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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 1907)
THE, OM An A SUNDAY BEE: DECEMBER 15. 1907. I) ( k ! J. Music's Part in Religious Worship and Especially at Christmas Time iiiiil in J; A A ! I . tAiAiA.iAi'Ai ;v 4 Jr. -W ... t 1 ,fi!G'T ' ! ' ' - '""''t; " ' ,- ' . . . m it o, ( .. .. " S$ IaI 1$ & -- i , J, It.... . i .... "r-lfj! kVtTfT I j V." I r 1- : ii ;.!U.!." ,IT,L Li - - , r ' ' -- "Mi. n imi-B Mm imi-nr ir- - J 11 i -wr" - im Nil i IT" 1 " 1 " amm . . . .. . . . ' ...-. X T 4 it i:r:i.. - - l Orgni were first upd ven before the time of Christ though they were, of course, but crude Instruments. Thry developed from the wind Instruments, man seeing the poj-sihlllty and the plausibility of supplying, the neoessnry air by means of, bellows rather than by the limited power of the human lunar. Cusslndorus says of tho pneumatic organ: "The organ la an Instru ment composed of divers pipes formed Into a kind of tower which by means of bellows Is made to produoo a loud sound and there re on the Inside movements made of wood that are pressed down by the flngTs of the player which produce the most pleaalnn and brilliant tones." . ' Everybody who has read 'Chaucer re members the esquire In the "Canterbury Tales" who "coucie sondes make and well ndite." "Singing lie was, cr floytins; all the day." . , ' . , . At the time of the Prostestant reforma tion the leaders In the movement turned, their attention seriously to .the reformation t the muslo ot Uia cbuiuk tiUi.no. leu seal than they did to the purely1 spiritual ment of. stable faith In the lines and the doctrines. Luther. ZwinRle, GalVIn, Fachman and John Knox were all prom--Inent In this movement. , The father of Knjtllsh sacred music Is generally conceded to be William Itlrd. tie was organist In Lincoln cathedral In 1.V13 and organist to the queen In 1375. This Is what he thought of music In the church: "There U not anle muslcke of Instruments whatsoever comparable to yt whlche Is trade of ye voyces of men where ye voyces are good and yo same well sorted and ordered. The bcttT ye voyce Is, the meeter It Is to honor and serve Qod therewith and ye voyce of man Is chtetlle to be em ployed to yt end." Luther was the leader In the renaissance of congregational singing alternating with choir music. He was himself the. com poser of several of ths finest pieces both. In words and music now used In the church.. Particularly celebrated Is his "A Mighty mighty. Irresistible swing to Its slow and stately music. In America music wss planted In a sterile soil so far as the church Was concerned. The Puritans and Fllgrtma Were Opposed to Its development In trie meeting houses when they arrived . In this country. But with time these prejudices were overcome by the natural desire of the human soul to express .Its praises to the Creator throuph ong. Such great men In the church as Cotton Mather and Rev.- John Cotton fought for musical progress.. A few quo tations from, the parish registers, of New Knglnnd show how this emancipation was ' gradually brought about. In. 1762 there. Is this entry: "The parish voted 'that those who had learned the art of singing may .have the liberty of. sitting In ths -front gallery." It Is noteworthy that those who had learned the art of singing refused to take advantage of this SlrorifiUold God" senu- "parmlMlon" and la 17(0 a mora cordial o MAFIA Is famous for her church music. In her more than 100 churches there are nearly 2,600 voices which are trained for the weekly service of song In the praise part of the worship.' Among these are many singers of more than ordinary abilities and powers. Some are much more than locally famous. The choir leaders and orgajilsts are men and women of extraordinary ability In their -aBClplea "when they had sung an hymn ivt.riui-uis. me various organisations or J. II. SIMS' CIIOIR AT ALL. SAINTS. the first music of the. Christian church, sung by the angelic choir on the morning of Chrlst s birth. Music was also present throughout the life of Christ' and Its strains are Inter spersed among the events, tragic and pa thetic of His entire sojourn on earth. Even In the awesome and solemn scenes that market the tragic ending of His