Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1902-08-27
Rockbridge Musical Convention
at Fairfield

S Ro;kbridge County Musical Assoc
ton was held Thursday and Frida
=. August 81 and 90, in the Presbyteri
h church at Fairfield. The meetin
were largely attended and vario
sections of the county were represer
ed. A conservative estimate of Il
crowd daily would be 600 Resident
of Fairfield and community had mat
extensive preparations for the occ
sion, and a generous hospitality WI
dispensed to the stranger within I'll
gates. In fact so pressing were il
vitatiOns that all visitors who care
to remain overnight were kindly pre-
vid ed for. A bountiful dinner wa
served each day in the church-yar
grove.
The association has as its obiec
the improvement of church must
and the stimulating influences tina
come from these annual gathering
in which representatives from the
various church choirs enter into
friendly rivalary in the rendering OF
choice selections. The exercises are
not so much for display of musical
talent and training as for the pur-
pose of elevating sacred music, and
while some of the selections and ex-
ecutions of the same are presented
under unfavorable conditions, yet the
honest effort put forth has its own
reward.
The convention was called to order
at 10 O clock Thursday morning by
the president, Rev. j. w. Shuey, of
Alone. Religious exercises were con.
Quoted by Rev. l.. H. Graybill, pas
tor of the Method st church, Fairfield
The address of welcome was made by
Rev. }. Spencer Smith, pastor of the
Fairfield Presbyterian church, and
the response was made on behalf of
the convention by Rev. j. w. Shuey
president of the association. Mr.
f. i. Snider OF Rockbridge Baths,
one of the musical directors of tn
association, conducted the musical
features of the day The program
of anthems, choruses. quar-
cts, AMI solos, which were all ex-
'cuted in such a way as to excite fav.
'rable comment by an appreciative
Judi ence. The participants were
representatives from the choirs of
Bethany, Bethesda Buena Vista,
jOllierstown, Mt Carmel, New Mon
mouth, New Providence, and Oxford
churches.
On Friday MILD. Deacon, another
IF the musical directors of the
ssociatiOn. conducted the musical
rogram which was similar
o the previous day, in that it con-
listed of solo, quartet, chorus, and
nthem singing. One of the attrac-
ions OF the day was the appearance
If female quartet, the first instance
a the history of the association, who
ang Praise Ye the Lord. They
ere Mrs. +. II. Snider of Rockbridge
'aths, Misses Edna McGuffin of
lone, Annie Firebaugh and Ellen
'irebaugh Of Flumen.
The report of the secretary, Mr.. J.
rank StrattOn of Buena Vista. show
d the association to be doing good
'ork in the improvement of sacred
luSic. He said the association was
lst the experimental stage and had
ecome fiXture;that it was endorsed 4
the best people ofthe county, whose
tive interest in behalf of church S
usic could but tell favorably on fut \
e effort. t
The committee OH organization, |
insisting CT Messrs. A. s. Montgom-
y of COllierstown, Charles Lind
y Of Alone, and Arthur Oft of Fair
Id, made their report and the fol- n
wing officers were unanimously t.
'cted for the ensuing year: Presi- "
mt, Rev. j. w. Shuey of Alone; p
;retary and treasurer, Mr. J. Frank Ia
ration of Buena Vista; musical di-
tors, Messrs f. II. Snider of Rock ci
dge Baths, II. b. Parker of Buena Sc
sta, G. s. Deacon of Collierstown; o
,anist, Miss Edna McGufIin, of lie
one; assistant Organist, Miss Edith j;
alton of Buena Vista.
Delightful solos wers sung bv Miss te
sta Keller of Buene Vista: Miss III
mie Smith of Mt. Carmel, Miss at
IA Beard and Miss Lizzie George III
New Providence. The organists of
the convention were Miss Edna M
Guffn of Alone, Miss Edith STRAIT tn
of Buena Vista, Miss Mary Mont 81
merry, COllierstown, and Mr.. Charles tn
9ch of Oak Dale. III
he next meeting Of the associa- Ia
l will be held at New Monmouth of
sbyterian church, lightning the on
d Thursday in August, 1908. wa
uch of the success of the conven- tn,
| was due to the excellent arrange got
ITS of the following local commit vii
who were indefatigable in look off
after the comfort of visitors.
srs. N. b. McCluer, F. H. Temple tist
Jos. Fultz, NJ. McCormick, James the
wey, j. c. Moore, j. w. Wallace, mu
aelmer, John Clemmer, w. F. I
lpleton, h. J. Paxton and H. A. was