The San Francisco call., 1909-08-28
WOLLEBlAMEDFOR
BACH CHOIR MIxOP
Professor Lehmer Says Festival
Leader Failed to Respond
to High Ideals

BERKELEY, Aug. 27.-The musical
set of this city is discussing nothing
else but the disbandment OF the coun-
ell and Bach choir and the controversy
between that organization and Profess
sor J. Fred Wolfe, leader of the Bach
choir at the festival last April.
Wolfe has characterized the members
of the council elected by the choir to
form a permanent organization and ham
die the business end of the society as
"interlopers," and the singers are up in
arms over his statements.
They say that before he went east.
shortly after the festival, Wolfe gave
This consent to the permanent organiza-
tion of the choir. Wolfe does not re-
member this, but says that he was the
originator and father of the choir and
that he will organize new one TO IN
terpret bach.
wOLLE,S POSITION ATTACKED
Wolfe declares that he will not sign
a contract as requested by the Bach Of
ganization, adding that he is not in the
habit of making contracts. The choir
points to the contract he held as organ
ist of the First congregational church,
a position to which he was not re-
elected after the first year.
Professor D. N. Lehmer, president OF
the Bach choir, and one of the hardest
workers for the perpetuation Of the
Bach organization. takes exception 70
Wolle's statements, but denies that
While looted the treasury of the or
ganization.
PURPOSE OF COUNCIL
Professor Lehmer, who is member
of the faculty of the mathematics de-
partment of the university, gave out
statement today. as follows:
IAN authoritative statement is, per-
haps, to be made concerning the recent
difficulty of the Bach society OF Berke-
ley. One thing that needs most OF all
to be said is that the purpose OF the
organization was not to put an end 10
any real or supposed looting OF the pro-
ceeds of the festival. To the leaders
of the movement to organize, the one
purpose to be kept clearly in view was
permanence. We faced the fact that IN
Pennsylvania, where the great Bacn
festivals were once given, there is not
now a trace remaining of the work The
hope was In our minds, and, indeed,
often expressed. that an organization
might be built up in Berkeley that
might be handed on to our children
when our voices were no longer equal
ization that would say for Berkeley,
musically, what the university says for
her in higher education.
ITO our surprise and disappointment
none of these ideals appealed to Pro-
fessor Wolfe He resents as an inter-
ference the formation of an organiza-
ton intended to make permanent the
work of his han,ds. Itis, of course. i'm
possible for the work to proceed under
these circumstances. and rather than
stand in the way of musical effort Of
any sort. the organization, so far as
the council is concerned, has with
drawn The council has no right TO pro-
claim disorg ganization. and, indeed. has
no such desire. It's members believe
that the ideals for which 1t stands are
too vital to die.
"For all of the anxiety and disap-
pointment that have attended the work
OF the last summer the council has
been repaid a thousandfold by the
hearty support and cordial sympathy
met on every hand. 1t is this support
and sympathy that convince US that
the Bach society of Berkeley does not
stand for impracticable and visionary
schemes. that it will not die, but, like
the sleeping beauty. 1t will merely
await the coming of the prince"