Addie Van Buren Wedding

“The silent pantomime at the altar was accompanied without interruption by a series of solos from the organ loft--soprano, contralto, basso and tenor.  I could not identify a word that was sung, tho I am tolerably familiar with the text of the Mass.  These solos were indecent: Purest (or foulest) Verdi—allegro—fortissimus--bestialissimo!  The archbishop elevated the Host under a fire of Verdiesque jig tunes with a marked buffo flavor. Disgraceful for any branch of the church catholic.  While the archbp was delivering his preachment to the young couple I had to stare at the [bedizened ?] alter with its artificial flowers and tawdry cheap gilt statuettes, to satisfy myself I was not in a Presbyterian Meeting House.  While this shallow beastly music was playing I felt as if I must be in the Acad. of Music.”