to is years.
Mr.. Kinney says that, as far as he
knows. he is the only white person con-
nected with the church, though the
rector, Rev. II. c. Bishop, is frequently
assisted by white ministers. st.
Philips church is interesting for other
things than its choir. IL has very
valuable chalice cup, made of gold,
which has been insured for four thou
sand dollars. 1t is studded with dia-
monds. pearls. rubies L other precious
stones. There is a legend that two of the
diamonds. each worth $500. were found
in the bottom of a trunk belonging to
one of the women members of the
church, and were given TO adorn the
.halice cup. The altar is a handsome
one and was presented by DIR. Ray.
eolored physician of some note in this
city. The organ is small, but very
sweet in tone.-N. Y. World.