New-York tribune., 1903-08-30

Junior choristers or verscularI neither sashes nor
capes TO be worn AT Requiem or on Good Friday.
After a while the use Of sashes and capes was
abandoned what the choristers' dress looked like
in the beginning may be seen from the accompany
ing portrait of one Of the members Of the original
junior choir who is Prefect OF Music Of the
Congregation OF ST Paul the Rev John J. Hughes.
The choir adopted for motto. "Quod ore canto.
corde credo'-"What l sing with my lips believe
in my heart" Its patrons are the Virgin Mary
Immaculate. ST. Paul the Apostle ST. Cecilia. the
patroness OF music, and ST Gregory the Great,
whose services in behalf Of the Church chant out
shine those Of all other Popes The choir was
formally established by the ceremony of the sol
enn profession Of its members the Feast of
the Purifcation February ,, 1872 on Quinqua-
gesima Sunday, vested in cassock and surpice, 1t
took its place in the sanctuary, which had been
enlarged and furnished with choir stalls. In the
summer Of the same year. 1872, choir hall thirty
feet by fifty was built for it. and fitted up with
vesting and book closets and organ. This hall.
now part of the convent building is still the study
place Of the choir. though II has new roof. On
the festival OF the Epiphany. 1873 shortly before
Nespers. the old roof was crushed in by a weight
or snow The choirmaster and several boys were
IN the hall the time. but escaped unhurt Death
has indeed been kind the chorsters of St. Paul.
Of whom only three have died in service since the
choir was organized Two boys were drowned and
one fell of the roof Of a house while flying his
kite Nineteen % them have taken vows or orders.
five becoming secular priests. five Paulsts, four
Jesuits and five Christian Brothers. Two are po-
Hcenen three ffrcmen and one a second lieutenant
in the regular army When q chorister dies in
active service he is buried IN his surpce and cas-
sock and his stall is draped for thirty DAYS The
choir took part in the conservation Of ST Patricks
Cathedral May >. 1879. the obsequies Of Cardinal
McCloskey. the installation of Archbishop Corrgan
and the conservation Of St Michsels. NewYork,
and the Cathedral at Newark.
On January % 1894. Cardinal Satoli. Papal Dele
gate the United States, attended the choirs cele
braton Of the Feast OF St. Paul. Subsequently he
sent letter 10 Father Young. follows:
one Of the most grateful impressions I retain Of
Feast Of St. Paul's Conversion is that made upon
hearing in your church: The grave and solemn
character 0t tle GolnPos!ton me haTnion{ OF me
voices Of the boys and the smooth execution of the
s IN dT e soG p m fdsze uP6a a me Ss h6eT
where these sounds are heard Is the house Of the
That such were the impressions Of all the people
not only from the grand silence maintained all
over the sacred building during the services but
such sic edifying singing could be heard in all the
chnrches of The country. Any effort made for this
purpose would certainly meet with the pleasure
of the Holy Father, who has always taken so much
interest in the use Of Gregoria9 music and it would
Plain Chant is so truly becoming
However. I do not mean by this to blame alto
serious and grave harmony is also becoming, al
9IsH IN orsbin as iIsed in The basiIicas OF Rome
and as I have heard it in many churches of this
country.
Father Young was active in his Office Of prefect
Of music for over twenty years after the organza
ton OF the choir. Then i'll health and the burden
Of years compelled him 10 turn over the manage
rnent to others as assistants. They were, IN
Fathers Brown. Woodman, Nevins, Crosson and.
finally Hughes. the present prefect and, has
been mentioned graduate from the ranks Of the
Junior choir. When the choir celebrated its twenty
hflh anniversary IN 1897. Father Young. weak
TO participate sent his CONGRATULATIONS from the
sanatorium at Clifton Springs. few years later
he died At present the choir is composed Of the
following members
Boys-Ioseph Brady, Edward Sullivan. James cas-
sidy. John DippoId. Albert Davis. John Rordan.
Walter KeIlv. Patrick Hasson James Norton.
James Martin, Thomas CantweH. Abbiati.
Thomas Mcclure Henry Rio-dan, Peter Hoey.
John Purcell. James Haggerty. George Haggerty.
James Daily. John Rohrpschs Ambrose L4@vi1.