The church 71 effort with its harmonious moves and many players. Holy Week services could be a nightmare, but with extra practices we always managed, despite mistakes. It was an honor to be a member of this group of boys, the privileged few who were allowed inside the sanctuary, and to have such an important role to play in all parish liturgical events. Certainly the most vocal small group inside the church was the parish choir. For many years Alexander McMillan of Eldon was the organist and from early childhood how I loved that organ's sweet sounds. Due to age and infirmity Alexander stopped playing around 1940 and for nearly fifteen years the organ was rarely heard. It was a great loss. Over the years the choir consisted of six or eight men who rendered faithful service at all liturgical celebrations. It was not considered a great choir, but realizing that most of the singing was done in Latin and that the group did not have a trained leader or an organ to accompany it for a long time, one could say that this faithful group more than made up in service what it may have lacked in quality. In the mid 50s some younger men and women joined the choir and even the organ was heard again. A few years earlier I had taken some piano lessons in the city and had managed to master quite well such pieces as Old Black Joe and Annie Laurie. Father McKenna heard about this and surprised me one day by asking if I would make a try at the organ. Giving myself a number of months to prepare, I took regular lessons with a nun at St . Joseph's Convent in town and was quite pleased to discover how relatively easy the Latin music, especially Gregorian Chant, was to handle. So in 19541 had the honor of sounding that fine organ again and adding in a small way to the choir which was now made up of new and old members. Regular practices were held, at times twice a week, and some of the more difficult Latin chants were tackled and conquered. As youngsters we were taught to have great respect for the church. Inside, we were to bless ourselves at the holy water font, make a proper genuflection on entering and leaving, to kneel and pray awhile before Mass or other service began, to pay attention and to refrain from talking or carrying on. Outside, we were to make the sign of the cross on passing in front of the church and to walk, not run, while passing there. Adults, it seems, were permitted to substitute the sign of the cross with a tip of the cap or hat. Our parish church was a sacred space, particularly for us who lived near it and observed its towering presence over the