The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-01
Prof. shelley Says He Was
Sacrificed by Fifth Ave-
nuc Baptists.
SOLOIST WANTS DAMAGES
Both Charge Choir Com mittcc
Secretary With Making
False Promises.


hes, known organists. composers and
teachers in America and for the last
fifteen years o-gainst and cholrmaster
Of the Fifth Avenue BAPTIST Church. Of
which John n Rockefeller and his SON
arc members. has been sacrificed b. the
church In order to bring alput the
ama,eamation with the Calvary Baptist
Church. which took place IN Fchruary.
Miss Edith Mage for three years con-
,ralto soiolst in the Fifth Avenue Baptist
quartet. also is without n choir place
because the Calvary congregation insisted
on retaining its own contralto as a condl-
,lon of ehe union.
These facts became public yesterday
when Prof. Shelley and Miss Magee filed
suits IN the supreme Court against Horace
w Fish the secretary Of the music COM
nittec of the Fifth Avenue church. to
recover damages on the ground of alleged
deception by Mr. Elsa. as result of
which, they say. they did not seek new
choir Jobs. Mr.. Fish. who lives at 81
West Ninetieth street. denied last night
that Prof. Shelley and Miss MAGE had
been deceived and said they were ac-
quainted with the possibility Of the ANAL
gamatIon with Calvary church and should
have protected themselves against the
possible loss Of their places. II was
made plain that no fault had been found
with the professional work of either Prof.
Shelley or Miss Magee,
Prof. Shelley. who IL close friend OF
Commodore r. c. Benedict and has fire.
quently accompanied him on his yachting
trips. was q guest OF the commodore last
night and could not he reached for q
M, In I'd N bia HE =.
torney, Herman J. Wittc said there was
no doubt that but for the assurances of
Mr.. Fish the organist and contralto would
have obtained places with other churches.
His salary $4,000 ~ Wear.
The complain, in Prof. Shel,ey's sui.
says that he has been receiving $1,000 a
year as organist and choirmaster. and
that Il has been customary for the music
committee to notify him the December
previous to the end OF the church year on
May whether he was TO be reengaged
for the following year. He raid that Mr.
Fish. as secretary of the music committee
assured him that he would be reengaged.
although al the time there was no posi-
hiiity that his services would be wanted
lie seeks to compel Mr.. Fish to pay the
$4,000 he would have re eived IL the
statement had been true
Miss Magee In her complaint says that
during the three years she has been with
the church she has been notified in jan
uary OF each year as to whether She would
be reengaged. She says that on the first
Sunday In January Mr.. Fish told her that
she needn't seek another engagement be-
cause she would be wanted next year. She
said that this statement was false and
was known by M. Fish to he false l;hcn
n" made II. She asks $3.50. a years
salary.
1.~S II.
Shelley and Miss Magee have been rem
dering no services since February 90 last.
when the two churches combined. but re-
ceived their salary mp TO to-day. TIE
other members OF the Fifth Avenue Church
quartet were Miss Cora Remington. So
prano; Ericsson Bushnell, barytone. and
Frank ormsby. tenor. With Mrs. Efpey,
the contralto OF Calvary Church choir.
these singers made w the quartet OF the
combined churches. assisted by n chorus
choir, while DIR. Richardson. who has
been oreanst at Calvary since last sum
me-, became choirmaster. All have been
r-engaged for next year.
The situation with respect to the sac
rtfc!ns by the Fifth avenue church of its
chcrmaster and contrato was explained
last night by member OF the music COM
m!ttee.
TOOK . Chance. Tie says.
This whole thing is a tempest in
'Hapo''' he said prof. Shelley and Miss
"arae simply took chance that the
ANA 'sanlaton would not go through and
mat they would be needed next year ney
.os'' They were fully acquainted with
me situation for months before the final
vote on the union was taken on February
10. ana II they had made arrangements
elsewhere and notified us we would have
been satisfied
The whole thing in a nutshell is that
me Calvary people gave us to under
STAND mat II We came over TO them we
Vou'nht bring our entire choir as well as
our pastor DR.. Cornelius Woeifkin. They
gave us 10 understand that the only thing
'na' might prevent favorable vote on
n" question OF union would ba our in
estehce that their organist and contralto
must give way TO ours. They gave US 70
una.rstand that under no circumstances
"ou'i they part with Or Richardson and
Mrs Efpey" ''N
prof' Shelley was the organlst Of the
ceh'er Church in New Haven when ne
was ~ Years old. He studied in this
'ouhtry under Dudley Buck and in Ell
rope under DR.. Anton Dvorak He went
~ me ruth Avenue Baptist Church in
I'e' tie has composed many pobular
so,ss' some orchestra music. organ music
ana sacred cantatas, and has con,piled
ssVerai volumes of anthems and pieces for
me organ, one Of his notable works Is
- symphony in r Major" He also is