The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-22
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A NEW oRGANIST.
oissensions in Choir of Trinity
Church Result in Prof. Doersam's
Engagement.

Dissensions in Choir of Trinity
Church Result in Prof. Doersam's
Engagement.
Prof Charles Doersam. of Scranton,
Yesterday entered upon his new duties
Us organist and chorister OF TRINITY
Episcopal church, ana gave excellent
satisfaction to the congregations. HIS
appointment to the position was en-
erred upon suddenly and the change
vas not known to the general pubic
until announced in Saturday mornings
Tribune.
r. Griffin Smith and Mrs NJ l.. Moon
have previously been chorister ana or
ganst of Trinity, and their many
friends have been wondering why they
have been displaced on such short
notice. a prominent member of the
church yesterday afternoon gave the
reasons to a Tribune man.
Trouble has been brewing in the
choir for some time. Mr.. Smith has
been accused OF partiality In assigning
solo parts to the female singers ana
with being arbitrary. a number OF
times. 1t Is said he has assigned solo
parts to some one singer and when the
singer has thoroughly learned the part
he has taken it. away and given 1t to
another. thus causing hard feelings. ~
short time ago. 1t is said. sixteen of the
lady members of the choir went to Rev.
Il. a. Sawyer, the rector. and told him
that unless Mr.. Smith was removed as
'horister they would refuse to sing any
longer. The rector tried hard to dis
s,uade them from their purpose, but to
no avail. Then, II Is alleged. he told
them that he would remove Mr.. Smith,
but il he went. Mrs. Moon. the organ
ist. would have to so also. This did
not suit the ladies. as Mrs. Moon is
very popular with them and has ever
since her connection with the choir
worked very hard. giving up much of
her time to acquiring familiarity with
the large organ which has been in
stalled lately. 1t is thought the rec
tors purpose in threatening to remove
Mrs. Moon was simply to prevent the
choir from acting rashly, as there was
not the slightest complaint against her,
and it was thought that she was to be
used as d band to cement friendly feel
ings in the choir. Be this as it may.
The sixteen ladies' were insistent on Mr..
Smith being forced to tender his resig
nation. None of the male singers in
the choir took part in the demand for
his removal.
True to his promise, on seeing that
the ladies meant what they said in re-
gard to their not singing unless Mr..
Smith resigned the rector asked for
the resignation of Mrs. Moon also. The
two designations were received and the
rector engaged Mr.. Doersam, who is Il
capable organiSt. 1t will be remem-
hered that Mr. Doersam gave a recital
in Trinity church in February. Eight
Of the young ladies in the choir have
come back, but was said yesterday by
the reporters informant that eight are
still obduratc because they feel that
an injustice has been done to Mrs
Moon.
Mrs. Moon, as orGanist received 500
a year for her services: Mr. Smith, as
chorister. received 500 Il year. making
total of 5000. Mr.. Doersam has been
engaged a a salary of $25 a month and
expenses. These expenses will consist
of three trips a week from Scranton to
Carbondale, with incidentals, making
an outlay of at least $400 a year. in
cluding both salary and expenses, thus
doubling the amount that has beer
paid in the past.
1t is to be regretted that a dissen-
sion of this nature has arisen. as just
now Trinity church has IA great work
on hand and needs the assistance of
every member of its large parish to
carry 1t to successful completion.