The Men's Choir

This is a precious piece of paper.  (There are so many.  It is dated 1946, so I guess it was just after Dad got back from the war.  Let me tell you some things.  Dad was raised in a church called the Mennonite Brethern Church.  They were Mennonites, but they were just slightly more progressive than the "old" Mennonites.  The first Mennonite church I remember was a long structure with pews arranged in rows on each side of the church with an aisle down the middle.  I think it probably sat 400 persons.  Well, on Sunday morning, all the men sat on one side and all the women sat on the other.  I could speculate why they sat like this, but I won't.  But, let me tell you, when they sang hymns, everyone was involved and with gusto . . . especially the men.  They sang tenor and they sang bass.  Sunday mornings in that church was like sitting in the middle of a great Choir.  Later when the big church was built, probably sat 1,500, the segregated seating was abandoned.  But, the men singing was not.  As long as I can remember there was a Men's Choir in that Church.  And, please trust me, it was as good music as you have ever heard and it was a privilege to sing in that choir.  Well, you can see that Dad was the soloist for that choir on this occasion.  Even if you don't believe me about how good a singer my Father was, the fact that he was the soloist for this choir should convince you.  I am of the opinion that under other circumstances, Dad could have done a great deal with his voice.  It was amazing.