Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-11-19
THIS CITY INVESTS
100000 A YEAR
IN CHURCH MUSIC
Represents Choir Salaries Rang
ing from $500 to $1,000
Per Annum.

"At least s100, 900 per annum is ex-
pended for the musical directors and
the pay of the o%rganists in this .city's
churches" said a prominent church
man today, "and,' he continued, ut
is indeed money well invested We are
not becoming operate in taste. but
the Newark church-going constituency
want the best, and they are willing
to pay for it."
As 800, 900 represents an outlay of
something like nearly $4,000 a week, for
q total of about 140 odd churches, 1t
would seem that at least $15 a Sabbath,
on an average, was being expended for
the head of each choir, providing 1t
could be figured out that a But
1t cannot, n the outlay must be con-
sidered from q purely salary stand
point, ranging from $4,000 a year for
the fashionable churches, down to $500
In many small parishes, and finally to
a gratuitous service. on the part OF
the precentor, where the flock is unable
to pay. The director or organtst today
must be a professional musician, as
the old-line . congregational singing
that pleased our fo%refathers has grad
ually disappeared.
AS the success of a parish at the
present time depends as much upon the
music as the service of the pastor.
the scale of salaries has steadily in
creased, and the artists of note In
many cases are abandoning the stage
and the theatrical field for the fash
ionable church, which is bidding high
for their services.
The local field possesses many musi-
cal directors and choristers of note
and several have beer in their present
positions for nearly q quarter of a
century.
J. Henry Huntington, jr., the direc-
tor Inc organist at the Third Pres
byterian Church, Is closing his twenty
first year in that capacity and is con-
sidered one of the most talented mu-
~sicians in this city. Prior to going to
this church he officiated for several
yearN at successive periods at both the
Calvary Presbyterian and North Re-
formed churches. He came to the Third
Church in 1890.
Another prominent chorister and di-
rector, who has won merited distinc-
ton In choir work. is Louis Arthur
Russell, of the Peddie Memorial Bap-
tist Church. He is featuring cantata,
OTdlOT1O dIIu dLtllcIuH uulilbClS at thO
Sabbath services, and is assisted by
a trained choir. Mr.. Russell Is clos
ing his ninth year at the First Bap-
fist Church, and the large attendance
at the musical services attest their
popularity. He is a musician by pro-
fession and director of the Shubert
Oratorio Society. william e. Ashmall,
chorister at the Clinton Avenue Re-
formed Church, is also completing a
several-years' service at the church.
He will also during the winter pro-
mote a series Of special musical pro-
grams. and none but the most talented
singers will assist at the renditions.
The chorus work under his direction in
the past has been a drawing card at
the services.
Organized a Leading Chorus Choir.
J. Franklin Thomas, who will direct
the music at the Central M. e. Church,
is closing his fourth year at the Rev.
Dr.. Morgan's church. He came here
from Buffalo. seven years ago. after
attaining a notable record as a musi-
clan. During his term at the Central
Church he has organized one of the
leading chorus choirs in this city.
During the past summer he directed
the music at the open-air services held
in Military Park.
Another popular and talented choris-
ter n organist Is Granville Commoss,
of the Central Presbyterian Church.
He is completing his eighth year in
that capacity in the local church, and,
despite the fact that he has been ten
dered lucrative positions elsewhere has
remained In this city. He has ais Off
ciated at four other parishes, two Epis-
copal and two Presbyterian churches,
Here is a list of the honor men who
have won through merit a fair share of
the 500, 900 fund that is expended an
nually to create for Newark the finest
church music in the East: L. Carroll
Beckel, at the First Presbyterian; Pro-
lessor William Hattersley, at st. Pat
rick's Cathedral; Milton A. Smith, at
the Mt. Pleasant Baptist; William M.
Bross, at the Second Presbyterian; d.
rector Kingsley, at old Trinity parish;
James P. P%hilipson, at st. Paurs Meth
odist; Ellsworth Cadmus, at the Fair
mount Baptist; George e. Maynard, at
st. Paul's Episcopal Hedley ]. Frey,
at the Halsey Street Methodist; Joseph
NJ. Thatcher, at the Memorial Presby-
terrain; George Downing, at st. Luke's
Methodist; DR.. Frederick HI. Eichhorn,
at the Forest Hill Presbyterian; George
R. Bangs, at st. Stephens Episcopal.
and Charles Grant Shaffer, at the
Christ Reformed Church.
The women musical directors and or
ganists, who also deserve mention, are;
Miss Evelyn Widmer, at the South
Baptist; Mrs. Catherine Henriett, at
st. Johns Catholic; Miss Katherine
Lynch, at st Joseph's Catholic. and
Miss Elizabeth Edna Beers, at the
First Methodist Protestant Church.