THE MIXED CHOIR

There are no records to be found to show that there was an organized mixed choir while still in the old church building. In all probability it was just group singing with either Amanda or Emma Froehner at the organ.

The first record of a mixed choir in the new church at the present location was in 1915 called the Singing Society.

Charter members were as follows:

R.H. Henkel	Gus Gandre
Edwin Froehner	Elmer Tolle
Walter Afflerbach	Ella Tieken
Selma Hornung	Selma Hoting
Hilda Gandre	Augusta Afflerbach
Margaret Deschner	Ida Tieken
Kate Deschner	Emma Philippus
Lydia Froehner	Lydia Kleinknecht
Erna Raeke	Pearl Kleinknecht
Arthur Raeke	Pauline Philippus
Willie Philippus	Herman Philippus
Lydia Tieken	Walter Hornung
Hulda Hornung

These Charter members took their organization very seriously according to the constitution. A committee was appointed to present a list of rules, in German, to be voted upon. Those appointed were Erna Raeke, Augusta Afflerbach and Selma Hoting. The following articles of this constitution were accepted on November 13, 1915:

The name shall be: Choir of the M.E. Church.

Article 1. The object of the same shall be to give the young people of our congregation a better opportunity to develop the gift of singing as well as their spiritual welfare and the up bringing of the congregation through songs in public places.

Article 2. The officers shall be as follows: One director, an assistant director, a secretary and a treasurer. These shall form the cabinet.

Article 3. The officers shall perform the following duties: a. The director shall open meetings with song and prayer and take charge of the song practice. b. In case of absence of the director, the assistant director shall take his place. c. The secretary to keep minutes of the business meetings and call roll at ordinary practices. d. The treasurer to take charge of all funds and keep a true record of same. The funds shall be used in purchasing books and material, which shall remain the property of the choir.

Article 4. Entitled to membership are all belonging to a Christian Church: a. Privilege, the right to vote and take part in open singing. b. Obligations, to pay an entrance fee of 25¢ and 25¢ annually and to abide by the rules and regulations of the organization. c. Opportunity for the membership shall be given at the semi-annual business meeting. d. A three month rehearsal is requested of the new members before they shall take part in open singing. e. An opportunity for membership shall be given every three months to all such persons that take part in practice with the intention of becoming a member of the choir. Members that fail to take part in the practice intentionally are expected to bring a satisfactory excuse. Such young people who do not wish to become members of the choir are still cordially invited to take part in sing-practice, but are expected to obey the rules of the choir and shall not have the right to vote or take part in open singing.

Article 5. All officers shall be elected annually through ballot with majority ruling. A business meeting shall be held semi-annually.

Article 6. At all the business meetings the majority of the members present shall rule.

Article 7. A quorum consists of twelve members at all business meetings.

Article 8. This constitution can be changed only through a two-thirds majority of all members present.

The first officers were: Director. R.H. Henkel; assistant director, Erna Raeke; secretary, Selma Hoting; treasurer, Walter Afflerbach and organist, Erna Raeke.

On January 10, 1919 another committee was appointed to translate the constitution into the English language. This committtee was R.H. Henkel, Nettie Lindemann and Paul Philippus.

There were several more committees appointed. One of these had the duty to place the singers in their most suited voice range. Those serving on this committee were: Edwin Froehner, Hilda Raeke, Margaret Deschner, Margaret Siepmann and Walter Raeke. Another committee: R.H. Henkel, Erna Froehner, Hilda Raeke, Nettie Lindemann and Elmer Tolle were to select new song books.

In 1918 it was decided to use the English language instead of the German. R.H. Henkel continued to direct through 1919 after which Erna Froehner directed with Bertha Tolle the assistant. Practices usually lasted one and a half hours with average attendance of twenty to twenty-three singers.

Final record of minutes available were January 1923 at which time it was decided to disband.

During the 1930's Benno Froehner sometimes directed and Margaret Siepmann was the organist and also helped as assistant director, to work up specials. During the 1940's the mixed choir performed only to sing cantatas for Christmas or Easter time with Benno Froehner directing and Estelle Froehner accompanying on the piano.

Lorene Froehner, Mary Ellen Fink and Gilbert Philippus each had a hand in bringing young mixed voices together for specials.

In the late 1960's Monroe Schauer became the director of the reorganized mixed choir with Estelle Froehner pianist. This choir is still active to the present time, singing every first Sunday of each month for both morning and evening services. This choir has also put on a number of Christmas and Easter cantatas during these years. The present members of this mixed choir are:

Monroe Schauer, Director	Bernice Lindemann
Estelle Froehner, Pianist	Laura Walker
Gladys Lindemann	Allan Fink
Mary Lou Philippus	Clifton Raeke
Lu Ann Fullilove	Leonard Gandre
Carolyn Orts	Noel Lindemann
Marie Schauer	Cara McGill
Evelyn Mudd	Gilbert Philippus
Ruby Ruth Gandre	Dorothy Taylor

Although the Mixed Choir was relatively inactive for a period of thirty-seven years, the music rendered by the choir, has been enjoyed and appreciated on many occasions, and is a major influence in the organization of the church.

THE MIXED CHOIR

CHOIR 1975

CHOIR 1986

YOUTH CHOIR 1975