The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-07
Mr.. MELONEY TO
SERVE AGAIN.
"Wednesday Club Would Not al
low Him to Retire.
ANNUAL MEETING LAST NIGHT
The Organization Comes Out Ahead
FinanciaiIy-Two New Members of
the Board Were EIected-The
Next Years Festival.

meeting, held last night at old Ali-Saints'
Church, wound UP its annual AFFAIRS
after a most successful years work re-
elected the same old officers. as lolioWs'
/ II. T. NIeloney, president: Z. a. 'oeh'
vice-president; Eugene Jones, secretary
and treasurer, Walter c. Mercer, must
cal director. Board of Governors
Thomas Atkinson, J. G. Hankins, Henry
TiLtzler, E. C. Mayo, Paul |. Menzei' W.
R. Miller, Arthur Scrivenor, George W.
stevens, S. w. Travers, P. a. Mayo.
General festival manager, Howard -
Herrick.
The meeting was we'll attended, and
everybody was congratulatinS every
bcdv else. Mr. John Stewart Bryan ana
Mr. w. D. Duke were elected new l1leiii-
ters of the Board of Directors Inc re.
pcrt of Mr. II. 7. Meloney, president "
the club, which follows, covers thoroush-
ly the years work in every par,icoiai
PRESIDENTS REPORT.
President Meloney's report was read as
follows:
TO the Members OF the Wednesday Club:
7 am sratified to be able to report that,
barring one or two mishaps the ninth
annual festival was a great musical sue
cess and reflected credit upon all con-
cerned Indeed, it created most pre-
found impression. The programmes "elo
admirably selected and the casts OF SOLO
| artists were splendidly adapt'i to the
work The club responded handscnesy
and in many respects did the best work
in it's history.
The series OF concerts were SO varied
in character that it was necessary to
hear all three to fully realize the scope
| upon which they were founded. In that
respect they more nearly represent
ed the true festival character than any
| preceding it.
| The superb rendering of the cratorio
and it's splendid reception by the audi
| ence fully justified its selection for one
| Of the programmes. Oratorio is the hlSh-
| est form of musical expression and tho
| one chosen is one Of the great master
! works Of the ages.
| I feel bound, however. to call your at
| tention to one aspect or the season S
| studies that needs to be improved upon
in the future The attendance of the
members upon the regular rehearsals was
not as good as it should have been: es-
pecially SO in the early part Of the year.
That fact caused discoura cement to the
| director, and no doubt a better state of
perfection would have been attained with
| less labor if all the members had shown
more enthusiasm by their. constant at
| tendance.
| Active membership in the club carries
| It is hardly fair to the regular atten-
| dants to first have to learn the music
| for themselves and then go through the
| ordeal of repeated rehearsing for the
| benefit OF those who absent themselves
| on frequent occasions until near the close
| of the year And besides, such habit is
| not courteous to the director.
1t is gratifying to report the valuable as
| sistancc rendered by our Ashland friends,
| who early in the season organized their
| local club. efficiently rehearsed the music
| under the direction of Mrs. r. E. Black
| well and then attended several of our
regular rellzarsals near the close. This
| action on Aheir part was a move in the
| right direction; and it is hoped that clu5
Will continue its organization, add to it's
SIT ersth. and that other cities and towns
! vii! follow their example, so that We
| may have many such choral societic;
fC. med in the State. come together once
| year, and thus form vast state choral
| organizations In such event the number
| OF festival concerts could he increased,
| Spetta' railroad rates made. making the
| annual festivals large State affairs OF
| coulse, in case such suggestion should
| meet with favor and be acted upon 10
| any large extent larger hall accommodate
| tons for the festivals would become a
| necessity | respectfully refer that sub
| ject to the earnest consideration of the
new Board Of Governors
1t is also gratifying to report that our
esteemed townsman. Mr.. P. II. Mayo,
| kindly rendered to the club the use of
| Old Al-Saints' Church building for re-
hearsa1 purposes. That tender was gladly
| accepted by the Board of Governors IT
| was used during the season and consid-
cradle expense in hall rent was thereby
saved. Mr. Mayo's kindly action de-
| serves to be suitably acknowledged bv
the club at this annual meeting The
amount of expense thus saved was about
| 5000.
THE CHILDREN.
| The childrenS part in the festival con-
| certs was again a source of much inter
| est and pleasure. That feature adds
| Indispensable attractiveness rebounds
| greatly to their benefit, and the children's
chorus should be literally sustained
| Ihey labored under the disadvantage the
| past year in not having more help on
| the part of instructors, and had to rely
| largely upon their director who at the
| same time had to give SO much of his
| time and thought to the training of the
adult chorus. Under these circumstances
| much credit is due to Mr.. Mercer for
| the successful performance of the double
| duty which devolved upon him l recon-
mend that steps be taken to transfer to
the adult chorus some Of the older girls.
! or l should say young ladies. who have
faithfully served in the clildren's chorus
| l desire to present some observations
| which appear to me to be both applica-
| Bile and practical, in considering the
| present status of the club and its reIa-
ton to the past and to the future.
CLUB IS A GROWTH.
| The Wednesday Club is a growth Not
! merely as to numbers but a musical
| growth as we'll. 1t was founded and has
been conducted upon broad conservative
lines. But it is yet a long way from
| perfection. When perfection is reached
decay begins After the nine years of Its
growth the club has, perhaps. reached its
| second stage, SO to speak, and has be-
| come real oratorio society It has been
designated by the public and the press
and justly so-'a great public school of
music" All great schools are progress
sive schools. Progress should be the
| motto, written at the portal of our edi-
| fee. High ideals are absolutely neces-
| sary if real progress is to be realized.
| Public interest in the club is general. and
its support will be extended only so long