The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-23
CHURCH MUSIC.
A i4aymsn's Opinion OF Roman and Amer.
lean Cholrs.

To THE EDITOR or TIKI SuN-Sir; Since
! read your editorial In reference TO church
music Ihave watched every day for an answer
Why such an ominous ~silenoei IL 10 because
there Is no defence. To us or the baity who
are able to Judge, between comic opera ana
a psalm tune the action Of the powers that
be" In this country seems inexplicable. the
head Of the Church never issued any mandate
on a matter OF discipline into which he put
more force Of authority than In his "Motu
Propno." and with what resultp In many
dioceses his words are completely ignored.
in many others they are laughed at. and az .
rule the inferior clergy. copying the apathy
OF those who ought TO be their leaders, stul-
tify their condolences by Diminishing the whole
subject with: 1t was never intended for this
country"
Within the last few months In one oil the
metropolitan churches there was a solemn
pontihcal mass at which many Church digni-
taries were present. A mixed quartet gave
an operate concert by Haydn during the
mass, with a cello andante for the onertory
and a cornet solo, The Lost Chord" for q
communio. The March OF the lpsganl
Priests" from a sensuous opera was played
as they marched back to the sacristy. To
cap the climax a cablegram was read In which
his Holiness gave his special blessing to the
zealous pastor and his flock and the mixed
choir came In for its share OF the papai
blessing.
To us Of the laity all this looks like a farce.
Did the Pope intend IL to be obeyed or notf
II he did. then are not those who ignore his
commando guilty of a grave act OF disobedi-
ence, not to speak OF the sin Of scandalf
To know the mind Of the Pope we must go
to Rome. What is understood In Rome by a
choir? To those who have visited the Holy
Cit and remained there for any length OF
time IL must be evident that In most OF the
- IA -.-a q ~ s EnlAP
very much like what we have In our own
country but filed with male voices only. and
il Ia in such choir lofts that women are for
bidder to sing. In very few II any OF the
Roman churches do we fnd the choir In the
! shape OF stalls such AZ may be seen in the
Paulist Church. New York. and where such
arrangement exists Il Is for the canons Of the
Church, not for the singers In fact. the choir
singers are frequently in the organ gallery
at the end Of the church or In one Of the tran
septs. Therefore, according TO the Roman
the most part Of trained male singers set
apart in some elevated spot in the church
and not in stalls surrounding the high altar.
The abuses that existed in Rome consisted
in the theatrical style OF the music az well as
in the orchestral Accomplishments. In our
country, however. We added TO this the fe-
male singers screeching out their 20 salu-
raris" and ".Tantum Ergo" or smiling sweetly
at their male partners as they sing In feeling
interest enough to visit his choir loft regu-
larry or who takes an occasional glance at IL
from the pulpit knows that it is a great place
for conversation, especially during sermon
time. The proprietor Of the nearest beer
gins by the advent Of the tenor and the
basso and sometimes Of the organist himself.
Now, while such fragrant abuses exist, why
should the hierarchy waste powder In con-
demning such innocent and soul stirring
hymns as Lead, Kindly Light and Nearer.
sung In church? II they are hereticsl. point
out the heresy. II they ex press the most
exalted aspirations Of the human heart and
AZ the same time the lowliest humility and II
the common people have learned TO love them,
why connermh mem, my sttsin 49, qua
expect obedience In a small matter OF this
kind when they themselves disobey the head
Of the church, C~HuRCHMAS.
\Ew ROCHELLE, July %.