St Albans School - Albanian Yearbook (Washington, DC)

Page 63 text:

ST. ALBANS SCHOOL 57 Seated, l. to r.: Schoenfeld. Platter, Piggott, Hare. Standing, l. to r.: Walker, Philip, Alexander, Hamm The Cathedral Servers UNE of the most apparent relationships of our School with the Cathe- dral lies in the fact that each morning a Saint Albans boy assists at the early celebration of Holy Communion. The Servers, as they are known, are traditionally Fifth and Sixth Formers and are selected by their retiring predecessors toward the end of the School year. Other than the choir, they are the only regular School participants in the functions of the Cathedral services, and in later years will, no doubt, come to regard their early morning duties as a most impressive memory of their School career. This year each of the seven servers was a Sixth Former, and to all but one, the cassocks of the Cathedral were unfamiliar garments. Derek Schoenfeld, the only two year server, was appointed ex ojfcio for this year. It was decided early in the year that hereafter only Sixth Formers would be elected to the staff, since the responsibility, effort, and punctu- ality required are such that it was felt wiser to place them only on the older boys. When new servers are selected near the end of the year, they are assisted in their duties by the retiring staff during a period of appren- ticeship for taking over their regular duties in the coming fall.

Page 62 text:

S6 THE 1940 ALBANIAN Seated, l. tn r.: Mr. Henderson, Platter, Piyrgott, Alexander. Standing. l. to r.: Stephenson, Schoenfeld, Cochrane. The Vestry EMBERS1-HP in the School vestry is one of the oldest and most coveted honors that Saint Albans can confer on one of its boys. The vestrymen have traditionally come from not lower than the Fourth Form, and serve from the day of their election until they leave the School. Their duties include opening and closing chapel for both the morning and evening services, arranging the seating of the different forms, ushering at the Cathedral for the Confirmation and Commencement services, electing the Cathedral servers, and appropriating funds from the Weekly offerings. The three officers of the vestry are the Senior and Junior Wardens and the Clerk, each of Whom has a special duty. The Senior and Junior Wardens are the executive officers and are responsible for the successful functioning of the organization. It is the duty of the clerk to keep a continual record of the School services, recording such data as the offici- ating ministers, the attendance, and the location of the service, and of the appropriations to various organizations during the year. The only veterans were Schoenfeld and Senior Warden Piggott, who began their service in the spring of 1938. Alexander, Holmes, and Platter were elected to serve for their Sixth Form years, While Cochrane and Stephenson joined the vestry as Fifth Formers and will carry on next year.

Page 64 text:

S8 THE 1940 ALBANIAN l. to r.: Terry, Payne, Walker, Hare. The Chimes Ringers QNE of the oldest and most picturesque buildings on the Cathedral Close is the ivy-covered Chimes Tower. Although the chapel has been remodeled several times, its appendage has remained untouched so long that when a chimes ringer occasionally feels the wooden ceiling above him tremble violently, he continues to play without a break. Probably one of the large iron bells has merely fallen from its ancient hanging in the gloomy, bat-filled recesses above. In spite of all the difficulties caused by the bad weather, breaking ropes, failing lights, and out-moded bells, Mr. Hurlbut's crew of Quasimodo,s performs a remarkably artistic job of ringing. Their large repertoire includes hymns for every season of the church year- last June they are said to have been awaiting the King and Queen with t'Rule Britannian! Perhaps the most beautiful hymns of all are the Christmas carols, which are played not only throughout the Christmas season, but also at midnight on Christmas Eve. People in the neighborhood of the School could set their watches by the regularity of the chimes, for twice daily the resounding bells call the students to chapel. No doubt many a statesman and laggard student would be late if it were not for the warning notes of early morning hymns played by the chimes ringers.