Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-09-09
ST. Mary's Choir.

According to the legislation in refer
enco to church music recently PROFOUND
cd a, Rome by Pope Plus y, and pro-
mnlcated throughout the diocese OF
Richmond by Bishop Van de Vyver,
the music at st. Mary's Church, com,
mencing with high mass tomorrow, VIII
be rendered by choir Of male voices
and consist mainly of Gregorian Chant,
the mass on this opening occasion to be
the mass of the Sixth GregOrian Tone,
by Henri DumODt
The enforcement of the imperative law
in this regard which has been issued
throughout the Catholic Church does rot
constitute the introduction OF novelty,
nut a return to customs which, for many
centuries, have been of legal force, put
have fallen into more or less disuse by
reason of the difficulty of holding them
in observance in different countries and
in the midst of the exigencies OF N odern
life The use of theatrical and other
types of music forbidden by the church
had become common in many places,
in spite Of the law to the contrary, ard
while the employment of women IN litur-
,gical functions was always at variance
with the traditions and rules OF the
church. the removal of chOirs from chan
GELS and into galleries and transepts dis
rant from the altar caused the seml.clerl-
cal character of the singers to give way
10 an entirely secular conception OF the
office. in which women we're permitted
10 ioin. Since the days of st. Paul,
who lays down emphatic scriptnral auth
.ority as to the inability of women to
exercise a clerical or semi-cerical Office
in the church, they have not been per-
.mitted to serve the priest at mass or to
participate officially, or in any way,
other than by their presence and private
drawers in the Catholic liturgy. For
exactly the same reason they are now
debSyred from service in the choir.
Pope PlQs has suggested no new thing
The Pope~ and councils of many ages
have proposed. recommended and directed
attention to the necessity of the Obsery-
ance of ecclesiastical law in reference
to church music. Pope Leo XIII was
behind none of his predecessors or his
successor of today in zeal for the music
reforms The only difference between
the acts of previous POpes and that OF
the present Pope, in this connection, IS
that where others have propo1nded laws,
he has solemnly inculcated them with
all the force of bis pontifcal power by
word and deed which admit neither OF
trihing or delay; where his predecessors
sometimes have dealt in generalities, he
has infinitely particularized the extent
and method of carrying out the reforms,
and where the enactments OF previous
PONIES have been allowed to fall into
,desuetude. he has so hedged his PROPOSE
,tions about with every safeguard which
shall guarantee their observance, that
nhey cannot be violated without the Of
tenders mourning the pain of sin which
lis involved 10 defying the authority OF
rhe church Those in charge Of the
music of Catholic churches have, there
fore. ne choice, even should they so de-
sire, tEan 20 COulOIb.
1t is zeaiOusly claimed, however, by
authorities on the subject, both in Europe
and America, that aside from the mani
fest proprietv of the rules now in force,
the artistic side ofCatholic Church music
will not suffer. but that the music now
declared authoritative, including both
.1regorian music and other more modern
.stvles which are allowed under proper
Limitations. is of a supreme order OF ex'
cellence and capable of the highest Srhs'
tic development. As ia any similar mat
ter of reconstruction, it will doubtless
take time to attain to perfect results
Those who have heard rehearsals OF 81
Mary's choir speak well of the organ'za
ton and predict forit ssuccessfui career
The choir has been under rehearsal dur
inc the summer under the direction o
of the choirmaster, Mr.. G. ii. wells, o
HOLY Trinity Church, Washington, u: w.
Mr. Wells has made a specially OF Gre
gorian music, and since the recent pro
mitigation of the Holy Father, his servi
ces have been greatly in demand y.
Mary's Choir is the first male choir u
be organized in the State Of Virginia,
and the credit of this achievement Is due
to Rev. Father Cutler, the pastor, who
upou receipt of the order from Bishop
Van de Vyver commanding the organi
qstion of exclusively male chOirs, imme
diately engaged the services of Mr
Walls The assistant choir master j
Mr. Pr. Downey, and the Organist Mr.
Joseph MunrOe. The members Of th'
cboir are: p. F. DOwney, Robert L
Wenzel, Leo P. Harlow, George W
Pettey. Rudolph Norris, d. Linde