Charles Winfred Douglas
15 February 1867—18 January 1944
The community in which during a brief residence he had made many new friends learned with profound regret of the death of the Rev. Canon CHARLES WINFRED DOUGLAS, noted priest of the Episcopal church and nationally famous as a leader in church music, the details of which were told in this newspaper yesterday morning. The passing came as a great shock, particularly to the members of the parish of the Church of the Incarnation here where he had worshiped and preached on a number of occasions since coming here. Quite recently the eloquent and impressive clergyman was heard for the last time in one his earthly sermons in the local parish church.
Arrangements were completed yesterday at his home for many years in Denver, Colorado, for the funeral rites which will take place on Monday morning in St. John’s Cathedral with the Right Reverend Dr. Ingley, bishop of Colorado, officiating and assisted by many high church dignitaries. Canon Douglas had been a member of the cathedral staff of clergymen for a long time. The body will be sent by train to Denver today from the Welti memorial chapel in this city. The canon’s widow, Mrs. Anne Douglas, is also leaving for the home city this morning.
Yesterday it was learned that Canon Douglas, whose sudden passing resulted from a heart ailment, had previously suffered from a number of attacks, the last serious one five years ago when he was hurrying to catch a train. It was recalled yesterday that 50 years ago New York physicians had sent him to Denver in the hope that climactic conditions might prolong his life, for six months at any rate, the doctors said. Instead, Canon Douglas became well and strong and the tuberculosis from which he was suffering was entirely removed. He was a man of commanding stature and physique and he lived a very active life in the pursuit of his chosen career in the religious and musical world, not only recognized as an eminent authority on church music in this country but also in other lands to which he was invited to lecture in several of the outstanding universities of the world. As the representative of his church he visited many of its outposts in foreign climes. Many years ago Canon Douglas was a missionary priest among the Navajo Indians and learned to speak their language and dialects fluently. One of his great pleasures was teaching the Navajo youngsters how to sing.
Said the Very Reverend Arthur W. Farlander, rector of the Church of the Incarnation [in Santa Rosa, California], of Canon Douglas yesterday: “He was a great man. His scholarly attainments were recognized everywhere. He was one of the greatest living authorities on church and orchestral music. Orchestra was really his great field of music. He composed very fine music as well as writing wonderful hymns. He was also a great liturgical scholar. Many different religious faiths used his hymns. His death is a very great personal blow to me. Our associations during the past seven years while we labored together in the compilation of the new church hymnal were very close and inspiring. A great Christian, a great scholar, a great musician was Canon Douglas.”
In addition to the completing the last revision of the hymn book, Canon Douglas on the day of his death composed his last music, an organ prelude, and played it Tuesday morning on the organ in the Church of the Incarnation. Canon Douglas was to have preached the sermon and had selected the hymns to be sung. The hymns will be sung and his last music will be played. But he will be absent.
In the Church of the Incarnation in Mendocino Avenue on Monday morning at 9:30 o’clock, time corresponding to the requiem service in St. John’s cathedral in Denver, there will be a memorial celebration of the Holy Eucharist at which Dean Farlander will officiate and prayers will be offered for the soul of the dead clergyman. It is possible the Right Reverend Bishop A.W.N. Porter of the diocese of Sacramento may be present.
From Denver and many other parts of the country telegrams of condolence yesterday came in upon Mrs. Douglas, the deeply bereaved widow, at her temporary Santa Rosa home. The bishop of Colorado was one of the first to forward his sympathy. From other prelates of the church came similar tokens. Publishers of the leading musical journals of the country and his own publishers forwarded telegrams expressive of sorrow and sympathy. For years Canon Douglas had been music critic of the Denver Post and other prominent newspapers.
Yesterday the writer and others glanced over Canon Douglas’ biography in Who’s Who, a record of outstanding contributions of his genius as well as his scholarly attainments, his career in college, his authorships of music, the holding of high ecclesiastical and other outstanding appointments. Singularly enough a printer’s proof sheet from the publisher of Who’s Who, asking for any additions to the biography, reached Santa Rosa on the day of his death. Yesterday the proof was returned to the publishers with this final entry, “Died January 18, 1944.”
by HERBERT W. SLATER
The Press Democrat
Santa Rosa, California
20 January 1944
Featured Tunes:
Composer:
Arranger:
DIVINUM MYSTERIUM
WERE YOU THERE
Publications of Hymns & Tunes:
The Mission Hymnal (1914): Archive.org / HathiTrust
The Hymnal (1916 / 1918): Archive.org
Selected Hymns & Carols (1930 + multiple eds.)
Missionary Service Book (1937)
The Hymnal 1940 (1943)
Additional Works:
Church Music in History and Practice: Studies in the Praise of God (1937).
Archives:
Charles Winfred Douglas Collection, Bishop Payne Library, Virginia Theological Seminary (Alexandria, VA): VTS
Related Resources:
Leonard Ellinwood, “Charles Winfred Douglas,” The Hymnal 1940 Companion, 3rd rev. ed.(NY: Church Pension Fund, 1956), pp. 420–423.
Leonard Ellinwood & Anne Woodward Douglas, To Praise God: The Life and Work of Charles Winfred Douglas, Papers of the Hymn Society, no. 23 (NY: Hymn Society, 1958): HathiTrust
Dorothy Mills Parker, “Musician, Linguist, Priest and Poet,” The Living Church, vol. 219, no. 3 (18 July 1999): https://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/the_living_church/TLCarticle.pl?volume=219&issue=3&article_id=2
“Hymnal collection given to Virginia Theological Seminary,” The Hymn, vol. 64, no. 2 (Spring 2013), p. 5: HathiTrust
“Charles Winfred Douglas,” An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, Don S. Armentrout & Robert Boak Slocum, eds.: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/douglas-charles-winfred/
“Publications of Charles Winfred Douglas,” Project Canterbury: http://anglicanhistory.org/music/douglas/list.html
Ray Glover, “C. Winfred Douglas,” Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology: http://www.hymnology.co.uk/c/c-winfred-douglas