life muslo played an Important part. Christ and the. unurcn singers nave neen Droeght to a high grade in the years of feffort and up building. All of the choirs of the city are busily engaged on the special music to be rert dered at the church's great festival, Christmas. Some of the choirs will give cantatas. Others are arranging a program of old-time Christmas carols and others have some special anthems and song ser vices especially designed for Christmas. It is interesting to study the history of music In churches. Prom the earliest days of the Christian era music lias been a great power In worship. A few passages from the Bible show where the use of divers kinds ot Instruments was expressly commanded: "And It came to pass when the evil spirit was upon Saul that David took his harp and played with his hand; so Paul was refreshed and was well and the evil spirit departed from him." I. Samuel, 16:22-23. "Rejoice In ihe Lord, O ye righteous, for praise becometh well the Just. Praise the Lord with harp; sing unto him with viole and Instruments of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise," 'Psalms 20:1-3. "Praise him In the sound of the trumpet, praise htm upon the viola and the harp, praise ye b.lm with tlmbrell and ' flute, praise ye him with virginals and organs, praise ye him upon the high sounding cymbals; let everything that hath breath praise the Lord." Psalms 150:3-6. The history of muslo In churches Is voluminous. Music has occupied and still occupies; a position second only to the preaching. "Glory to Qod in' the highest and on earth, peace, good will toward men," was went out Into the Mount of Olives." During the days of' the persecution o( the Christian by heathen Rome It Is re lated that a distinctive characteristic of the worship of those who professed to b followers of Christ was the singing of hymns which was heard from those cavea and caverns where their meetings wera held surreptitiously. Saint Ambroslus was made bishop of Milan In the year '374 and In. the' year 3S6 he Introduced his chant Into the Chris tian chaurches. This was the beginning of a set type of music In the Christian church. Its beauty was such. In spite of Its prim itive character that It seems It must have been Inspired by some power higher than that of man. .Its dulcet strains were of' such a lofty melody that they seemed to com straight from the throne of heaven Itself. 8aint Augustine heard the chant after his conversion and described it thus: "The voices floated in at my ears, truth, was distilled in my heart and the affection of piety overflowed In sweet tears of Joy.' The Gregorian chant, ' whMA Wielded ' so great an Influence In church music was first Introduced- In the year -690 by Pop Gregory. This is the chant on which, nubsequent -church music was founded and, from which a great deal of the music used today Is derived, particularly that In thaj Catholic church. The first choir and regular form of church service was established In the tima of Constantlne. An order of alnglns monks was founded In Anllooh, who chanted continuous psalms of praise, sing ing In relays, night and day, and neve . allowing the melody to die down. Many of the great men of the world In all lines of human endeavor "have beea skilled musicians. transition from tha Soloist music to the choral. Thomas J. Kolly, who is at the hoad of the choir of thirty-seven voices In t!ie First Methodist church and who has be'n b loa 1 Ing choral leader In Onaha for eighteen years. Is preparing an elalorate ClirlftmM procram unique on which K' to be th singing of the old-time Christ mas carols such as "(kid Rest You, Merrlo O.mtlo men" and "The First Nowell." The choir of the Imtnanml Lutheran church Is the oldest In the city as well a the largest. It was organ'xed In 1S and has fifty voices. Some of these have sung In the choir continuously since Us orgnnl sat Ion. John 8. Hilgren Is the leader and has occupied that position continuously for seventeen years." Ben Stanley's choir at Trinity cathedral has forty adult members beside a number of boys. The Christmas music there will Include a number of tho old Kngllsh carols. The choir of All Saints' Episcopal church a 1; i 1 1 5 i i 1 II t j y. If PROCESSIONAL OF T.' J KELLTS