Los Angeles herald., 1909-05-11
CHURCHES HONOR
BLIND SINGERS
COUPLE CELEBRATE TWENTY
FIVE YEARS WEDL0CK
FEDERATION GIVES MONSTER
RECEPTION
Auditorium, Gallery and Sunday
School Room Are Crowded in
Difference to Aged Evan
gelstic Pair

Twenty-Five years of happy married
life bv two persons who have never
seen each other were celebrated last
evening by Mr.. and Mrs William v.
Baker. the well known gospel singers,
in whose honor the auditorium gallery
and Sunday school room OF the First
Methodist church were filled
I'VE are not blind, for love is there,
and love is light" was the thought ex-
pressed by the happy bridegroom OF
quarter of century, and that was the
keynote of the evenings program.
Sightless from infancy both expressed
perfect contentmcnt, and their races
shone with happiness as the happy,
swhite-hairsd man led his bride of
twenty-five years ago to the piano to
splay her wonderful accompaniment TO
their singing Mrs. Baker was attired
in a silver silk gown with white lace,
the gift of the groom of quarter OF
century ago, while her dark h><
showed not a trace of silver Few
brides on their wedding day show more
happiness than that which was on the
face of the quarter-century bride.
Given by Federation
The reception last night was rendered
under the auspices of the Church fed
Grafton of Los Angeles, in token of the
work done by the blind singers through
their gospel songs sung in every church.
Although members of the Baptist de-
nomination. they have been undenom-
national in their work, and have sung
their messages in church all over this
country as well as in England and IN
several of the countries of Europe.
Alone and unaided, they have Travelled
far to sing their message, and every
where they have been received with
open arms by the church people
s. p milford presided during the
program, and introduced the speakers.
He read a long list of letters and con-
gratulatory poems sent for the occa-
sion. Many of these letters inclosed
checks to add to the silver fund which
was raised for the couple which
amounted to a little more than $500,
and which will be presented to them
this morning.
D. e. Luther, general secretary of the
Y. M. c. A, was the first speaker and
extended Fluctuations in behalf of the
association with an enjoyable southern
story.
Work in England
e. H. Emmett, religious work direc-
tor of the association, who first met
Mr.. and Mrs. Baker in London, told of
his experiences with the gospel singers
in England and in Los Angeles, and of
the successful work they had accom-
plished in both countries. adding his
Fluctuations and good wishes to those
of the general secretary.
Rev. Arthur S. Phelps pastor of the
Central Baptist church, opened his adj
dress with a humorous allusion to the
bakers dream in the time of Joseph.
with these good people music has
been but the means of their service"
said Mr.. Phelps. During a recent ter
rife storm on the Atlantic ocean one of
the large floating palaces was in immi-
nent danger, and the passengers be-
came badly frightened. Rubenstein.
the great pianist, played on the piano
for twelve hours steadily while the
storm ragged and the panic stricken
passengers forgot their fear in the en-
joyment of the beautiful melody. And
so we have forgotten the storms of life
while we have listened to these sweet
singers"
Mr.. Baker, who with Mrs. Baker sang
several hymns, was asked to give the
story of his life, and this he did, in
terspersed with amusing incidents.