ARTHUR F. M. CUSTANCE
Born in Hereford, England on January 28,1866, Brother Arthur F. M. Custance was a son and grandson of clergymen in the Church of England. After a preparatory education, he studied at Lancing college and Brasenose college, graduating from Brasenose in Oxford, England, with the degree of bachelor of music. Following graduation, he taught school in Wales for a short time before leaving England for St. Johns,
New Brunswick.

He came to the United States in 1892 to join the faculty of Duluth Central High School where he taught Latin, a position he held for thirty-four years. He was a strong advocate for the teaching of Latin in the curriculum of the public schools. To him Latin was the history and literature of a powerful and scholarly people, and knowledge of Latin derivatives offered a deeper understanding of the English language. His courses were difficult but his classes were overflowing. Few could match his ability to interest students. To the community he was more than an individual-he was an institution. He left his impression upon all those he touched-his thousands of students who profited by his inspiration during forty years of teaching, His church friends who sat in awe at his deftness at the organ, and all those who knew him in his many Masonic relationships and who marveled at the many-sided versatility of his genius.


Brother Custance was a born musician, a natural organist;his compositions were admired and he had the
rare ability of fitting words to them with his spontaneous gift of rhyme. Serving as organist and choir master at St. Paul's Episcopal Church for 28 years, he also directed and coached the Ionic Lodge Male Chorus and the Scottish Rite Quartet. He compiled and arranged a volume Ex Oriente, containing selections suitable for use in all the degrees of the Scottish Rite. While the majority of these are his original compositions written expressly for these Degrees, the volume also contains arrangements and adaptations from the works of well known composers. Many of his compositions are still used by many Masonic orders throughout the country.


In addition to being widely known for his musical work in the Masonic fraternity, hundreds of Brother Custance's other compositions and arrangements were published by nationally known publishers. His best known musical score is "Taps" written to the words composed by H. S. Spencer of the U. S. Navy. This song won the attention of John Philip Sousa, who programmed it many times.

Because of his musical ability Brother Custance was appointed to arrange and conduct the music at the dedication ceremonies of the present Scottish Rite House of the Temple in Washington, D.C. on October 18, 1915. The dedication program included several of his original compositions. He also served as Organist for the Scottish Rite Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction from 1919 to 1923. Brother Custance was a recognized authority on Masonry. He was raised to the Master Mason degree in the Apollo University Lodge No. 357 at Oxford, England on June 16, 1887 and coroneted a Thirty-third Degree Inspector General Honorary by the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction in 1919.

He died on August 21,1926,leaving an indelible mark in the memory of all who were privileged to share his genius. A bronze tablet in his memory is displayed in the Valley of Duluth Scottish Rite Temple, a gift of the Scottish Rite Class of 1926. On it is inscribed: "Never was there a more faithful Brother."A deserved tribute to a Man and His Music.

Source: The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Minnesota 1867-2001

********************************************************************
1867-1926 Courtesy of the Cyber Hymnal™ Born: 9 Jun 1867, Colwall, Herefordshire, England. Died: 21 Aug 1926, Duluth, Minnesota.
Custance's parents were George Musgrave Custance and Elizabeth Hume. In 1881, Arthur was studying in Lancing, Sussex. He then attended Oxford University, and in 1891, was probably in Pembrokeshire, Wales. After emigrating to America, he taught Latin and music in the public schools of Duluth, Minnesota (1892-1926). He served as choir master for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Duluth over the same time span, and was also an organist and composer.

Custance's first wife, Thyrea, died before 1920. At the time of his death, his wife was Alberta.

A Song of Brother Custance--- is meaningful after our long winter in MN 2014.

Nature from her sleep is waking, From her icy bondage breaking, Vernal life and beauty taking,
Lo, the winter is past. Birds their carols sweet are singing. Trees and flow'rs their fragrance bringing,
Lo, the winter is past, Lo, the winter is past.

In our hearts new joy is dawning, On this happy Easter morning, Every life with hope adorning,
Lo! the winter is past! Gone are Lenten gloom and sadness, Bright our path with Easter gladness,
Lo! the winter is past! Lo! the winter is past!

Christ with pow'rs of Death hath striven, To the world new life hath given, Op'ning wide the gates of Heaven,
Lo! the winter is past. Sing we to our Lord most glorious, Rising over Death victorious,
Lo! the winter is past! Lo! the winter is past!



other Concerts mostly in DuluthMN

Playing our original organ and another key figure in the success of the new church in 1913 was Arthur Custance, a graduate of Oxford University, and an exceptional musician. He was a composer of some note, known nationally for his organ performance and conducting, as well as his compositions. He actually started at the old church in 1892 and remained until his death in 1922.

Northeast Minnesota Historical Center, Archives and Special Collections
University of Minnesota Duluth Library
Biographical Files, updated12/2/2013 15
Custance, Arthur F. M.
see also: Arthur F. M. Custance music scores collection S3798 in archival collections



Minnesota Composer's Concerts--- Arthur Custance The King of Love 15 June 1909
The Presbyterian Church, Mankato



ANTHEM for Solo and Chorus, The Story of the Cross-- Arthur F. M.Custance
Duluth 7 June 1904 First Methodist Episcopal Church, Duluth,

In Concert...Arthur F. M. Custance Double Quartette
Peace (a) The Promise (b) The Prayer (c) The Answer to Prayer Director A.F.M. CUSTANCE


22-24 June 1921 YWCA Assembly Hall, Duluth
MMTA Convention: Songs by Duluth Composers
A Wish------A. M. M. Custance


Posted 8 Mar 2014 by Glenn Kiecker Historian MN Cataract Lodge #2

ARTHUR F. M. CUSTANCE
Born in Hereford, England on January 28,1866, Brother Arthur F. M. Custance was a son and grandson of clergymen in the Church of England. After a preparatory education, he studied at Lancing college and Brasenose college, graduating from Brasenose in Oxford, England, with the degree of bachelor of music. Following graduation, he taught school in Wales for a short time before leaving England for St. Johns,
New Brunswick.