CIIOIR AT TIIB FIRST METHODIST. ; . ... ... : - ,.,,..,-.,- ' ' ( - f SrS, :f fjo :XAi':-' :r; f':t advance was . made .toward the singers. In this: "Tho ' parish requested Jonathan Chaplin) and Lieutenant-8pafford to assist Deacon 'Daniel Spafford In raising the tune In the meeting house." . And In 1785 the parish came right out and said: "Tae parish desires the singers, both male, and female, to sit in the gallery and will allow them to sing once each Lord's day without reading by. the deacon." From that time singing has been one of the most Important adjuncts of the church. In the early days some of tha themes of the songs - were, like the religions, very austere. Here Is a song sung In the early Puritan meeting houses: ' "Eternal plagues and heavy chains. Tormenting racks and fiery coals. And daUs t' inflict Immortal pains Dipt In the blood of damned souls." But the advance In music has been mar velous. The genius of some of the greatest composers of modern times has been di rected toward the perfecting of church muslo. Attwood, Sullivan, Dykes, Barnby and the composers of the Victorian era are prominent In this work. The musio In the Protestant churches Is AngeHcan In Its tenor. .That of the Catholic churches is more of the Gregorian type. The Catholic churches are at present undergoing a BEN STANLEY'S CtTOTR IN THE BEAUTIFUL TRINITY CATHEDRAL. contains nearly forty voices. J. II. Stmma has been In charge of it for thirteen years. , It will render a Christmas program and on the Sunday following Christmas will give the cantata, "The Holy Child." The choir of Kountxe Memorial Lutheran church, consisting of thirty-two voices tinder the direction of Delmore Cheney, will give a special program ot Christmas muslo in the evening of the Sunday before Christmas. There are twenty-seven members of that First Congregational choir under the dlreo-' tlon of Ira B. Penniman. Anthems by English and American composers will bo sung and hi the venlng of the Sunday before Christmas a service will be ren dered with the theme, "O Ccme, All Y Faithful." The Swedish Evangelical Mission church at Twenty-third and Davenport streets has a large choir under tha direction of Miss Coiinne Paulson, which will furnish an elaborate program of Christmas music. Hanscom Parle Methodist church has a large choir under the direction of Lee G. Krats. The First Presbyterian, Westminster Presbyterian and First Baptist churches are some of those whose muslo Is led by quartets. The choir of the new First Christian church consists ot twenty-eight voices." This choir Is under the direction of Fred Ellis. It will render the cantata, "Tha 8tory of Bethlehem" on the Bunday pre ceding Christmas. The Catholic churches of the city prepare special masses to be sung on ChrlBtmus day. All of the churches have strong choirs under the leadership of one of tha priests. At St. John's church the first mass at 6 o'clock In the morning will bo one by Slngenberger. At the 11 o'clock; service a new mass by Bid will be sung. Space la lacking to name the many other church choirs which 'are preparing spe cial muslo and elaborate Christmas pro grams. A greut paean of . song will rlsa from the churches. In all of which will ba the Christmas theme of "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men." JOHN 8. H ELORIN'S CHOIR AT THE SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN IMMANUEL CHURCH. Curious Capers of Cupid Frleada mm CoorU Oatwltted. ISREGARDINO opposition by Dl relatives and supreme courv I proceedings questioning her I l 1 . . . ,A wtnafl he n It'll i K I i-aiviijr v .- iifftilrs. Miss Helen 8. Raymond, 66 years old, reputed to be worth V'M.000. Is reported to have married Wil liam Demorls. a Greek fruit dealer, twenty years her Junior, In Providence, R- I., last Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Demorls have gone abroad on their honeymoon and friends say they will reside In the west upon their return. ' The bride's relatives made every effort possible to prevent her marrying Demorls. Mrs. Datnorls conies from one of the oil- young couple who whispered In chorus: "Do you marry people?" "Not unless they Insist on it," said tha Judge. "We Insist." ' Grab hands." "We've grabbed." f "Names, please." "Lena Hart and George Kelstor." "Do you, George; "do you, Lena, etcr -clan s care he was obliged "I do. -I do." "You're one; I'm done." "Here's twenty.". "That's plenty." "Goodbye." "Good luck." ,i The door swung open, Mr. and Mrs. George Kelster Jumped tnto as) automo glad to receive It. The message.. . was addressed to 1671 Buckingham place and read: Married today. 