Show CHURCH WILL REORGANIZE TABERNACLE B BIG lG C CHOIR H 0 I R Committee of Nine Chosen by the First Presidency Is Ready to Make Its Report of Investigations STEPHENS I MAY LEAVE McClellan Will Probably Be Conductor and the Organist Em Emeritus ritus With One New Assistant t Reorganization of the Salt Lak Lake ke tabernacle choir of the Church of Jesus Christ Christ of f Lat Lat- ter day Saints i is impending and members of the choir are in many instances instances- uneasy as to the scope and extent of the re re- re organization As a result it is said of lack of interest in the choir work by a large number of member the attendance at rehearsals grid and at stat stated d appearances of of the choir has b been en small during the last Jast six months This condition was pointed out to the first presidency of the church ab about ut two months months ago by a m member of the quorum quorum of twelve apostles postles and it was suggested to the first presidency that an investigation be made to determine e the causes causes' for the failing interest and lack of at attendance at- at In order that this investigation might be made fairly and impartially t the e first presidency y appointed com a committee corn com of ot two members from each eachor or of the five stakes in Salt Lake and one from Granite stake to go as deeply into the matter mattel as ne they deemed adi advisable ad- ad v i Members of Committee The members of ot this committee were Alvin Alyin A. A Beesley chairman B Bishop shop Ashton Col J. J J J. J Daynes Bishop Joseph Christensen W W. N N. B. B Shepard George Q Morris Morns Matthew Noall Noah T T. Y Cannon and E. E T T. Hyde This committee held sessions al almost almost al- al most nightly fox for a a. month or longer going deeply into th the affairs of the choir and sparing no one in their probe The result of the investigation was it is said that the committee learned that many of ot the members and former former for for- former mer members of the internationally famous choir had become wearied of ot the music they were presenting at the regular services and at special performances and had not been as assigned assigned assigned as- as signed enough new music to sustain their interest While no member o of the committee who has been questioned with regard to the report filed flied with the first presidency Is willing to make any statement regarding the ground covered covered cov coy ered by the report it is understood that a complete reorganization atlon of the the- choir has been recommended It is is understood that the report recommends that Professor Evan Stephens the veteran conductor of t the choir be retired with all the toe honors honors boilore hon boil ors ore that his faithful service and loyal devotion to the choir warrant and that hl hi his place be filled by a younger man Ballantyne Suggested Among the names names suggested for this position it is said ald were Joseph Ballantyne o of Ogden conductor of ot the Ogden den tabernacle choir Horace HoraceS Horace's s 's S S. En Ensign o of Salt Lake and John J. J McClellan now organist at the tab tab- The choice now has narrowed down downto to two names Ensign and McClellan In the event McClellan is named by bythe bythe bythe the first presidency it Is pl planned nned to create in that m manner one vacancy Inthe in inthe inthe the corps of organists by the advancement advancement ad- ad of Ed P. P Kimball t to the position of organist and Tracy T. T 7 Cannon to the position of or first as assistant assistant assistant as- as organist This will leave the position of second assistant organist vacant this vacancy to be fille filled Continued on page 6 6 CHURCH WILL Continued from page age 1 from the ranks of ot young now in Salt Lake If It these changes are made McClellan McClellan McClellan Mc- Mc Clellan will have the dual position of organist emeritus and choir CO conductor tor continuing the work he has followed followed fol fol- fol- fol lowed for nineteen years in the daily dally and special organ recitals which have won for tor hint him international recognition rec rec- as one of or the greatest test living organists ls orf The elimination of ot Professor Protessor Ballantyne Ballantyne Bal Bal- Bal I from the race was caused II It Itis itis is said by the business interests in Ogden which bind him closely to that city The wishes of t the Ogden tabernacle choir too are said sald to have been consulted in the matter and the officials of ot that organization were loth to part with his services because of ot the splendid work he has done with that organization Report Is Made The report of ot this committee of ot nine members has been in the hands of ot the first presidency for some sometime sometime sometime time but it Is understood that no definite step will wUl be taken by ly that body until the April conference At that time it Is said Professor Stephens Stephens' Stephens Stephens' Steph Steph- ens ens' resignation will win be announced and the name ot of his successor willbe will willbe willbe be given to the members of ot th the church to be sustained The great organ in in the tabernacle be months be before beM be 1 Is silent and It will fore Its magic voice is again heard In AmerIca America America Amer Amer- Skilled t workmen the best ica are remodeling the tho great reat instrument instrument ment an and when this work which will require months is completed the or organ organ or- or will be the greatest in existence according gan to the tho promises promises' made by bythe bythe bythe the builders recitals were continued continued con con- The daily dally organ according to custom through the October conference and as quickly quick quick- ly as that great series of ot meetings was ended early in the present month the organ was vas closed and was given into the hands of ot the builders |