The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-22
WON'T BANIsH WOMEN SINGERS.
The Rev. DR.. Brann OF ~. Agnes's Explains
the Pope's Letter on Church Music.

A mixed choir will sing PalRstrina's
Papa Marcelli Mass next Sunday at the
th;rty-se,cond anniversary of the patron
saint OF st. Agnes's Church in East Forty
third street. Speaking Of this. the rector.
the Rev. DR.. Henry A. Brann. said TO
Sun reporter yesterday:
THE Pope never intended 20 exclude
women from the organ loft, especially as
Se have It in this country. Ii me did al
the little girls who are twelve years old and
inward would be incapable Of singing in
the church services. According TO canon
law, a girl IL years is woman and ehgoie
for marriage and all the responsibilities
attached thereto. The consequence OF
this Interpretation OF the Pope's letter on
music would be the destruction OF all the
church ohors in the poorer churches and
especially in the country districts, Tor
such ohoirs are almost entirely made up Of
the young girls ranging from twelve to
twenty.
1T is rs important to know what may
be sung as TO know what should not be
sung at high mass or .esiN'rs according TO
the letter Of Plus X Much more latitude
ia given to the music which may be sung
nj low masses or at uon-liturgical services,
when hymns in English are often sung
-,Soored music ia not an essential part.
but only a complimentary part OF the
solemn liturgy says the papal letter; and
II we IN this country have been at times
using improper church music the fault lies
NJ the door Of our foreign brethren who
have been importing TO NJ tho masses OF
Neroadante. Rossini and Verdi and the
aorid composltions 81 Capocci from Italy;
the maa ses of Lanbilotte. Selle, la Hache.
Silas. Guilrhant. Dubois and Gounod from
France Mozart. Haydn, Beethoven, Won
Weber and Schubert from Germany: Liszt
from Hungary. Poniatowski from Poland
and scores Of others, great and small. toler-
sfed and sanctioned by priests bishops
md popes across Abe Atlantic.
Evidently Plus \ struck at the abuses
near home first. for reform, like charity.
begins AT home. The letter has been mis-
interprcte5 10y many who imagine that ~
condemns modern music. II does not IT
condemns the abuse OF music II con
dernns only what every man Of religious
sentiment must condemn. All thd' orends
the decorllm and the sanctitv 81 the sacre1
functions and l. thus unworthy ~ the
house or PRAYER and OF the majesty Of God.
Asked # he was going 70 dishand his
mixed choir, Or. Brann answered Ger
teinly not He said further that every
bodv went of half Cooked Immediately
"a, receipt Of the Pope's letter and the cen
tr,L idea Thich dominated every one was,
zee. rid ~ the women.
7aNow. many OF the churches which did
get nd of the women, said DR. Brann,
FARO sorry for it.
Dr. Brsnn is one OF the members Of the
committee appointed by Archbishop Farley
TO investigate the church music here. At
sundays celebration at his church Bishop
Monahan al Wilmington. Del. will ce,e-
brate pontifcal high mass and the Rev. DR..
Francis II. Wall. rector OF Holy Rosary
Church In East lleth street. viii preach.
Archbishop Farley Is expected to preside
and Bishop Cusaok and Mgr. Lavelle will
be present.