The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-16
MISS MATTHEW'S DID SING.
TooK HER USUAL PARTIN 81. AGNEs's
CHAPEL ERVICFS TESTERDAY.

HAPHL ShhVIChS II
Public Criticism of Her Unsolicited Sing
Ing with the Vested Choir Did Not Scare
Ber-The Congregation Showed an Un-
usual Interest in the Young Woman.
Many persons outside OF st. Agnes's Charel.
Trinity parish, at Columbus avenue and
Ninety-sccond street, have been bothering
themselves a great deal lately about Miss Ada
Matthews's singing. These outsiders have
written letters to the newspapers and have
done the best they could to stir up dissensions
In the congregation over her singing. The
fuss may have disturbed the congregation OF
81. AEnes's a little. 1t has not bothered Miss
Matthews. She went TO the morning service
yesterday and to vespers and sang at both.
Most OF the time she sang In tones that were
not Individually audible six pews from her
own. At other times her clear. ringing
notes overpowered all but the strongest
sopranos In rhe boy choir. At such times
ono who sat In the back OF the church might
have thought that the woman was singing q
solo. while the choir was merely accompanying
her. She has been using her heavon-sent gift
OF voice In this way in 81. Agnes's for years,
and until within a week or two ago no public
criticism OF Miss Matthews has beer made. OF
course. the choirmaster has never felt called on
to encourage Miss Matthews. When one has
burdened his soul with the recruiting and vocal
training OF a boy choir IL Is not altogether
a grateful thing to have a young wo-
man out in the congregation dominate
the singing at will. But the folks who
are not choirmasters or members OF the choir.
and who have known Miss Matthews as a fell
low communicate for years. have never felt
sufficiently annoyed about her singing to make
II a cause for picking a quarrel with her. They
know her as q straightforward. earnest attend
ant AZ tina saryiraa In tha ohapaI Thay lpptv
that she supports herself as a stenographer.
They know. too. that she is IA much distressed
AS any other COMMUNICATE OF the church by the
notoriety which has come to its services be-
cause OF the power and volume OF her voice.
Somebody land the church authorities said
yesterday that they didn't believe he was really
u member Of their congregation wrote a pub
lie letter about her the other day. Since it was
printed Miss Matthew's singing has attracted
more attention than 1t ever did before. Some
of her friends in the congregation have sug-
Rested. In the most tactful way In the world.
that she refrain from singing. particularly In
those parts OF the service In which most mem
beers OF the congregation do not feel COM
petent to Join To them she has replied
so loud as TO attract attention but anyway.
she said. II was no worse than 1t always had
fore public attention was called to il. SHE
could see no reason why one endowed with a
owe should be de6arred from participatipet
in the musical part OF the service.
Miss Matthew'S Is not alone i'll this belief.
Many good Episcopalians in churches where
the music has been put in the hands of a vested
choir are in the habit OF humming or almost
the choir sings them. 1t il a popularity OF
these people that the tune and the time are as
OF them, and their hummlng and whispering
travels far sometimes, every syllable Is a dis
ARnps'S yPsteFlay weFA "a IVA Fp thar mot "a far ~ |
these .murmurers, were In the congregation.
Miss Matthews. when, she is audible at ali. is
She has a voice that would All the Metropolitan
Opera House without an effort. st. Agnes's is
is renarka BILE for It's fine acoustic qualities.
When her friends advised her not TO sing
soloud. The pews In the east transept. where
she sits. are not many of them occupied usually.
1 1a9a Tiers re- are Wis onsNeHgIeat few there to be an
Satos are annoying. Miss Matthews regarded
tSice as As usual. But during il both both the So1 mornlh q!
notes would rise as the enthusiasm OF the
music rose. and soar out over the church and
Sc lo a fEr es b many agm Pe1IIe t fb stan naYst their Re nseks
ie discussion. II she was conscious OF the rit-
Inc S' 1 to ti@e, s she id Ritiy not O Snow sn It. h she , sane
on. SO easy is it for her to give out her
'oco at rs kTedteSt ,NoI!lunS tIdt niue or no
notion OF her mouth Is visible across the width
u the church. Two women and a small boy,
Who were tho only ones near her. were appar-
sntly startled. One of the women was SO sur
1rised that she smiled broadly at the rest ofthe
congregation and then recovered herself sud
lenly. as though she realized what she was
LONG, and bowed her head. The small boy
vas frankly and thoroughly interested. He
TO see more. 70, hear more and he
yanted tho woman with him to explain. When
he recesslonal came. and the choir marched
Miss Matthews did not sing soprano. She
'ang alto and the people all over the church,
Who were watching her lips and listening,
'ould not understand what the matter was
Until. just as the choir was about half into the
acristy, the alto notes became audible.
sexton Browne OF the church said yesterday
hat the stories to the effect that the church
vas going to take steps 10 make Miss Mat
news stop singing were untrue. II would be
impossible, as several memoirs OF the congre-
alton said In discussing the matter yesterday.
o make her stop. even IL they wanted 10. un-
ess by eYpelling her on the ground that she
t is the people who turn and twist
o look at her that disturb the SER
ices. and not she. In fact, she has
the disturbance that has been
made about her singing to reasons altogether
from. her singing. She has been
.uoted as saying that the reason that some
nembers OF ST, Agnes's congregation. and those
monR the wealthiest and most cultured. do not
Ike her is that they believe that she has super
atural powers, and are uncomfortable while !
he is In their presence. The basis for this
tory. she Ia said to have explained. Is that
Then her mother went Into a cataleptic trance
nd was pronounced dead. several years ago.
ions reused her mother. Mrs. Matthews re-
Dyereu. and lived two wears after that