Tim Gracyk | Annie Carter "The Church Across The Way" = rare Berliner disc 1896, EARLY FEMALE voice on record @timgracyk | Uploaded October 2024 | Updated October 2024, 6 hours ago.
Annie Carter sings the sad and powerful "The Church Across The Way" on Berliner disc 532
June 15, 1896
ANNIE CARTER WAS AMONG THE FIRST FEMALE RECORDING ARTISTS!
She deserves being remembered for being a true pioneer among recording artists.
Her words come across clearly in this 1896 record.
The song is noteworthy. I can't recall other songs of this era so directly challenging church authorities. It's bold!
The song basically points to hypocrisy. Middle-class citizens feel smugly that they do their Sabbath duty by sitting in pews on Sundays as a pastor preaches about how to be loving to others--to be generous, kind, loving.
Near the church is a poor man dying. He needs the very support that the pastor talks about, but the holy man' in the pulpit utters words that are just words, nothing more. These people (including the minister) mechanically attend church, but they are unable to put into practice the teachings of Jesus.
The poor man dies without help from the brick building full of pious people.
This song by William Benson Gray was published in 1894.
One Easter Sunday morning when the sun
was shining clear, the good folks to the old
church went, the parson's prayers to hear.
They little thought while seated there upon
that blessed day, a human life was ending in
a home just o'er the way. A man in deepest
poverty without a single friend would answer
soon the call of death. His life was near the
end! With no one near to comfort him--no
tender words to say--he heard the morning
service in his cottage across the way.
A minister was preaching his
good and sacred teaching.
The congregation sat in
ecstasy. The bells had just
ceased ringing. The choir was
sweetly singing
"Nearer, my God, to thee"!
Annie Carter sings the sad and powerful "The Church Across The Way" on Berliner disc 532
June 15, 1896
ANNIE CARTER WAS AMONG THE FIRST FEMALE RECORDING ARTISTS!
She deserves being remembered for being a true pioneer among recording artists.
Her words come across clearly in this 1896 record.
The song is noteworthy. I can't recall other songs of this era so directly challenging church authorities. It's bold!
The song basically points to hypocrisy. Middle-class citizens feel smugly that they do their Sabbath duty by sitting in pews on Sundays as a pastor preaches about how to be loving to others--to be generous, kind, loving.
Near the church is a poor man dying. He needs the very support that the pastor talks about, but the holy man' in the pulpit utters words that are just words, nothing more. These people (including the minister) mechanically attend church, but they are unable to put into practice the teachings of Jesus.
The poor man dies without help from the brick building full of pious people.
This song by William Benson Gray was published in 1894.
One Easter Sunday morning when the sun
was shining clear, the good folks to the old
church went, the parson's prayers to hear.
They little thought while seated there upon
that blessed day, a human life was ending in
a home just o'er the way. A man in deepest
poverty without a single friend would answer
soon the call of death. His life was near the
end! With no one near to comfort him--no
tender words to say--he heard the morning
service in his cottage across the way.
A minister was preaching his
good and sacred teaching.
The congregation sat in
ecstasy. The bells had just
ceased ringing. The choir was
sweetly singing
"Nearer, my God, to thee"!
