The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1927-07-21
BY PAULINE SUING BLOOM


What a dyspeptic view of life. 1t is quite true
that We in boosted civilization, get jolt every
once in WHILE but, no two lives have as yet
been duplicated i'll the millions of souls that have
passed the hand of God, we may look for the un-
usual day in and day out and find it. 1t took IA
word from Fletcher McFadden to give ST. Paul's
Methodist church as unique u celebration as Spo
kane has known. Were it not for his good memory
Mrs. Dayton Stewart should have let the silver
jubilee of her work choir director of st. Paul's
pass unnOtced.
Mrs. Stewards record is the more unusual be-
cause of the fact that in the % years of her work
she has not had four months vacation adding to-
gether the Sundays that she has been missing
from the choir in twenty-five years. Illness has
claimed few Sundays; once she was quarantined
when her children had the measles; year there
a three weeks vacation other summers she
has been missing two Sundays, but usually
she gets her vacation in that her church work
is undsturbed.
And she SAYS that she never gets tired of her
work. "0ne must carry the spiritual value of his
work. to get the best out of it,, she said Il always
tell my singers that they can't put themselves across
unless they put their whole souls into their work
The meaning of the words comes first, and no man
sing with feeling and reverence
without great appreciation of the faith that is in
him."
st. Pauls is of Spokane's most beautiful
church edifices and the story of the surmount
ing cross its light shining night after night, north
east, south and west, told, we would be amazed in
this busy matter of fact world to nave to realize
that miracles of grace are daily occurences-"we
have eyes and see not
Mrs Stewart began her work in the old church
which was called jefferson Street Methodist. She
has seen nine pastors come and go and she got
along wonderfully well with all of them. I'VE have
never had any wrangles about policies We have
worked together
The pastors of ST. Paus and Jefferson Street have
been: The Rev. William Fry, now in Honolulu; the
Rev. G. l.. Gibson, Seattle; the Rev. Il. Nj. Hill (:
the Rev. w. II. H. Forsythe; the Rev. u +. Hawk;
the late Rev. j. w. McDougal; the Rev. Il. NJ. Avi-
son; DIR. +. l.. Wemett and the Rev. Louis Magn.
Mrs Stewart believes that the thing which has
been duplicated nowhere in the country is the fact
that the choir has furnished the church's entire
library of music. 1t has earned the money through
the giving of concerts and oratorios I'm earlier
days were not so handicapped as now We did
not have many counter attractions. Our chorus
choir used to be of the citys chief attractions
and used to give our concerts to packed houses.
Now it is task to get people to Keep out OF their
automobiles long enough to go to church services"
The choir of st. Paus always gives two big
programs year besides its church work. An Easter
oratorio and Christmas cantata are regular fea-
lures Quite large church fund has been given
st. Paul's from time to time through the efforts
of the choir. When st. PauFs dedicated the
choir gave its outstanding production the oratorio
1.-THE Holy City," Mrs. Stewart believes. 1t was
during that week of festivities that the church had
its first annual banquet, which has grown to be
big feature in the family life of the congregation.
The special music for this affair is always in
the hands of committee of which Mrs. Stewart is
part.
A teacher of voices, Mrs. Stewart has always
drawn her singers from the talent which presented
itself through her classes and number of singers
prominent throughout the country trace their first
training to their choir work in st. Paus
Lila Sayre, now a guest in the city, is doing
solo work in New York city churches Margaret
Jenkins Jessup, soprano is now sooist in the
First NJ. f. Church at Great Falls, Montana Wei
don Armfeld, director of Maranatha Christian