New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-23
WHITE WINGS IN CHURCH
Brass Band the Playing Guests
at Dr.. Reisner'S Service.
ILLUSTRATE CLEAN CITY
Commissioner Edwards and
Pastor Speak-Spotless Euter-
peans Applauded.

Commissioner Edwards and little band
of his White Wings" who play on in
struments of brass went to church last
night at the invitation OF the Rev. DR..
Christian F. Reisner. pastor OF Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church, In West
104th street Mr. Edwards's musicians
wore newly Numbered street clothes OF
spotless white II was positively the first
appearance OF the Street Cleaning De-
partment Band-as such-in any church.
DR. Reisner wanted 10 preach on "A
Clean New York" and he decided that
Commissioner Edwards's men. and espe-
cially those who were devotees Of Eu-
terpe, would make good object lessons OF
the agents OF a physically clean town.
The band, forty pieces in all, played
nearly a dozen selections, including
"Adeste Fidelis," the intermezzo from
"Cavalleria Rusticana," Going Home
and Nearer, My God, to Thee" DR..
Reisner removed the ban on applause. so
the audience gave the Commissioning
men audible appreciation.
When DR.. Reisner read the church no.
tees he mentioned the fact that the
heavy rainstorm last Friday night spoiled
the moonlight sail for which the folk or
the parish had bought tickets. After the
notices the choir and congregation sang
But for the Showers We Plead" Then
Dr. Reisner introduced Commissioner Ed
wards The latter said Grace Church
ought 10 be proud OF a pastor like DR..
Reisner who does things" Every one.
he said, whose heart is In the right place,
wants 10 do something 10 better things In
New York
In that spirit" he said. 1--WE tried 10
create things in the Street Department
like this band. II helps to make the men
want to do more than they are paid Tor
doing II increases the standa ID OF eff
cheney. They have 70 buy their own uni
forms and instruments You were sing
ing a minute ago. But for the Showers
We Plead Now / don't know whether
there was anything personal in that or
not. Anyway the rain may have blight
ed your picnic last week. but It is Just
such incidents that do New York a world
Of good now and then"
But seriously, the Commissioner said.
he would defy any person 10 find street
sweeper who got under cover and let
water do his work on a rainy day. The
men work hard, Sundays and all. he said.
I'm order that good people who go 20
church on Sunday may escape the dirt
and debris scattered the whole length OF
the city on Saturday night. Conditions,
he said, are better than ever now, and
the police have helped a lot, but at that
II is feartully hard TO arrest the man who
litters the streets He recited this:
Why don't they keep the streets little
cleaner?
You ask with a feeling not undue
Why don't they keep the parks little
greener.
As should really be their due?
Did you ever stop TO wonder that this
means you?
Dr. Reisner said New York fascinated
him so much that he couldn't go back TO
Topeka, Kan. The city. he said. wasn't
half so bad as II is painted. Among the
great men New York has sent out hs
mentioned Colonel Roosevelt, the Rev. DR..
Parkhurst. Colonel Waring and William
II. Edwards. who learned grit and cour-
age on the Princeton football team to
handle a strike or street cleaners when
every one else failed