The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-25
BABYLON'S CHOIR STRIKES.
or TIKI CITY FOLKS DON'T LIKE
THE MUSIC, LET 'EM STAY HOME"

Pastor Long Finds That le Can't Plense tho
summer visitors and tho Choir. Too. ana
He Doesn't Know what TO Dole Oncrs n
Compromise Plan. which IL Rejected.
BABYLON, L. l., Aug. 2i.-Pastor Long OF tho
Presbyterian Church confronts "A choir strike.
Tho pastor is busy in an effort to smooth down
tho wrath OF tho choir over Its sighted har'
monies. lie has signifled his willingness to
meet the members half way and to let them sing
half as much as they want to. They refuse
to surrender, and all Of them except Edward
Miller, tho chotrmaster, who sings a slightly
diversified bass, declare that they will never,
mover lift their voices again to help Mr..
Longs pastoratc. Mr.. Long somehow bears
up bravely.
Tho choir Of the Babylon Presbyterian Church
has not an overweening good opinion Of itself.
but 1t does believe that its singing is worth
listening to. When 1t has practiced two even
ings a week on nm anthem, the choir feels that
1t has a lien on the ears of the congregation for
the next Sunday. Tho relatives, admirers,
and fricrds OF the members of the choir in tho
congregation were disposed to let their affcc-
tion for the individual members overbalance
their critical interest in the music. Whatever
tho merits OF the choir as n music-p producing
body, the choir was satisfied, and 30 was the
congregation-unt!l summer came.
With the ummcr tho New Workers came.
The New York women who come out to Baby.
Ion for the summer are most OF them wcll.to-
do. Such of them as are Prcsbytcrians have
been liberal in the support Of the church. Pas.
tor Long appreciated their kindnesses. lie
hoped they would come forward with any sug.
g~estions, he said. He wanted them to feel a
personal interest IN other than the merely
financial affairs OF the church. The New York.
ers accepted the invitation. They were not OF
the choir, nor were they Of its relatives, ad.
mirers, and friends. They felt free TO confess
that their desire for sacred music was not salts
fed by the anthems which the choir executed
or otherwise put TO DEATH" as the husband OF
with an alacrity that both hurt and anrercd
the choir, complied. lie announced that here.
after when the choir sang the whole congrcZa-
prohibited from independont efforts,
Then up rose Mrs. 4. Ellis Hawkins and Ida
Smith. Clement Price. the tenor, was carried
away in the tempest Of the women's displcas.
ure; Only Edward Miller was left. lie didn't
Went home. II there Would b another choir
formed with unlimited license to sing. When
that day came i he stuck y the pastor nov,
appointment was doubtful.
Pastor Long was somewhat perturbed by the
sudden spunkiness of his choir. He explained
to the choir that the arrangement for congrega-
tional singing applied only 10 the morning ser.
vice. In the evening service the choir could
have all the music to itself and welcome. II
such n thing were possible. the choir's anger
grew hotter. The members knew ana the pa.
tor knew. that the New Workers never attended
the evening service.
The temper OF the choir had reached a point
where 1t had determined that the hated city
folks must listen to those anthems If they go To
church at all. The relatives. admirers, and
friend; took their side; They refused 10 a.
musical exercises next sunday night would be
altogether made up OF bass solos by Mr.. Miller.
AMONG the New York women in the Babylon
Pres6yterian Church are Mrs; A. II. V. Post
and Mrs. Cornelius ID. WaEstatf.