The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-06-04
THOUSANDS ATTEND COMMUNITY SINGING AT CAPITOL PARK Crowds Join Heartily in Singing the Patriotic
 Numbers CITY COMMISSIONERS HEARTILY THANKED Director Lawrence Handled Immense Chorus in Splendid Manner and
 Carried Out Splendid
 Programme

l Community singing made triumph l ant entry into the social life of Bir mingham people yesterday afternoon at o'clock when approximately 5000 gathered at Capitol Park and for more than two houfs listened atten- lively to the splendid programme rem dered by the community band and community chorus Very few of the 5000 people failed to join in the sing ing when instructed to do so by Di- rector Robert Lawrence. and the sing ing could be heard over the greater portion of the Northside.
 Long before time for the singing to commence all seats were taken and scores had gathered in front of the spacious grandstand, which was erect ed by the city officials. If the crowd at the first community singing may be taken as a criterion there will be added interest next Sunday and for 16 consecutive Sundays, the thousands displaying marked attention until the rain began to fall After a number had gone from the park the sun came out again and Director Lawrence asked all to remain, saying the programme would be carried out.
 Meetings, either social or business, would not be complete in these days of vars without a patriotic touch being added and this was the case at the first community singing. The thou sands showed they were interested in the patriotic touch by their vocifer.- ous applause when America" "The Star-Spangled Banner" and other pa triotic songs were sung.
 DIVISION SINGING
 One of the unique features of the first singing was the division, known as least and vest composed of per sons residing on the west side of the park and those on the east. The west side" took all honors from the least side" when Director Lawrence asked them to sing Dixie" Another inter esting feature of the afternoon came when the director asked those in the audience to hum" "Suwanee River" After the "humming" was over MT. Lawrence expressed his approval by saying "very good"
 Patriotic feeling that exists in the country was again illustrated at the singing when the band played the na- tional anthem, and when large American flag was brought to the front of the grandstand. It would be difficult, however, for the critics in the south to ascertain whether "Thc Star Spangled Banner" is considered greater song and music than Dixie" When Dixie was played by Nappis band applause continued for a minute or more
 Every number of the afternoon was a feature. Among those which were loudly applauded were The Heavens Are Telling" from The Creation" HallelUjah chorus. "The Messiah" Tn flammatus," from "Stabat Mater" sung by the choir of the Church of the Ad- vent Loves Old Song, Jefferson County Community chorus; Star Spangled Banner" everybody; Dixie" everybody; Alabama" community chorus.
 Following the overture by Nappi'e band and the singing of the doxology, Rev. Preston Blake asked for the guidance of the Lord in the present crisis in the country, while prepara- tons are being made for the young men to register tomorrow and the fight for their country.
 COMMISSION THANKED
 Mayor Ward and other commission