The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-16
AMONG THE CITY CH0lRS
ST. JOHN'S r. F. CHURCH'S NOTABLE
 DEPIRTURE.

A Surpliced Choir Its Debut at Easter The Choir Mombership-A Few Words About st, Pauls Choir Also
 The Easter morning service at St | Johns church will be one of unusual interest masmuch as on this day the surpliced choir, which anyone who is at all familiar with the doings of the church will recognize to be q new feat ure at St Johns, will assist for the first time and make it's initial appearance,
 The choir is new only in the adoption Of it's ecclesiastical robes it being the regular choir. Unlike Trinity's choir, ! St. Johns will be graced by feminine singers, who, even though 1t be Easter, with just the dearest chance to dis play a new Faster gown or bonnet, will instead don sombre black cossacks, the sheerest of white linen surplices and sectional shaped caps of purple cloth. In view of the fact that the singers are to be stationed inside the sanctuary in l view of the congregation, the effect pro- duced by all being similarly robbed ought to be much more pleasing and artistic and inspire more devotion than an array of fashionable headgear of the latest creation of the modiste or tailor
 Mrs. c, H. Butricks, soprano, who sang with the choir last year. has been re-engaged. Her work was exception ally fine and satisfactory. Presumably the other members of the choir will fill their old places. Miss Helena Lowe, Miss Lulu Lenno, Miss Nina Dean, Miss Addie Sissou Miss Mabel Scotleld and Miss Viola G. Bishop are the sopranos; Miss Jennie Parsons, Miss Elizabeth Pendeton, Miss Edith T.. Bishop and Miss Eva l.. Thompson the alto; Mr. Frederick H. Newman. and MT. Charles w. Kennedy tenors; MT. A, t. FIunie, MT. Frank L. Hamilton and MT w. r. Chicks made up the basses, The choir is one of the most efficient in the City of Elms The singers all possess rich, melodious voices, which under the proficient directorship of Prof F. A. Fowler, choirmaster, render most pleas ing music.
 A special program Is being for Easter services.
 MT. Charles R. Fowler, son of Prof Fowler. is the organist.
 The vestments to be worn by the la dies of the choir are being made by the "'rld connected with St Johns church
 oxeter & Son of Orange street are at work on the mems vestments
 AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGAN1STS.
 At a meeting of the American Guild of Organists held in New York an in teresting little pamphlet was issued setting forth an order of service or kind of ritual for use in the diocese of New York by Bishop Potter. The following declaration" of the religious princi- ples of the American Guild of Organ ists will be interesting to the organsts and choir singers of New Haven. The honorary president of the guild is Dud- ley Buck, and the honorary vice presi- dent Professor Frederick Fowler of this city. New Haven is also represented by Professor Horatio w. Parker:
 Gro be read by the chaplain and mem-
 bers of the guild, standing,)
 For the greater glory of God, and for the good of His Holy Church in this land we, being severally members of the American Guild of Organists do de- clare our mind and intention in the things following:
 We believe that the Office of Music in Christian Worship is a sacred Oblation before the Most High.
 We believe that they who are set as Choirmasters and as Organists in the House of God ought themselves to be persons of devout conduct teaching thf ways of earnestness in the Choirs com mitted to their charge.
 We believe that unity of purpose ant fellowship of life between Ministers ant Choirs should be everywhere establish ed and maintained.
 We believe that at all times and in al places it is meet, right and our bounder duty to work and to pray for the ad vancement of Christian worship in tho holy gifts of strength and nobleness; t' the end that the Church may be purget of her blemishes. that the minds of mel may be instructed, that the honor 0 Gods house may be guarded in ou time and in the time to come.
 Wherefore we do give ourselves witt reverence and humility to these endeav OTIS, offering up our works and our per , sons in the Name of Him Withou l Whom nothing is strong, nothing ii T holy Amen.
 Prof Fowler is also in charge of tn - choir Of St. Paurs church, which i ? another excellent body of singers, thei 2 work being characterized by the sam l thoroughness and finish that mark al 2 with which Professor Fowler is asso F, ciated. Many of the choir are soloiat D of distinction, and have been hear } here on many important public oeca , sions. Mrs. Nora Russell Haesche ha resumed her place after an absence 0 eight months, and has been re-engager for the ensuing year. Her long Hines has not deprived her voice of any o 5 it's purity, and it's ringing quality, i = anything, is better than ever, and is O & distinctly melodious character. Mis- J Edith Beers, who wasa Iso absent oW ing to sickness, has entirely recovere and resumed her old place. During he