'Gone to Pittaburg.' Home In a week. FLORLNCIi. Naturally her family and friends were disappointed In the dearth of interesting particulars. Mrs. Patton was Florence Fols,' one of eight daughters of Mrs. Bertha' Fols, widow ot Otto Folz, one time Jailer of Cook county. - ", . 1 - A year ago Mr. Patton, whose home ts In Sheridan Park, was a patient 'of ' Dr. Edwin Baxter. While under the physl- to make fre- Ing near and escaped Injury. ' The weddln? waa one of the big society events at Des Moines this autumn. He revived In a few. minutes and the cer emony proceeded. , Much excitement pre vailed among the .wedding gueuts until they learned that , the groom was in no danger. The room was unusually warm and this, added to the excitement. It Is said, was too muoji; for the young man.- Mr. the bolt of linen she had been making for years In preparation Xpr the wedding. Tills Hi. en mas used as the cloth of the dining tuble on state occasions. When not In use It was packed in cedar chips in a walnut box.' Following generations culled the linen "(Jrandma'a tablecloth, " and every Wed ding feast since 1741 lias betn spread on "Grandma's ' tablecloth." Thanksgiving Bush completely recovered and was able day the venerable heirloom graced Jhe to leave, with his bride , or) their wedding ."" trip at the appolnlefl time. Gassaway Davis ta Marry, - , Notwithstanding the positive denial of Ex-Senator H nry G. Davis and -Miss Maud Asliford of their eugajement and Wiii Is Howe 1T2 .Years, Old. quent calls at the Utter s office. There , The head of the sixth generation of he met Miss Fols. who was employed by. Baldwins. Isaac P. -Baldwin, a aovern- Dr. Baxter as an assistant. An Intimate ment engineer, was married on Thunkegiv- Probable early marriage, the New York acquaintance developed, to be broken when ' tng day in the ' family homestead that T'""'P declares,' on unquestionable au Mr. Patton Wis discharged as cured of stands on the aide of Wauhkaw mountain, thorlty, Uiat an engagement has existed ms, illness. Istics all through'' life. That Mr. Lee is opposed to the marriage conies as a sur prise to many who have known of tha Intimacy existing between her and Miss Ashfoid from girlhood. Miss Asliford was hur social secretary throughout last sea son. Miss Ashford, the bride-to-be,. Is the daughter of the late Mahlon Ashford of the District of Columbia bar and haa al ways been Identified with Washington's smart resident set. She Is 36. Davis is 81. Mrs. John T. Davis, the young daughter-in-law of the senator, Is said to be In en tire sympathy with ' the romance. Since the death of his wife, five 'or six years ago, Mr. Davis has divided his time between his former honieln Washington and tha residence of Mr. and Mrs. Lee, on Massa chusetts avenue, New York.. His summers are always passed at his estate in West Virginia, where Miss Ashford was a guest for five weeks last season. It la said his fortune, estimated vari ously from J0,Uu0.O00 to $30,000,000. 'will be divided In a way satisfactory to his future wile, his children and grandchildren. Marblc Heart far Waltlaa; Groom. Fifteen minutes before the time set for her marriage to Otto Heln In the Melrose Park Lutheran church. Chlcaso. Miss Hazel Recently while returning to In Morris county. New Jersey, . to Miss for six weeks and tliat the wedding day Is Hlekok of Maywood gayly hurried to Crown tnicago irora a visn 10 Auanuc tuy Isabella A, Durand of Denverthe couple "J"5 Ior January I. Tl.at the announce- PoUit with Michael A. Poternoster and on a Pennsylvania train MUs Fols was h.vin. 4.,rn.....i n-r.t of hit ik wa nr,mi i. j ,. .. est families in Newburyport. Her husband bile and disappeared. Seven minutes ba- met by Mr. Patton. and from his romantic out tha hmHv .tr.im.m th.t rh- i.i-.. . true, has been the aeneral onlnlon in -.i... . .h. i u ,.... ..... vl "" . k.is must masrv under ths una