The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-09
qREBELLI' Beer
NOT AN issue
Only an Incident in the
Great Church 0rches-
ira Deadlock.
Propriety Insisted Upon by Both
Parties to the Con-
troversy.
However, 1t Is Expected That Calm
Oounsels Will Prevail and
Harmony Reign.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL, ,

9OS Broad way. Aug. s.
Nothing that has transpired in church
circles for years has caused so much in
terest as the circum stances published in
HE CALL to-day regardins the sowing
of the celebrated Sunday-school orchestra
by the trustees of the First Congregational
Church. The whims of Nine. Trebelli
and her managers, though but one of the
incidents leading up the summary dis
missal of the orchestra, have added greatly
to the interest of the situation.
Rev. G. r. Brown, pastor of the First
Congregational Church, would not discuss
the details of the affair to4nigh and said
1t was an unpleasant matter that would
pass off quickest if nothing were said
about it.
This is family affair."" he said, land
the less said about it the better
Now that the secrets of the trouble be-
tween the church and the Sunda school
orchestra are male publ C, all sorts of in
cidents connected with it's existence are
being related. At Sacramento and Fresno,
when the orchestra visited those places,
two of the members did things that
shocked the residents, because nothing
but ultra propriety was expected of a
Sunday school, orchestra
According to Manager William A.
Fine the orchestra objects to being
kicked out, but does not object to being
invited to leave decently. He has re-
turned the communication of the Joint
committee of the church with q request
for them 10 read it and see if they had
fully con sidered its purport. He and Dr.
rector Mccoy are both ready to accept its
conditions, but believe that the terms
should and would be couched in more
pleasant language if the personal refer
vnces were stricken out OF it.
II was not present at the meeting at
which the orchestra was discussed" said
President r. w. Snow of the board OF
trustees of the First Congregational
Church tonight, $50 the letter was not
signed by me at that time. 1t was pre-
scented TO me the next day with the sigma
ture of the secretary of the meeting As
il was not couched in the terms l thought
ought to be used to body of young
people that had held such harmonious
relations with US for so long, l refused to
sign it. I thought the secretary's name
was sufficient.
THE Communication had three divi-
sions in it, and shorn of ali details, they
we're these: Flrst-That the orchestra
drop the name of the First Cougreg at1onal
Sund ay-schooi. Secopd-That their play
ing in the Sunday school be dispensed
with. Third-That as they were no longer
the Sunday-school orchestra under ar
rangements they should not expect the
privileges they had enjoyed in the past.
Now, if this had been conveyed to them
in the proper spirit, there would never
have been word of trouble, for both Mr..
Fine and Mr.. Mccoy have been planning
tor this very thing themselves, as it was
the wish of the orchestra.
But some one, whether it was the sec.
rotary of the meeting or not I do not
know, couched 1t in such language tn at
the boys did not know whether they had
been thrown out or what had happened TO
them They naturally came to me to find
out. l showed them the three points of
the letter, and, telling them to forget the
rest of the letter, asked them if they were
satisfied with these. They replied in the
affirmative, and said they had contem-
plated such move at their first rehearsal
a week from Tuesday night. Then they
accepted it in Christian spirit, and made
a manly response to the same.
LAS 10 the property that belongs to til e
orchestra. The only equity we possess is
in the fact that we eacoura ed them and
gave them the use of the house and lights
to raise the money for their purchase. No
individual can come in and take any of
it away, but the orchestra may do what
they please with 1t.
at Is evident that some one is jealous of
the ownership OF the music and instru-
ments. l don't believe that there would
ever have been word about this affair ii
it was not owing TO a jealous disposition
being shown by some one. That always
leads to trouble.
Little things. one after another, have
been stored up by the deacons for twelve
long years, and now they have acted.
They are mott blame and every tn ing will
settle down as of ola. While l am in
charge OF the church. at least until l have
different instructions rom the board of
trustees, The orchestra will meet for re-
hearsals and give their concerts in the
church as of old, and l told the boys So"
1t has been said Rev. c. Z. Brown is
the moving spirit in he plan to get rid
of the orchestra, but this is not so, the
pastor being a cornet player himself. Mr..
Brown has only said that mem bers of a
Sunday-school orchestra should certainly
be Christians and mem bers OF the church.
As several other churches have orches-
uras the move of the First Congregational
Church is being watched with great in
terest by the Others and may lead to
general revision of the rules of governing
churches and Sunday school orchestras