The morning call., 1893-07-18
A rlovement for Low Mass
and Plain Music.
POPULAR WITH THE PEOPLE.
Four Catholic Churches Abolish
Long and Solemn Ceremonies
Except for Feasts.

Catholic cnurCneS Oh tuiS City w ouo'''o
short and low masses for the high masses
at 10 80 o'clock on Sunday mornings. AND
a. if similar feeling extends to the sacred
music there is a growing sentiment among
many of the clergy and Catholic people In
favor of grave and pious compositions OF
the illustrious Palestrina and his school,
or the modern Cecilian music.
The change now gradually working In
these directions indicates a great deal.
Even the faithful attendants at Sunday
mass manifest preference for shorter
services, and all who understand the true
significance of church music. and can,
therefore, appreciate its spirit, are be-
ginning to see how utterly inappropriate
are the operate selections frequently pre-
senied by leaders of choirs. Still the
change has no official characteristic.
Whatever parish priests may DO in this re-
gard they have a perfect right to do. for
they can act as they please. So much lati-
tude Is given them. But no directions have
been given for the diocesan governme Mt
that is, from his Grace. Archbishop Rior-
dan.
Rev. Thomas Larkn, shortly after his
appointment as pastor OF st. Marys
Church on California and Dupont streets.
discontinued the high mass at 10 80 O'Clock
and instead he and his curate celebrated
low mass. This latter service. while con-
tanning the same prayers as the high
mass. is shortened v&y much by substl-
tutlng reading for chanting and eliminat-
ing many ceremonials that add 10 the
sOlemnity of service. There is music, but
it is shortened and simplified. so that in
stead of an hour and more the service taxes
only half that time.
Father Larkin also changed the hour to
II o'clock Soon regular attendants at the
downtown Catholic churches became
aware Of the innovation. They f1ocked to
old st. Mary's and at the last mass crowded
the edifice.
The success of Father Larkin's plan
was soon announced to other pastors and
the result was they followed his example.
The fathers of the Church of Notre
Dame des Victories. on Bush street. near
Stockton, substituted low mass at the late
morning service. Worsnlpers appreciated
the change and naturally enough went to
the church where they could hear mass In
q short time.
Then Father Conlon of st. Francis
Church on Vallejo street changed the prin-
cipal morning service to low mass, with
palmer music than before As conse-
quence the ceremonies were shorter, and
people pressed for time on Sunday morn
ing waited until II o'clock for mass.
Previously in downtown parishes it was
necessary to get up early to hear short
mass on Sunday. The churches used TO be
crowded at and 8 o'clock. while at 10 30
A. NJ. com mparativeIy few persons attended.
Now, however, the churches are filled at
the late masses. many people from other
parishes attending.
The Jesuit fathers at St. Ign atus Church
on Hayes street learned of the popularity
Of the new plan. and at once adopted il.
So last Sunday w0rshipers at the late
rnf,S, 110
mony performed on the altar. The music.
under the direction of Father Allen. was
full of the rare quality OF sacredness and
devotion too seldom beard I'm church. Mass
was over early enough to- allow all who at
tended it longer day than usual.
The Dominican fathers. while they
adopted plain music without repetitons
and ovations. which mark the more mod
ern compositions, have not yet made a
change in the late mass. However. tn
music is shortened without being ''cut,"
and no time is lost in waiting for long
drawn out solos and choruses. Father
Plus O. p. is in favor Of pleasing the peo-
pie. and if he sees that they appreciate the
change in other churches he will introduce
it at ST. Dominic's.
1--WE are nervous people," said he yes
terday. "and after an hour in church be-
come uneasy and restless. I'm sure that
short masses would be more pleasing than
mornings the church is full of people, but
at the late mass. which is high one, not
0pe-fifth of the number are present"
There will be NO change at st. Mary's
Cathedral. except, indeed. in the music.
which often loses much of its attractive
ness through repetitions and prolonged
renderings. At the cathedral, as well 8
in many other churches, the music runs to
the theatrical character.
''The church ITSELF" said priest. 'is
opposed to such music. The Baltimore
Council should be an authority on that
subject. Here is what it says:
"" We order pastors to watch carefully
that they may remove such abuses as may
creep into the music or singing in their
churches. We would remind them that it
is their duty to supervise the selection of
music in their churches, and we command
tn at they should never allow secular melo-
dies to be heard in the church Of God, and
only to admit that singing which is grave,
devotional and really churchly.
Likewise we order that such singing be
excluded from the mass which mutilates
the words of The liturgy. or repeats them
too often. or so changes them that their
Specification is lost. or sometimes changed
for the worse. Moreover, it is our will
that the length Of the singing be so regu-
lafe6 that tina courSe of khe m G q q IA orld hn