The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-01-10
PEOPLES CHORAL UNION.
MADE PERTINENT Or
GANIZA7IoN LAST NIGHT

ing Attondnnce-Professo William
Lyon Phelps Elected President-Th'
Oficers-Euture Meetings.
What was up to last night project
the organization of society Of the
people for the promotion of the musical
nent organization, and has started on
it's career with every prospect of album
dant success. The first public meeting
of the Peoples Choral union was held
last night in the Old Union armory,
corner of Chapel and Union streets, and
was unusually well attended. Prepare
tons for about two hundred and fifty
were made, but before the hour for
opening arrived this number had in
creased to about five hundred, and most
Of those present were persons who are
so much interested in the new organi-
cation that they intend becoming mem
bers and not merely onlookers. En-
thusiasm is the keynote of it, and the
abundant display of this much desired
quality last night was extremely graf
flying to those who have the interests
Of the union at heart.
People of all classes and from every
walk of life We're present and they all
entered into the spirit of the meeting
in hearty manner. That popular
chord has been struck and the filling of
a long-felt want will be accomplished
by the new organization goes without
'Lar ir In font vocal tall
ent in the city which needs just some
thing of this kind to foster and bring 1t
out, and those who think they have any
ability in this line will take advantage
of this splendid opportunity. There is
a wide field of work and diversified for
the organization, and it will reach out
into paths which have heretofore been
untrod and which promise much.
Professor Bernadotte Perrin of Yale
acted as chairman of the meeting, and
in a few introductory remarks stated
that New Haven as a city and a COM
munity had been very generous in fos-
tering the arts, but that there was still
abundant opportunity for work in the
musical field, and that this peoples
union was to be of just that nature and
was designed to accomplish the very
things which have hitherto been left
undone.
After the rendering of several selec-
lions by the New Haven Orchestral
club. under Mr. Haesche's direction,
the following paper was read by Pro
fessor Benjamin Jepson:
PROFESSOR JEPSON'S ADDRESS.
Mr.. Chairman. Ladies and Gentle
men: I am not here to make any ex-
tended remarks but simply to respond
to an urgent request to be present, also
to place myself on record as favoring
a movement which is fraught with
great musical possibilities for our be-
loved city
do not wish to be understood as i'm
plying that New Haven stands in need |
of this uplifting influence in greater
measure than other cities; on the con- |
trary | have remarked to those in |
charge of this movement, that the la |
Dor expended for many years in the
musical education of our youth, must |
make it possible to accomplish musical
results which may not be excelled II .
oqualled elsewhere.
/ will say as one who should know /
that the time allotted for musical in
struction in our schools has not been |
spent in musical recreation, but has |
been faithfully expended in educating |
the children to read music l believe
that / am warranted in saying that so
systematic and regular has been this
that it has been made well
nigh impossible for a boy or girl to
graduate from our schools without
ability to read ordinary music at sight.
The pity of it is that the gerat ma
jority of school graduates have had no
opportunity to make use of their
1t is true that choirs. clubs and
choral societies have favored the public
with grand musical performances, but
where we have had scores and hun
1reds of performers, thousands might
This new organization will be less eS-
elusive than some of its predecessors
nave been and will afford an oppor-
unity for every one possessed of a
good voice to make themselves heard.
It will furnish an opportunity to people
If all creeds and nationalities to their
IluSlCdl euucdliOH.
No inducemen was really necessary
o secure my presence this evening.
IN revolving the thought in my mind,
felt that it would be not only a duty
1ut privilege to become a charter
member of this organization. 1t was
however that l might meet
some old acquaintance here. Thirty
seven years ago last Friday gave my
lrst music lesson in the old Cedar street
school, now being replaced by a new
school edifice. When ] think of the
thousands who have sung their little
light exercises for me during all these
,ears, / am quite prepared to meet old
riends at any time or in any place. |
The only drawback which have ever
is in the number of new
ats l am compelled to provide for | ,
treet service. ,
The recognition of pupils whether ,
Id or young is on of the teachers COM {
ensations. To me they are a source !,
f comfort and perpetual inspiration. :
is matter of every day occurrence
or children to tell me of parents who
ERE former pupils. The only occasion
yhen + have felt as If the line should
e drawn in this direction was when 9
little girl innocently informed me | I
nat her grandmother used to take les '
Ons of me