Name/Title
AU Harris, James Lowell - 1949-01-03 letter to Dear FriendsEntry/Object ID
1990.1.431Context
104 Lincoln Park Drive
Syracuse, New York
Dear Friends:-
A HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all from all our family in Syracuse! May the year 1949 prove to be one of happiness and health to you and your loved ones!
We hope you had a happy Christmas. Our first Christmas in Syracuse was a most delightful one, beginning of course with music programs by the choir, then a wonderful Christmas Dinner for all our Church families, and climaxing with the arrival of Mother and Uncle Dick from Ohio. All of this, along with cards and letters from many out-of-town friends and relatives helped to make our Christmas a happy one.
Since we arrived here in our new home last February, we have been in a whirl of activity -- but we love it and seem to thrive on it. Beginning last April with our "open house" to the congregation, the lovely reception given to us by the Church, and various community events, we have been given a warm welcome to Syracuse and First Church. People have been wonderful to us, and the team of "Harry and Jim" has proved to be a most harmonious partnership.
Now to tell a little about each one of us: Caroline (she won't tell her age) keeps the house shining in spite of city dirt and smoke, and enjoys being hostess to various Church groups in our home. She is President of her Guild which is the latest women's group of the Church, sings high C in the Chancel Choir, but finds her biggest job is keeping her hubby fed and happy, and keeping the children clothed.
Carol Diane, nearing 11, an honor student at The Lincoln School keeps her Daddy "broke" with her wonderful grade cards. She is leader of her neighborhood pals, vice president of her youth choir, getting merit badges in her scout troop experiences and playing Chopin in her piano studies.
Mary Suzanne had her third birthday party in September, and is growing beautifully. Her recent activities include the constant playing on the phonograph of "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" while she rocks back and forth in rhythm. She sings "Away in a Manger" and "Silent Night" and pushes her new baby carriage and "cooing doll" around the house with much gusto.
Daddy has had a busy but healthy year (hasn't even had his usual colds). He has been preaching quite often in First Church, doing pastoral work, giving lectures on sacred music to Church and community groups and serving on numerous committees. He is quite proud of his four new choirs which appeared at Christmas services in their new vestments. He finds his Chancel (adult) Choir a great challenge with three members of the faculty of Syracuse University School of Music and
three former choral conductors among its membership. This month he begins his new work as Chairman of Music for the Syracuse Kiwanis Club, developing a new music program for this organization of 225 men, with a choral ensemble as one factor. In February he goes to Chicago to direct the music for the National Conference of Presbyterian Men. His biggest thrill of 1948 was organizing and directing the combined Protestant choirs of Syracuse and Onondaga County for the great Ecumenical Service last October.
We are greatly enjoying the Church here which includes people of all walks of life, coming from all over the city and suburban areas. It is like one big family--united in work, love, and worship--for Christ and His Kingdom. There is much to challenge us here in the New Year. Plans are being made for observing the 125th Anniversary of the Church this year. Our Choir School will play a part in this. Plans are under way for the enlarging and the modernization of the organ and remodeling the chancel for our enlarged choir program--all this to be ready, we hope, when the New York Synod meets here in October. We also enjoy the contacts at the University which has over 18,000 students this year. We meet students and faculty members from all over the world through our work, and enjoy the challenge of these contacts. We only pray that God will give us strength and courage to be equal to these new challenges.
With this letter goes our best wishes for all you worthily desire for 1949. If 1948 has been good to you and to us, then we are all the more obligated to share this good wit others; if 1948 has had its disappointments and difficulties, then we should be finer and stronger persons to face the challenges and the uncertainties of the New Year!
May God bless you and yours!
Sincerely,
Caroline R. and James Lowell Harris
Carol Diane and Mary Suzanne
January 3, 1949
