ST. PAUL’S CHOIR.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5451, 16 September 1878, Page 3

ST. PAUL’S CHOIR.

“ He that’s ungrateful has no other fault.” TO THE EDITOR OE THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —Without entering into tho particulars of Air. Parker’s appointment, I wish, if you will allow me, to sfcatesome of the circumstances connected with Mr. Mowbray’s nineteen years’ tenure of office as choir-master of St. Paul’s ; circumstances which I believe are not generally known, aud which I think ought to ba made public, if only iu justice to a gentleman who has-never cared to assert himself, aud who has always been ready to waive his own just claims for the sake of the common good. I believe that no one not connected with the choir’ can have any idea of the amount of time and trouble willingly and gra- ‘ tuitously given by Mr. Mowbray to objects which, though highly desirable in themselves, had no real claim on him. The choir entertainment?, for example, were for a long time given in his own schoolroom, an arrangement which entailed a large amount of extra trouble, while tho entertainments themselves wore in no way obligatory ou him, but were undertaken sometimes for charitable purposes, and sometimes to avoid drawing on tho church revenues for the choir music. The choir has entirely by hia means been made self-support-ing, and has given its help to other objects iu a manner which, though rather taken as a matter of course; is, with the. parallel instance of St. Peter’s, very unusual. Again, from the institution of the weekday evening services, lie, at the urgent request of the then incumbent, acted as organist until a comparatively recent date. The courtesy and delicate consideration for the feelings of others which Mr. Alowbray has invariably shown cause a unanimous feeling of deep regret among the members .of the choir at the prospect of losing him as their conductor.. This consideration aud delicacy have never been more strongly shown than in his immediately placing his resignation in tho hands of the vestry rather than endanger tho chance of securing the services of Air. Parker, The change, whatever its possible advantages, has the very serious drawback of severing the connection between the choir and its father and founder, and I sincerely trust that Mr. Alowbray will not bo allowed to resign without a hearty aud grateful acknowledgment of his great services from the vestry, the choir, and, I feel inclined to add, the whole of the oon- ; gregation.— l am, &c., JUSTICE.