He came to the United States in 1892 to join the faculty of Duluth Central High School where he taught Latin, a position he held for thirty-four years. He was a strong advocate for the teaching of Latin in the curriculum of the public schools. To him Latin was the history and literature of a powerful and scholarly people, and knowledge of Latin derivatives offered a deeper understanding of the English language. His courses were difficult but his classes were overflowing. Few could match his ability to interest students. To the community he was more than an individual-he was an institution. He left his impression upon all those he touched-his thousands of students who profited by his inspiration during forty years of teaching, His church friends who sat in awe at his deftness at the organ, and all those who knew him in his many Masonic relationships and who marveled at the many-sided versatility of his genius.


Brother Custance was a born musician, a natural organist;his compositions were admired and he had the
rare ability of fitting words to them with his spontaneous gift of rhyme. Serving as organist and choir master at St. Paul's Episcopal Church for 28 years, he also directed and coached the Ionic Lodge Male Chorus and the Scottish Rite Quartet. He compiled and arranged a volume Ex Oriente, containing selections suitable for use in all the degrees of the Scottish Rite. While the majority of these are his original compositions written expressly for these Degrees, the volume also contains arrangements and adaptations from the works of well known composers. Many of his compositions are still used by many Masonic orders throughout the country.


In addition to being widely known for his musical work in the Masonic fraternity, hundreds of Brother Custance's other compositions and arrangements were published by nationally known publishers. His best known musical score is "Taps" written to the words composed by H. S. Spencer of the U. S. Navy. This song won the attention of John Philip Sousa, who programmed it many times.

Because of his musical ability Brother Custance was appointed to arrange and conduct the music at the dedication ceremonies of the present Scottish Rite House of the Temple in Washington, D.C. on October 18, 1915. The dedication program included several of his original compositions. He also served as Organist for the Scottish Rite Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction from 1919 to 1923. Brother Custance was a recognized authority on Masonry. He was raised to the Master Mason degree in the Apollo University Lodge No. 357 at Oxford, England on June 16, 1887 and coroneted a Thirty-third Degree Inspector General Honorary by the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction in 1919.

He died on August 21,1926,leaving an indelible mark in the memory of all who were privileged to share his genius. A bronze tablet in his memory is displayed in the Valley of Duluth Scottish Rite Temple, a gift of the Scottish Rite Class of 1926. On it is inscribed: "Never was there a more faithful Brother."A deserved tribute to a Man and His Music.

Source: The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Minnesota 1867-2001

********************************************************************
1867-1926 Courtesy of the Cyber Hymnal™ Born: 9 Jun 1867, Colwall, Herefordshire, England. Died: 21 Aug 1926, Duluth, Minnesota.
Custance's parents were George Musgrave Custance and Elizabeth Hume. In 1881, Arthur was studying in Lancing, Sussex. He then attended Oxford University, and in 1891, was probably in Pembrokeshire, Wales. After emigrating to America, he taught Latin and music in the public schools of Duluth, Minnesota (1892-1926). He served as choir master for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Duluth over the same time span, and was also an organist and composer.

Custance's first wife, Thyrea, died before 1920. At the time of his death, his wife was Alberta.

A Song of Brother Custance--- is meaningful after our long winter in MN 2014.

Nature from her sleep is waking, From her icy bondage breaking, Vernal life and beauty taking,
Lo, the winter is past. Birds their carols sweet are singing. Trees and flow'rs their fragrance bringing,
Lo, the winter is past, Lo, the winter is past.

In our hearts new joy is dawning, On this happy Easter morning, Every life with hope adorning,
Lo! the winter is past! Gone are Lenten gloom and sadness, Bright our path with Easter gladness,
Lo! the winter is past! Lo! the winter is past!

Christ with pow'rs of Death hath striven, To the world new life hath given, Op'ning wide the gates of Heaven,
Lo! the winter is past. Sing we to our Lord most glorious, Rising over Death victorious,
Lo! the winter is past! Lo! the winter is past!



other Concerts mostly in DuluthMN

Playing our original organ and another key figure in the success of the new church in 1913 was Arthur Custance, a graduate of Oxford University, and an exceptional musician. He was a composer of some note, known nationally for his organ performance and conducting, as well as his compositions. He actually started at the old church in 1892 and remained until his death in 1922.

Northeast Minnesota Historical Center, Archives and Special Collections
University of Minnesota Duluth Library
Biographical Files, updated12/2/2013 15
Custance, Arthur F. M.
see also: Arthur F. M. Custance music scores collection S3798 in archival collections



Minnesota Composer's Concerts--- Arthur Custance The King of Love 15 June 1909
The Presbyterian Church, Mankato



ANTHEM for Solo and Chorus, The Story of the Cross-- Arthur F. M.Custance
Duluth 7 June 1904 First Methodist Episcopal Church, Duluth,

In Concert...Arthur F. M. Custance Double Quartette
Peace (a) The Promise (b) The Prayer (c) The Answer to Prayer Director A.F.M. CUSTANCE


22-24 June 1921 YWCA Assembly Hall, Duluth
MMTA Convention: Songs by Duluth Composers
A Wish------A. M. M. Custance


Posted 8 Mar 2014 by Glenn Kiecker Historian MN Cataract Lodge #2