mof.ai I. la ciety. notwithstanding the flit denial of wit.i hut n KrM. has been In this country but a half dosen years. They first met tn the Greek's- fruit tore, it la said. for they were single. Culrk Action. Justice of the Peace Bassett was pre paring to enjoy his dinner quietly yes terday at Newark, N. J., when Hoaaamco ( Trata. When Mrs. Steward Patton propped a dollar bill wrapped around an eight-word telegram to her mother la Chicago from the window of a Pennsylvania eastbound a series observation car at Indiana Harbor re- the plan which culminated mhen tho forefathers. TheV werat nMrrW in ih. Mr. Davis. MUs Ashford and Mr. nvi. coupie sioie aay wunoui me anowieaga same room where the hea4s of nve previous daughters-Mrs. Steven B. Elklns. wife of t f slaiiHa nnri salBllitas O V a n.,.aa(A.a of friends and relatives to" be married. A ClotsT Call. While 'waiting to start to the altar to meet his bride, Mr, Aaher Bush,, who was generations Jiad stood before them. : The first Baldwin In 'America, NafharUel, built tha stone hours In -1733, and following gen erations added to It. The old wing is now trie kitchen, but It is the scene of alt the tha senator from West Virginia, and Mrs. Arthur Lee. The relations between the fci-year-old bridegroom-elect and his daughters are at Finally they decided to postpone the wedding. This all happened October I, but Heln didn't learn till lately that his intended bride had married another. He had not seen her since his "wedding" day, but learned that she was living in Melroso of violent tugs at tne, bell sent mm ceniiy, sna prooauiy aiun r stop to tnin married in Des Moines to 41 Us Grace Ken-S familvt weddings. . ' wrathfully to tthe door. He opened It that aha could have sent a forty-word dall, fainted and remained Unconscious for ' 'Xhen Nthauiel' Baldwin married ' Han with a sudden Jerk. As It swung back message for the same amount, and that, several mlnutea. Mr. Bush was caught In na'i Kent In 1741 h toum. r,m be was crowded against tho wall by a, moreover, her mother would fcavo been tailing by several persona who wera stand- necticut ln; an ox-cart, bringing with her dren haa been one of hi. chief character! "and here la my husband. I'm Mrs. Michael A. Poternoster." Mlsa Khonts Weddlna; Plana. Miss Theodora Shouts, whove engage ment to the Duke de Chaulnes waa an nounced recently is a a;uest of Mrs. Richard Reld Pxiger of Farragut square, Washing ton, an old friend of Mrs. Theodora V. Shonts, Miss Shonts' mother. Miss Shonts was a guest at tea In the French embassy Saturday. Sunday sba was a guest at luncheon of the counsellor of the embassy and Mine, des Porteg, whose daughter, Mile. Guilmette des Portes, was the most Intimate friend of the Misses Shonts during their residence in Washington. MIbs Shonts Is planning for a large wedding in New York in the latter part of January. Her engagement ring, an ancestral Jewel, Is a' magniflclent square sapphire surrounded by a double row of diamonds. The ring itself Is little more than a wire. i Waited Tweuty-oaa Years. When Rev. James P. Byrnes, rector of St. Patrick's church at Richmond, S. I., pronounced the words that made John Seaver and Margaret M. PfarT husband and wife, a courtship that has endured for twenty-one years was brought to a happy conclusion. Neighbors and friends, all of whom are thoroughly conversant with the charming romance, knew the couple were to be married some day. That waa settled lorig ago. The man and tha woman have kept company all these years, and no quurrtla have disturbed their love. But Seaver and his sweetheart put tho care of their Invalid fathers above their own happiness. That's the reason tho nupnaia nave oeen aeiayed. The elder present badly strained, but friend, of th. Park. He called and reminded her that she Seaver died about five month, ago at tho familv hellevi A hotter nnF-tif a n.lli.o- M.iii t.- ....... asu i irie .. V,. , " V" "arry ni.ii. woman i age of W. Mis. PfatT . father paased prevail before the wedding day. as the af- aha go at once to the church and get it over ..v m. f.- wi,. - 1 " fectiort of the aged statesman for his chll- with? ' Vtah .... .,h.ki- I m already, rnaxriod. Otto.1? she .aid, patleut Jyalr have enough fur ail vuriiussa. I