The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-28
h Delay Of the Clersy In Obeying the
POpe's EncyclIcaI Explained.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir. The
discussion In THE Sun regarding the %encyoli-
cal addressed to the Roman Catholic churches
by Pope Plus X. some two years ago will be
sure to arouse a widespread interest, not only
among those adhering to the Roman Catholic
faith but among others whose concern In the
matter Is purely musical.
That no very strenuous efforts have been
made by the American hierarchy TO comply
with the papal order In abolishing mixed
choirs and abandoning the present style Of
church music has excited surprise and occa-
stoned some harsh criticism. To attribute
the delay to the indifference and apathy Of
the clergy. to accuse them Of wilful disobedi-
ence. seems to me absurdly unjust. Con-
slider the suddenness Of the decree and the
utter unpreparedness OF the Church. Is II
conceivable that such momentous changes
could be effected Immediately? That the
proper authorities have fully recognized the
difficulties confronting them we may be
well assured. Moreover. this IL not the first
musical reform undertaken by Roman au-
thority. nor is It the second or third. Where
such reformations have succeeded. as they
always have. 1t was only after the labor
Of years.
To be sure. IL Is easy to talk glibly about
taking up the music Of Palestrina, Allegri.
Lotti, Baint and other great masters Of the
Ecclesiastical style, but who is going TO in
terpret themg These works. written wholly
IN the severe "a capella" manner, require
Lacking but this one qualification the result
would be b%arbaric to modern ears and I'M
Sun. the sound would impress the hearer as
4 IL came from q rookery.'" Where then IL
the requisite ability. TO be obtained to insure
can be only one answer to the question, and
that is the Church must gradually develop
doubt By following The feasible e0I plan pro:
posed by. Father Young OF the Church OF
of the laity and future choir singers must
be done In the parish schools. He has al
direction. and IL con fdent Of doing much
better. In the foreign countries most of the
young choristeIs were recruited from the
received such an excellent musical education
that II enabled some OF them eventually TO
only to mention the names of Haydn and
Nov az to the exclusion Of women from
we're first Instituted as an integral part Of
Christian worship the Church .Persisteqtly
never were hinderedn from M0i formin nno tReir OWN oTn
This Inhibition. y is said. has never been for.
times IL has been tacitiy overlooked. How,
y may De ssked and upon what grounds is
this dm attitude Of the Roman Church, toward
reasons have been advanced. II has been
eald that their exclusion was due 10 Bishop
Cyrillus OF Jerusalem and was caused by q
mlsinterpretation OF a passa &c OF st. Pauls
Eplstle TO the Corinthians that reads. Let
your women keep silence In the churches for
II 10 not permitted unto them TO speak"
Another reason assigned In that the voices
o. women, by being more vibrant, more jul
OF sensuous charm than the harder, brittle
ana passionless voices OF BOYS, were better
nyted by nature to be listened to in the
PLAYHOUSE than In a temple OF devout Chris
Kan worshippers. And there the matter rests.
Mixed choirs In Catholic churches as we now
Know them have not been in existence much
above a hundred years.
one OF those who have written TO THE SCN
on THIS subject-I should Judge him 10 be 8
good Catholio-asks In all sIncerity why the
ShuTcn does not utilize such grand and sou!
stirrins hymns as Lead, Kindly Light" and
Nearer My God. to Thee" Yes, why notl
Ossdinel Newman. as we all know. wrote his
nople hymn before he entered the Catholic
t %HsiN ,{ Hf,cds s IN the oapslla. q Psis.,
COMPOSED by Professionals. In making this
perhaps startling statement. pray do not
retort Win the names OF Rosslni, Verdi and
counod. Their sacred works are familiar
20 me, and while undeniably beautiful In th,m-
ceives they are void OF the true spirit. They
40 not appeal to the religious feeling, and
c comSa.s You may name one Catholic
Las.t: The sacred music OF this great bat
stranseiy neglected composer has not yet
HIS works exhibit q true conception OF what
enMrcn mnsic ought 70. be and reflect tho
rensious spirit that inspired the great Church
S cSn Of tho sixteenth and seysnteerta
ALnAnv NJ " rul~, sonN hAA"AN