BETHEDSA-BY-THE-SEA
Palm Beach, Florida
1967-1968
YOUTH CHOIR CONTRACT
THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into between the CHURCH OF BETHESDA-BY-THE-SEA, Palm Beach, Florida, and __________________________.
WITNESSETH: That the Second Party named above, agrees to sing in the YOUTH CHOIR of Bethesda-by-the-Sea Church and take an ACTIVE part in the services when held at the following times during the season Of 1967-1968:
35 Sundays at nine o'clock service from October 1, 1967 to May 26, 1968 with the exception of Easter when the Family Service will be at 4:00 P. M., and January 7th at Evening Prayer. Also, Thanksgiving Day at 10:00 A. M., Christmas morning at 10:00 A. M., and Good; Friday, March 22nd at 10:00 A. M. - Also for "The Glory of God," Sunday afternoon, December 17th at 4:00 P.M. - with the Adult choir in Bach's Christmas Oratorio.
IT IS UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED that the Second Party shall attend rehearsals on Thursday and Friday from 4:15 to 5:00 P. M., with the exception of Thanksgiving week and Holy Week, when the rehearsals will be on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Also, if one of these rehearsals is missed, the time will be made up on Saturday at 8:30 A. M. Members of the 8th grade and above will be required one rehearsal each week. It is also agreed that the Second Party shall attend all warm-up rehearsals, from 8:25 A.M. until 8:40 A.M. each Sunday. It is further agreed that the first party will withhold a fine of 10% of the Sunday fee for each tardiness at rehearsals. REHEARSALS BEGIN PROMPTLY AS SCHEDULED. The Second Party must participate in at least one weekly rehearsal and the warm-up on Sunday in order to sing at the 9:00 A.M. service. A fine of 30% is withheld for each rehearsal absence. Members are required to attend more than a total of half of the rehearsals and services each month in order to receive compensation. A bonus of $2.00 is awarded each month for perfect attendance at rehearsals and services.
IT IS FURTHER AGREED that each boy shall be responsible for his choir jacket, wear it to and from Church each Sunday (and only for Choir functions), also to wear a white dress shirt, black four-hand tie, dark trousers, black socks and black shoes (shined). It is further agreed that the jacket will be returned at the termination of his service or at the last Sunday service in May (whichever occurs first.) Members will also be subject to a 10%-30% fine for untidiness or deportment on Church property. It is also understood and agreed that any suggestions made by your Rector, Choirmaster, Assistant of Choirmothers for the musical betterment or deportment of the Choir, shall be accept in good faith and spirit.
Bethesda-by-the-Sea, the First Party above named, agreed to pay the sum of $1.50 per week for each service.
Dated this 6th day of October, 1967.
Telephone_____________________
Choir Boy's Signature____________________________________
Address______________________________________
Parent's or Guardian's Signature___________________________________
BETHESDA-BY-THE-SEA
By:________________________________
ADAM L. DECKER, M.A.
Choirmaster
Positive Infinity 
Don,
When I was 12 or 13 I had a business renting three-horsepower outboards, at first one, then when I prospered, two, to tourists for $3 a day.
This contract rather reminds me of the very great seriousness with which my father and a customer in his drug store witnessed, and the broker looked on, as I signed a $7.50 a year insurance contract. The main point of the exercise in pomp and circumstance, with the insurance as with this pseudo-serious choir contract, was to train the young, me.
On the other hand I’m sure Max Weber is chortling in his grave over your fine church doing, uh, God’s work.
-dlj.
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