New-York tribune., 1900-03-04
A BOY CHORISTERS' SCHOOL
THE ONLY ONE IN THIS COUNTRY-MAIN-
TANNED BY GRACE CHURCH.

One of the features of Grace Church is its
boy choir and while this is we'll known to peo-
pie who visit the church regularly, and to hun
dreds of Christians who go there few times
every year, there are comparatively few people
who know how much care and trouble the choir
represents. Until about two years ago the
choristers' school held its sessions in two apart
ments the lower floor OF the church These
apartments were defective and insufficient and
the light and ventilation We're poor. The boys
who formed the choir at that time were not
always available, and with view to making
an Improvement in that direction so that the
boy choir might be called upon whenever there
is d service at the church, and more thoroughly
to conduct their musical training, a new Choir
listers school was established in an addition to
the church building, which was the gift of Wal
ter Phelps Bliss.
This new building. known the choristers'
tower, occupies the space over the chancel or
gan, and extends over the old schOoroOms.
forming an l.. 1t is back of the chantry. and
forms part of the south end of the church
The tower contains two light, cheerful school,
rooms and a gymnasium, and over these, on a
line with the church roof, is roof garden for
outdoor play and exercise.
There are eighteen boys in the choir, ranging
In from eight to fifteen years and since
the school has been in its new quarters there are
always from ten to fifty names on the waiting
list. From these applicants the choir author
tiles select boys who have been reared in an
atmosphere of refinement who appreciate
the advantages in the way of musical and other
instruction which they receive free of charge
while they remain in the choir
The school is the only one in the United
States which is modelled on the plans of the
English cathedral choir schools. The boys are
taken at The age of eight ten years the
parents guardians binding themselves not
to remove their boys until their voices change
in consideration Of which the church authorities
maintain the boys
The system in this country" said J. NJ Hell
fenstein. has been most uncertain one The
choir Offering the highest salaries has filed its
ranks by depicting others. less fortunate, and
boys are in the habit of travelling from choir
to choir in search of the one Offering the high
est financial inducement."
In order to gain a frmer hold on the bovs the
Grace Church authorities found boarding places
1or some of them. While the greatest possible
care was taken in the selection of these board
ing houses the system was found to b, lefec-
tive and 1t was agreed that while such a plan
might work successfully in a cat hedraI town II
was full Of dangers in connection with a church
In the heart of New-York. 1t is the intention
of the church authorities to found home for
these boys. whose childhood years are dedicat-
ed to the performance of the musical service of
Grace Church. and in the mean time the board
ing choristers.' of whom there are nine occupy
the house No. 100 Fourth-ave. which is man
aged for them by DeaConcsS Katherine Stillman
This house which is homelike and neat in its
arrangement, contains n large dining room
where the boys have their meals and where they
assemble in the evening. Books pictures n
piano. games and everything that boys OF re-
fined taste require for home amusement and en-
tertainment there. and the cosey sleeping
rooms. with their tidy beds bookshelves and