eek by Edwin
Bruce, who came from Boston each Tuesday and drilled and taught us in
the best music of the day. He was a most competent leader and teacher.
With our choir he directed and drilled three more choirs. His soloists
were the best that could be procured and our concerts were looked
forward to by the people who filled Tremont Temple to years of
study I associated with and heard singers of all nations and had an
opportunity to study the music of oratorios, church and concert work.
The Handel and Haydn society had over 500 members, Carl Zerrahn,
leader, Howard Dow, organist. With our choir and the other three
choirs I have spoken of, we lived in an atmosphere of music
continually for four years.

[Illustration:

Geo. M. Wight
Henry Sherwin
C. Churchill
G.W. Macbeth
Charles Wight
H. Hitchings
J. Eaton
Adelbert Calder
Edwin Bruce
Chas. J. Capen
E.M.Everett
Geo. H. Blake
Dr. Burgess
J.G. Taft
C.B. Danforth
Dr. Edwin Burgess
Alvin Fisher
Mr. Black
Ellery C. Daniells

MEN SINGERS, DEDHAM, MASS., 1861

Congregational Church Choir]

In the first part of 1861 war was declared and a state of great
excitement prevailed. Volunteers were sought and young men and boys
and old men who were vigorous, men filled with patriotic fire,
responded. Everybody was ready to go to the front. No one held back
services or money. Even the women began to feel they must do something
and while the recruits were drilling and women were sewing, making
comforters, havelocks, ditty bags, bandages, lint and other
necessaries required for the wounded, they formed themselves into a
Christian Commission Society and began systematically to plan ways and
means to meet the situation which needed so much attention and help
from every one, old or young. The Elders of the church gave us
permission to use the church parlors to sew in and four sewing
machines were put in and work began in earnest to help the cause. Old
ladies made lint and knitted socks and other necessary articles that
soldiers need. On the evening of May 1, 1861, we gave the first
concert in aid of the soldiers. The choir was assisted by Miss Louisa
Adams, soprano; Edwin Bruce, director; Charles Capin, organist of the
Orthodox Society. The church was crowded to its utmost capacity, the
overflow was sufficient to insure another house. Everybody was on
tiptoe to hear the choir give its first concert for the soldiers. The
sixteen ladies of the choir were dressed in white wi