The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1906-02-01
NOT To BAR WOMEN IN CHoIRS
Coming Council to be the First Held in
Twenty Years and Many New Rules
for Churches Will be Proposed
Exact Date Not Set.


In the diocese we're the principal
items of business discussed at the
conference between Archbishop S. @
/ Messmer and the four suffragant
bishops Of the province in Milwaukee
| Tuesday. The music rules were sub
I jected to some changes before they
were adopted, the most important be-
! ing the exclusion from the list Of the
rule prohibiting female voices in the
! choirs Of Catholic churches which de-
sire them in this province.
| The exact date for the provincial
council has not been set, but it will
continue for three days or more, and
will precede the diocesan synod. 1t
will be the most important meeting
for the Catholic church of this
province held since the preceding
council in 1885. It's meetings will be
/ held at st. Johns cathedral.
! Uniformity of the rules governing
all the dioceses in the province will
be the object of the council, and the
/ rules and regulations now in force
will be gone over thoroughly and re-
| vised. One of the great advantages
| will be that the rules will thus be
promulgated in collective form.
Archbishop Messmer, the suffrag giant
bishops of the province, and number
Of c1ergymen whom they will appoint
will make up the council, each bishop
being entitled to bring with him
certain number of c1ergymen. Each
clergyman appointed will be a
theo1ogian of recognized authority
and expert on canonical law or church
discipline, or a specialist in some par
ticular line of church work. At the.
meeting of the provincial council its
membership will be divided into a
number of committees, each one of
which will be headed by one of the
| bishops. The work to come before
the council will be divided aud each
division referred to the committee
composed of experts on that line Of
work. The deliberations of these
committees will take up a great part
of the time given TO the council, and
at their close the committees will re-
port to the general council. 1t is ex-
pected that the rules which will gov
ern the subsequent diocesan council
in its action will be laid down at this
council meeting.
The decision Of the bishops not to
prohibit women's voices from the
singing Of masses IS an important
one. It was one of the most radical
of the changes recommended by the
committee to which the drawing up
Of the music rules was intrusted and
was opposed by many c1ergymen.
While the bishops decline to give out
for publication any information re-
garding the meeting In Milwaukee m
til their actionis announced officially,
it is known that the situation reg ard
ing women's voices was discussed
thoroughly and that it was decided
that such rule would be unwise, at
least at the present time. AS
result of this action rule 5 was
dropped and several masses will be
selected in which the use of both
mems and women's voices will be
authorized.
Plans for the new $4,000 library
building to be erected at st. Francis
seminary will be preparec in time for
presentation and acceptance at the
time Of the jubilee celebration in
June. The architect has not been
selected, but he will be in the near
future, it being thought that it will
be of great financial advantage If the
plans are on exhibition during the
week of the jubilee celebration. The
erection of the library building will
not be begun until next year. It will
be a modern building ia every way,
containing reading and reference
rooms for some of the professors.
A project for the erection of DOR
mitory was brought up formally for
the first time at Mondays meeting, |
but no definite decision was reached. /
Such a building is greatly needed at
the seminary, which is er-crowded. !
The extension OF the course of study
will not go into effect until after the
pope has issued his encyclica1 on the |
subject requiring twelve years
Ooul Sc AlCuDlSuUP MGSSul6T mas |
under consideration a petition from
students at the university of Wiscon-
sin askin@ for the appointment of
priest to look after the spiritual well
fare Of the Catholic students.
Arthur G. Williams, business man
ager for Hamlin & Mitchell's gorge
Gus musical production, Babes in
Toylando, arrived in the city today.
Mr.. Williams is here to arrange for
the presentation of this beautiful ex-
travaganza at the Rhode opera house
Sunday evening, Feb. 4. The organ
ization numbers seventy people and is
possibly the largest company en- tour,
travelling almost exclusively by special
train. The regular home orchestra
will be augmented by seven especial
~ selected musicians carried BY the
company.