The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-17
Vested Singers at PrO-Cathe
dral Decline to Perform.
MAY APPLY TO ST. JOHNS NOW
Choirmastcr nj sixteenth street
Church Declares lie Is Ready to
Accept Services OF AVziIa bile
NOicrK-Dccifnex 10 Approve En-
PIoyment OF Feminine Voices.

struck yesterday morning at the morn
ing prayer Worship. and instead of oc-
cupying their benches in the chancel sat
in the main auditorium Of the church.
a large congregation was present
many having read that strike was an
ticipated. but the majority of those pres
ent were unaware OF the trouble between
the rector. Rev. Dr. j. Hcnuing helms.
and the boys
Except for the absence OF the treble
Of the youngsters voices in the singing.
and a slight aIlusiou TO the strike by Dr.
Nelms AZ the opening OF his sermon. the
services were conducted as usual
At the conclusion OF the Sunday school
exercises in which all the chois boys
participated. they assembled. and. march,
ing in body TO the main auditorium.
took pews within four or five rows Of the
last and beneath the gallery.
II had been said that Ernest Leigh, jr..
the son Of the choirmaster at the Pro-
Cathedral. intended 10 stick by his father
and desert the ranks of the juvenile
strikers. but the boys faces were bright
when they entered the church for young
Leigh was among them.
Numbers Are Ominous.
It was regarded as singular that there
were thirteen boys on strike and that
twenty-three adult members of the. Choir
remained within the chancel.
The next services in which the choir
participates is looked forward 10 with
great interest by members Of the parish.
as some IF the feminine members OF the
choir are expected to resign because Of
sympathy with the boys
Or. helms opened his sermon 10y saying
that the boys had been notified that they
were TO be released from the choir at
the end Of the present month. and that
their absence was due TO the fact that
they resented being dismissed. lie said
ne was sorry they had not waited until
the appointed time before leaving. His
action in dismissing the boy members Of
the choir he declared, was sanctioned by
Bishop Satterlee and the church vestry-
men.
Some Of the boys have announced their
intention of joining the vested choir Of
ST Johns Protestant Episcopal Church
Sixteenth and II streets northwest. if not
reinstated IN the choir of the Pro-Cathc-
drsL
The choir Of St. Johns is under the
direction of Henry II. Freeman. who di-
reCted the choir OF the Pro-CathedraI IN
conjunction with his present charge for
three years. He was forced to resign his
position n the Cathedral about eigh-
teen months ago on account Of I'M health.
He was seen last night by reporter for
The Washington Herald and asked If he
would accept the application OF the strik-
ing boys OF the PrO-CathedraI for mem
bership in his choir He replied.
ChOirmHSter Approves Action.
Il viii accept any boy in my choir
who has "a good voice and record. I think
that the former choir boys Of the Pro
Cathedral have about as clean a record
as any in Washington. ! do not con-
slider their dismissal from the church as
blot on their character, as their rector
can show no good cause for letting them
go As yet none Of the boys have signi-
fed their intention OF coming 10 me. but
i'm ease they do. they viii find a hearty
welcome II is not my custom 90 accept
boys of other choirs when they have been
discharged These boys. however. were
not discharged. They struck and were
perfectly justified in doing so.
Bishop Satterlee was. not in sympathy
with this action. ! have been choirmas-
ter under the bishop for many years. and
I know that ever since he has been in
charge Of this diocese he has deplored
the dismissals Of supplied choir boys i'm
Washington Episcopal churches. Wash
ingtcn's churches have suffered 10 an un-
usual degree jn this manner chiefly be-
cause Of a scarcity OF good organists and
choirmasters, trained In the traditions Of
the church. its music and usages. and
because Of the deplorabe increase Of
choirs Of vested women, supplanting
chOirS Of boys and men.
Nine years ago. Washington boosted Of
80 less than twelve vested choirs OF men
and boys. to-day we have four St John S.
81. Pauls. ST. James and the Chapel Of
the Good Shepherd, the others having
given way entirely 10 women.
j have heard that the new rector at
the Pro-Cathedral Church of the Assem-
sion intends to do away with the present
choir and obtain the services of "a few
well-paid feminine soloists.
Discusses Women Singers.
In this he will be going back to the
old church quartet. which properly be-
longs TO the gallery. But they should not
be dressed in the garments which have SD
long been distinctive vestments for the
men singers in the church. or in garments
50 nearly the same that it takes "A critical
eye 10 see the difference. and they should
not be given a conspicuous place. There
is no authority for this i'm ecclesiastical
tradition; IN the usages Of our sister
churches, Latin or Greek; in the past
custom Of our own church. since the
Reformation: nor is any plea 10 be made
FOR IL on the ground of necessity. 1t is
an innovation, a practice which should
not be allowed To become prevalent. Some
OF our bishops have already spoken
against e with no doubtful voice"
To show they have no grievance against
their choirmaster. Ernest Leigh the
striking boys presented him with care
fully written paper expressing their high
regard for him and setting forth their
regret for being compelled 10 leave him.
The paper was signed by Herbert Smith.
sam Itehenor Walter Pettus. Dwight
Terry, Latham HUMPHREYS. John Cook.
Leigh Holland Douglass Holland. Paul
EcN Willie Suldman, Jack Nolan. Ernest
Leigh. jr.. and Lynch Younger.
A secret meeting will be held by the
boys tonight at the residence OF Edwin
G. r Humphries. father OF Latham Hum
phries, member OF the choir 1227 o
street northwest. None but the members
Of the choir VIII be admitted. and it is
thought their future plan of action will
be decided upon. They VIII either make
a plea 20 Bishop Satterlee TO be reinstI1ed
in the Pro-CathedraL or will 80 in a body
20 the vested choir OF St. Johns.
Revival and Bapffsms.
Revival services were conducted bv
Rev. S p. w Drew yesterday at the
Cosmopolitan Temple Baptist Church. \