The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-12-27
WOULDN'T WEAR sURPLICE.
The Reason Mr. twcomb Didn't
Sing in the holr at the Church o. the
Good SheuherJ hTiSlmns Morning

Quite a deal of talk was stirred up
among the Baptists and some mem
bers of other denominations yester-
day.
1t was all because Baptist-and
member of the choir of the First Bap-
fist church-declined to don a surplice
Christmas morning.
The man was Mr.. CIV .Newcomb, the
tenor of the First church choir.
At the Church of the Good Shepherd
Christmas morning there was an elab-
crate programme of music, and music
of a higher order than is often heard
in Raleigh
Prof. Vernon Dalnall, musical direc-
tor of Peace Institute, and several
members of other churches who had
good voices, aided the choir of the
church.
Among those on the programme
was Mr.. Newcomb, who was to sing
a tenor solo.
But the solo went unsung.
And some of Mr.. Newcomb's friends
talked about it. And then there were
others.
And so it grew into town talk
Mr.. Newcomb made this statement:
Il was invited by Prof Darnall, of
Peace Institute, to sing a tenor solo
at the Church of the Good Shepherd
on Christmas day.
Il did not consent until | knew that
my services would not be required at
my own church. Then, [ agreed to
sing at the Good Shepherd church, to
oblige Prof. Darnall, who is Presby
terrain, and one of my best friends.
81 attended choir practice regularly,
and practiced my solo.
During the practice some members
of the choir said, laughingly, Your
solo will do very well when you get
your surplice on This / considered
a joke and replied in the same vein,
I am Baptist, and will not he eX-
pected to wear a surplice.'
81 thought nothing more of the mat
ter until the conclusion of the final
practice rehearsal Tuesday evening,
when DIR. Pittenger sent for Prof.
Darnall, who after a short while re-
turned, and asked me if / really meant
what | had said to the members of the
choir about wearing surplice. / told
him / most certainly did. though be-
joke.
"He made profuse apologies to me,
and said that Dr. Pittenger said that
he had refused to allow others to sing
in the choir without putting on the
surplice, and he hoped | would be will
ing to conform TO the custom.
Il told him that would be impos-
sible, as the people of my church OBJ
jected to it.
..He replied that DR.. Pittenger said
nobody would recognize me with the
surplice on.
This is all there is in the matter. !
regret the occurrence purely on Prof.
Darnall's account"
A News and Observer reporter called
on DIR. Pittenger at the rectory OF the
Church of the Good Shepherd.
The popular rector was told OF the
extensive talk that had been created
+ by the little incident of the Baptist
who wouldn't wear robe.
He refused to make a statement re-
garding the matter. saying that 1t was
too small thing to merit attention.
4 prominent Episcopalian. in dis
cussing the affair said:
1T is a rule with all churches that
have vested choirs for all who sing in
those churches to wear the surplice.
This rule is always strictly adhered
to. for obvious reasons. If one went
into the choir without a surpiice. IT
would be like a soldier who had left
off his uniform.
This rule has always obtained at
the Church of the Good Shepherd ever
since it has had vested choir. There
are in the congregation now some per-
sons who object to wearing the sur
plice and therefore do not sing in the
choir. And these are members of the
Good Shepherd church. OF course, if
the rule is strictly enforced with the
membership it must be enforced as to
outsiders.
None of the members of other
churches who has sung in the choir
has made objection to the surplice.
When Mr.. Pigott sings here, he wears
the surplice. Among those who have
sung in the choir and worn the robes
are Prof. Vernon Darnell, Presbyter
ian; Prof. Smith, Baptist; Mr.. W. j.
Cooper, a Methodist; so you see the
enforcement of the rule was not meant
in any degree as a slight to Mr.. New
comb or his denomination.
II am very sorry that such a stir has
been raised over so small a matter. 1t
is thing of the slightest importance"