The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-15
THE WOMAN CHOIR SINGER.
1t Was a Struggle of Centuries to
Permit Women to Lift Up Their


Sre&ut1On.
New York April 13.-The evolution of
the woman choir singer has been no less
drastic and fruitful than woman's en-
trance into the trades and professions
In all countries, previous TO this century,
the female voice was denied place in li-
vine worship. In Italy, Spain and Rus
STA to-day the woman chorister is un-
known and she has little or no part in
the church choirs of France outside of
Paris. The early Puritan Church de-
nounced singing as Quakerish and Poper-
ish. Until after the American revolution
woman's right to lift her voice in sacred
song in church was as vigorously con-
tested as was her possession of soul in
the days of Plato. To-day city churches
compete for the highest cultured women
soloists, and their choice is only limited
by their treasury. The salary of woman
soloists ranges from $500 to ST. 500 a year,
while instances are not wanting where a
soloist has received $1,000 a year
With the adoption of choir system in
1890 and tolerance of the woman singer
question rose as to the place the choir
should occupy in meeting houses. In
warrants issued for town meetings in
New England an article was inserted ask
ing that liberty be granted singers to sit
together in some convenient place in
church. Old meeting houses had three or
four long seats in front of the pulpit on
each side of the broad aisle, for aged
and deaf and those unable to purchase
pews. Similar seats were reserved in the
galleries on right and left of pulpit
Sometimes there were square news in
front gallery. Where to seat the singers
was the Gibraltar, upon which split par
son, deacon and elder. Singing was first
done on the ground floor, and some sing
ers preferred TO continue there. Four
of the seats were partitioned off, making
long pews. When they rose to sing the
front seats faced about. 1t was consid-
cred important for the singers TO face
gle and harmonic.
The next liberty granted was a seat
in the gallery. AS the front gallery was
usually occupied by pews owned by indi-
viduas, the choir was forced TO the side
galleries. This position was too one-sld-
ed for the minister, when he gave out
the hymns. Then the congregation could
not see the singers; consequently romance
languished. Finally they occupied the
gallery in front of the minister A seat
in the Stock Exchange Is no less difficult
to obtain to-day than were many of these
Dews, whose owners were as tenacious of
vested right as are their English cous-
ms.
Less than fifty years ago DR.. Tucker.
author Of the famous hymn book, in lieu
OF boy voices. trained a girl choir for
choral service. In red cloaks and bon
nets they lent a picturesque color note
to the services at Holy Cross, Troy. New
York Admission to che surplice choir
Is through examination, Voice accented.
the singer has her measure taken for
cap and gown, which Is worn over her
4.
bears the expense Of the surplce Gus
tune When robed IA would be difficult
10 distinguish men from women were n
not for the cap which the latter wear
~ compliance with 81. Paurs Injunction,
that women should not enter the temple