THE MEN'S CHORUS
A very vital and well-known organization in the
church is the Monthalia United Methodist Men's Chorus.
Sometime around the year 1910, a group of men of the Monthalia Methodist Church, from the
Cost-Bebe-Monthalia communities, met in the Rudolph Henkel home, located in the area where the Philippus Brothers store once stood in the Monthalia
community. These young men derived pleasure in the blending of their voices in
harmony, being accompanied by Mr. Henkel on the old
pump organ. Eight young men are listed as starting this singing tradition. The
eight consisted of three sets of brothers: Paul and Adolph Philippus,
Anton and Henry Deschner, Benno and Edwin Froehner,
Walter Afflerbach and Mr. Henkel as the organist.
Basically, this was the origin of the Men's Chorus.
There are some instances recorded in the secretary
book of the "Jugend Bund" (Epworth League),
during the period of 1911-1917, that shows the entry "Manner Chor Gesang" (Men's Chorus
Song). This indicates that the Men's Chorus sang at various programs for the
evening services. Names of the group participating in the singing at this time
were: Paul Muenzler, Arthur Raeke,
Paul Philippus, Henry Deschner, John Froehner, Edwin
Froehner, Edwin Pape, Fred Gabler,
Alfred Tieken, Henry Willmann, and Arthur Gabler.
As the years passed, the Men's Chorus grew in
numbers, until at one time the group consisted of twenty-six members. Also at
some time, the group started singing at the morning and evening worship services.
As new members were added, certain requirements had to be met by the new
member. One requirement was that the new member had to practice with the group
for a six month period before being allowed to sing
with the group in public. Also during these early years, the Men's Chorus sang
without accompaniment. As the group would get ready to sing, the director, Mr. Benno Froehner would strike the four tones on the piano,
one for each voice, and then start singing. Sometimes the group would have
trouble getting started. Well, Mr. Benno would just
stop them, go back to the piano and play the four tones again, and have another
go at it.
Also in the early 1930's, a Mr. Carr,
who had studied under Virgil 0. Stamps of the well-known Stamps
Quartet came and spent two weeks working with the Men's Chorus. He taught the
men to sing more harmoniously by having song sessions every night for the two
week period.
In 1939, Liberty Mills of San
Antonio, Texas, sponsored
a Community Choir Contest. The Men's Chorus, consisting of eighteen members at
that time, participated in the contest. The group was directed by Mr. Benno Froehner and accompanied by Mrs. Erna
Froehner. The group placed second overall.
At sometime in years past, date unknown, the Men's
Chorus sang with the well-known Gypsy Smith's Evangelist Group that was traveling
through Gonzales, Texas.
On Sunday afternoon, March 21, 1971, the
church honored all of the men who had ever been members of the Men's Chorus.
Mrs. Arnold Siepmann, Jr. was the emcee for this
celebration. Mr. Walter Raeke was the devotional
speaker for the program, using II Chronicles 35:15, which in part reads, "And the singers - - - - were in
their place". The theme for his talk was, "The Value of the Men's
Chorus in the Success of the Church". The men numbering sixteen present
members and about fourteen ex-members, sang a number
of songs, under the direction of Monroe Schauer. There were also several songs sung by quartets and
double quartets. After the program, there was a time for reminiscing among the
men, relating some of the humorous and unusual incidents that had happened
during the past years.
On November
1, 1972, Inspiration Records, a recording company from Houston, Texas, recorded
seventeen songs sung by the Men's Chorus under the direction of Monroe Schauer, making a record album from this recording. All of
the record albums were sold in a short period of time.
At the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the
church, held on March 7,
1976, the Men's Chorus was honored during the afternoon
phase of the celebration with a special reunion service. Present and former
members were all seated in the choir seats and were introduced to the people in
attendance. A number of songs were rendered by members during the program.
On May 31,
1976, the Men's Chorus sang at the opening service of the
Southwest Texas Annual
Conference, held at Travis Park United Methodist Church, in San
Antonio, Texas. This was
indeed an honor and privilege to be invited to sing for the Conference
Communion Service. Some years previously, date unknown, some of the members of
the choir sang with a combined Men's Chorus at a meeting of the annual
conference.
On December
3, 1976, the Men's Chorus sang at a Full Requiem Mass at the
St. James Catholic Church, located in Gonzales, Texas, for the
funeral service of David B. Walshak, former president
of the First National Bank in Gonzales, Texas. Mr. Walshak was a great admirer and an enthusiastic fan of the
Men's Chorus. Participating in this service was a great step toward fostering
Christian unity in the community.
The Men's Chorus sings regularly for both the morning
and evening worship services in the church, singing a four-part harmony; first
and second tenor, baritone, and bass. Music used has always been of a religious
nature.
The Men's
Chorus has had various directors since its organization. These were: Paul Muenzler, Benno Froehner, Paul Philippus, Monroe Schauer, and the
present director, Gilbert Philippus. Accompanists for
the group were: Rudolph Henkel, Walter Raeke, Mrs. Erna (Raeke) Froehner, and the present accompanist Mrs. Estelle (Kattner) Froehner. Others that assisted through the years
as accompanists were: Margaret Froehner, Mary Ellen Fink, Cynthia MacAllister, Sandi Gandre, and
Luella Gandre.
Over the years, the Men's Chorus has traveled
countless miles and sung for many different functions. They have sung for a
number of civic groups, for funerals, for services at nursing homes, and many
other church activities in the South Central Texas area. Some
of the towns that the group has sung at are: Burnet, Waelder,
Shiner, San Antonio, Nixon, Yoakum, Dewville,
Leesville, Luling, Flatonia, Schulenburg, Kerrville,
Gonzales, Belmont, Cuero, Pandora, Lockhart, Staples, and some other towns.
This group has also sung at some of the Black churches in this area; Elm Slough, Hoods
Point, Henson Chapel, and Harris Chapel churches.
From the very beginning of its organization, the Men's
Chorus has continuously been an active group, not ever having become inactive
in the past seventy or more years. Starting with a group of eight men
initially, increasing to as many as twenty-six at one time, the group at the
present has twelve active members, who still enjoy sharing their time and
talents with those who like to listen to the good old fashioned gospel music,
sung by a group of Christian men.
Indeed, the Men's Chorus has truly been a cornerstone
in the church, touching many lives over the past seventy-odd years, both in the
church and the community. We pray that with the Lord's heIp
and guidance, this group may continue spreading His word with music and song,
as we enter this second century of the Monthalia United Methodist Church.
THE MEN'S CHORUS
THE MEN'S CHORUS AT THE LIBERTY
MILLS CONTEST IN 1939
THE MEN'S CHORUS APRIL 1971
