The sun., 1909-02-06
4 SINGER OF sr. JOINS.
Fifty Dollars Trinity Has owed Him since
the Days OF Cooke the Minstrel.

To The EDIToR OF THE SuN--Sir! In my
young days did considerable choir singing
I grew up that way. When / came TO New
York l continued my efforts in church
harmony. Away back. many years ago,
was member OF the choir OF st. Johns
Chapel. II was whom tho pretty little park
occupied the block In front OF tho church,
before the worldly demon In tho shape OF
railroad station took the place Of the park
IL was said at the time that st. Johns 8
Chapel got s35O0Oo as It's share OF the
81 900 900 that was paid for the park by the
railroad. During my short term the choir
was treated to an excursion to Elm Park on
Staten Island, where we had dinner. a
pleasant days enjoyment and delightful
| moonlight sail back to the city.
The genial and popular DR.. Weston was
rector tsalary sl0.O00D. The Rev. Dr.
William Cooke was his assistant (salary
sS,ooo,. There was another Clergyman at
a smaller salary who did the bulk Of the
parish work, but he doesn't figure In my
story. DR.. Cooke was delightful singer
as well "a preacher. and he often sang
with the choir. In fact he had previously
been a ballad singer with the minstrels.
He had been popularly known as billy
Cooke the Minstrel, but he gave up that
business. studied for the ministry. gradu-
to Trinity parish. DT. Peck, a gentleman
from London OF distinguished aristocratic
pretenslons. was organist IL was a full
antiphonal choir. decani on one side and
oantoris on the other side OF the chancel.
The music was usually OF English cathedral
style, as aristoCratiC as the organist. Each
side had a solo singer and n chorus singer
for each part. The bass solo singer was
paid $500 and the chorus singer $500 a
sSsn cSo4. Es sSssd the STssn' was as
duly embellished BY Government reven ue
stamp, as was then required by law.
happened to be the first time certain heavy
cathedral service was performed. the can
ioris solo bass made a slight slip up In a
about Il. and he went right out Of the choir
In the middle Of the service. lie never
came back. ~ the evening service there
or fcourse he was not there. and no one would
undertake the part. The result was the
organist designated me, the newcomer.
he cPoSsed 10 %Tf
AfterNsrd, instead or getting new man
for the part; the organist kept me right
along In the $500 position, and he filled my
$500 position with a new man.
the end OF the quarter the organist
rad me sony CONTRACT Prce-ipstead Of
flled or course there was con siderable Of
q time about IL; At the end OF the dispute
J told him that ! would GO, on for another
me q gain in the same way I would indig-
nantly march out OF the choir without
notice. He said among other things that
breach Of contract" I said some things
back at him such as Don't make an ass
of yourself DC. ! saw DR. Cooke about
u. 1his was contrary 20 discipline, but ]
innocently thought that as he frequently
sang with us he might interest himself in /
tho matter; hut he declined to interfere. |
uN=aVa + L.
stepped down and out, thoroughly dis. |
gusted with such paltry work. | did not |
go TO DI. Weston, the rector. because ]
respected him as man too much to get |
him mixed up in such meanness.
These are the circumstance under which |
] think ! am fully justified in looking upon /
the wealthy CorpoIat ion of Trinity Church /
rs being indebted 10 ire in the sum Of at |
50 ifty dollars for services rendered,
I,NES EGGISTUN.
BEooKLrN. February j.