The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-13
BOURNE EASTER GIFT
TO CHOIR 100000
Yachtsman Adds Half Million to
Cathedral of st. John
Collection.
BISHOP LEADS IN CHEERS
Gifts in Churches Here Said to
Aggregate More Than
S2,5OO.OOO.

The Easter collection at the Cathedral
or St. John the Divine included a check
Tor 100000 from Frederick q. Bourne,
president OF the Singer Manufacturing
Company and ex-commodorc Of the New
York Yacht Club.
The contribution Is to be added 20 the
endowment fund OF the choir school OF the
Cathedral This means that the choir is
placed upon a permanent independent
basis. The only condition of the Gift
was that Commodore Bourne should be
elected a member Of the Cathedral choir,
which was done Immediately.
The choristers, faculty OF tho choir
school and the Cathedral clergy were
called Into the choir room at the east
end Of the synod hall after the II o'clock
service yesterday morning By Dean eros
venor who announced tina, Mr.. Bourne
called upon him last week and an
nounced his intention Of giving the half
million for choir purposes. The check
for the amount was placed upon the
altar at the morning service.
After the election of the commodore TO
the choir Bishop Greer interrupted the
dean. who was about to close the meet
ing. to ask that door which stood
open be closed.
Bishop Leads Cheercrs.
The Bishop then proposed three cheers
and tiger for the donor and led the
robed choristers, who gave the tribute
to Mr.. Bourne with all the strength Of
their lungs.
a telegram and letter Of thanks were
read by Dean Grosvenor Mr.. Bourne
got the telegram at his home in Oakdalc.
l.. l.. yesterday. and the letter will reach
him to-day.
The Commodore didn't attend the Ca
thedral services yesterday because, IL he
had. little church out on Long Island
would have lost one OF its best bassos
Mrs. Bourne said last night that her hus-
band had just mentioned to her the
"unimportant fact OF his little gift"
Commodore Bourne's interest In choir
work dates back to his youth, when he
was choir boy at old Trinity In lower
Broadway. After that he was for eieh-
teen years member of the choir OF
the Church of the Incarnation, Madison
avenue and Thirty-hfth street, OF which
Dean Grosvenor was rector for sixteen
years He was warm friend OF the late
Bishop Potter. who started the Cathedral
Choir School in 1901. and Is also a friend
OF Bishop Greer.
The Cathedral Choir School Is one Of
the two institutions OF the sort in this
city. Grace Church having the other. 1t
has new building on Morningslde ave-
nue., costing sl5o.OOo the gift OF Mrs
J. Jarrett Bodgett.
The aim of the school Is to furnish
choristers for the Cathedral services but
boys who are taught there get college
preparatory courses in return for their
work. The present building accommodates
forty. With Commodore Bourne's en-
dowment it is expected that the school
will surpass all Of the famous British
choir schools.
Easter Gifts Exceed R2,SOO,O 900.
In addition to being president of the
Singer Company, Commodore Bourne Is
director in a score of financial concerns.
He IL q member OF the New York Yacht,
Atlantic Yacht Westbrook Yacht and
several other yachting clubs; of the Metro
poltan. New York Athletic, Army and
Navy and other clubs. He is also mem
Der OF the Metropolitan Museum Of Art
The Cathedral Choir School was for
eleven years under the head mastership
of the Rev. DIR. Ernest Voorhis. who was
succeeded by |. NJ, Beard. formerly Of
St. Pauls School. Concord. The choir
itself consists of forty boys and twenty
two men, and Is under the leadership
of Miles Farrow. 1t is already noted for
its efficiency, and Is expected to attain
even greater fame by the use of MIR.
Bourne's gift.
II Is estimated that Easter collections
in New York churches amounted TO be-
tween S2,5OO.000 and S3,OOO,0o0. In the
Eplscopai churches the collections could
he only estimated. as the money will not
be counted until to-day.
Bishop Greer preached the Easter ser
mon at the Cathedral. More than 1000
persons filled stalls and standing room
The flowers were limited to Easter lilies
and white azaleas.