The New York Herald Newspaper, December 26, 1872, Page 6

icecneeecmeaiaiel ‘THE CHRISTMAS CHEER, whi How the Ancient Holiday Was | five’ Hallowed by Worship and Gladness. Stuffed Stockings, Stuffed Turkeys and Stuffed Stomachs, AB A THE FAMILY FEASTS. The Cold, Bitter Blasts of Old Boreas Ou! of Doors and the Happy Mearts and Beaming Faces by the Mearths of Cosey Homes, PIETY AND PLENTY. — oo A Universality of Good Feeling and Fraternal Pleasure. RELIGIOUS RITES. popeni ay Grand and Solemn Services in the Christian Churches. MEMORIAL MELODIES Great Crowds: of People Attending the Ce'ebrative Ceremonies. THE BOUNTY OF BENEVOLENCE. Ghildren Made Merry and Glad and Gorged with Good Oheer at the Chari- table Institutions. otros THE SHEENY STEEL. Gala-Day Skaters Thronging the Ice of ‘the Central Park Lakes Yes- terday in Thousands. . eg. FUN AND FROLIC. ‘The Observance of the Festival on Long Island, Staten Island, in New Jersey and Other Adjacent Localities. ‘It _was the calin and silent night! At is the calm and solemn night! ousand bells ring out and throw Their joyous peals abroad to smite e darkness, charmed and holy now! ‘The night that'erst no shame had worn, ‘To ita happy name fs given; For in that stable lay, new-born, The Peaceful Prince of earth and heaven, In the solemn midnight, Centuries ago. ‘The oldest boliday in the Christian calendar was yesterday celebrated. So full is it of memories, associations and images of the past that 1t is al- Brest tmpossible for the mind to grasp its full solemnity, grandeur and teaderness in a single @hought. Over and over again has its history been recounted by great men and little, and never thas that wonderful story of the event which it commemorates, so quaintly told in the New Testa- seent, been treated of with ridicule, evem by the profanest of the schools of modern imfidelity. This UNIVERSAL RESPECT AND AWE egarding the mystery of the birth of Christ have ad much to do with distinguishing the day above all others that come and go. But farther back ‘ven than the time oi Constantine a similar festi- wal had been celebrated by various mations, in Warlows and peculiar ways. The ceremonies ‘were almost all different, but had neariy the @ame significance—that of joy ana gratulation. Some of them also expressed thankfulness and Praise to some higher Power accepted as omnipo- tent. At last, however, when the Christian Church grew rapidly in strength and vigor, the heathenish wites were transferred to the commemoration of the modern redemption, and the traces of many f them can still be discovered in the ceremontes practised in different portions of the civilized @lobe. This establishes the fact that the day ts fallowed by two Kinds of associations—those which ate back to the infancy of the race and those which have clustered around that one most ro- mantic and tragical career in all human annals hat includes the birth and death of Jesus of @azareth. The first have their source in all that is genial, generous, tender and noble in the haman hheart—the qualities of good followship and man- hood. The second appes! stroagly to our spirit- wal and sympathetic natures, and awe us in the manner that children are awed by 8 realistic and appalling representation of a Shakspearian tragedy pon the stage, subduing the shock of the bitter @orrows and calamities of the play with the soft nd gentle tenderness of other incidents, and in- eptring these millions of people, of the modern ‘world, living and thinking eighteen centuries aaiterward, with pious love aud reverence surpas- @ing the highest dreams of heroism ever formed by poet or fanatic. it is more fully, however, that Christmas is cele- brated in its jovial and fraternal sense than in ite geligious. Its memories of that character appeal ‘more warmly to the heart than the inspired chron- icles handed down to us, which a mighty host of @avans have succeeded in investing inasort of @hadow of infidelity by their cavillings over their ‘wWysteries and mirac! THS MODERN CHRISTMAS, therefore, is more a season of merrymaking than Of praise sounding. But it would not do, of course, for the pricsthood to acknowledge or to remark this, The churc om this holiday, as they were yeaterday, are always ornate with glistening green leaves and glowing red flowers and brillianttapers. Yet jollity always seems to overreach piety. In the jingling words of an old song: which is quoted from some remote source by Chambers, ‘ Se now is come our joyful’st feast; Tat every man be jolly; | Each room with ivy leaves is drest ‘Thourh some churis at our mirth repine, ound your foreheads garlands twine ; Drown sorrow 4 up of wine, 4 é let ws a be merry. ° Tot all the streets with ech: : Woods and hits an everythings = ens merry. The sombre pews are always thronged, the ser- { woes always ‘nana, ‘the music always mgnisoeut and mellow and the discourses from the puipits are aways marked by labored eloquence. Be the reli. 60.5 rites of she feotlyal, begingiog ages somes Cu Christman Bye. are quiten throngn the But va better portion of the Pan the diner tables throwgnous the land, 10 the when ested oicnkay me rand faces, and it thatevery one more than is good fer eat on this ecceston er ‘else his neighbors is Jel be Sieeppots i he sees plen q bs ‘this day, ant ereTy one The plenitude ¥ y of keen and mg ie ay 8 tale id of last are dary i porate how!in, faries around and while cope oor Gor freside, ‘The institu we sat b; Warm, b tions of charity Mowcrer were yesterday crowded with the home! friendiess and moneyless vic- time of poverty, w jo partook heartily of the good ve ‘t kind, Christian hands had set m5 nu Whertgrrows billows raver. Mev in the wilderness of mytad homes suffer and endure tn silence, unknown and un- cared or. And we, of the city too often Jorget the wandering bancs of NOMADIC BRGGARS . the country districts who Jead errant lives throt and have no habitation, to whom no holiday brings cheer. They may stand by the roadside unknown and unfriended, and in @ quaint and pathetic ballad of the yule ide” - The silent jheams on the drifted snow Sh Ro Pabtaactier "adcaahier onion (3 e ‘@ tran! ray rock’s brow a raddy hue, _— The red ray and t! lue, disti At ities" ‘ith n and emera! orange glare, Gilding the icloles trom branches bare, ‘Lie side by side. _— ‘The door is open and the fire burne bright — aati SST ee ee ae Tee mT by but the wanderer, depressed and sad, is, like a hopeless sinner, gazing from afar upon the en- trance of heaven. This is the saddening portion of the picture; but if you had looked in upon those farm houses yester- day that stand aig Pha white-shrouded hills you might, perchance, have 1 tten all thought Of the misery.without and have feasted upon OA The day dawned with a glorious food of iden sunlight pouring upon the earth and creeping with stealthy pi Of love into all the crevice! cranoies that it could reach in the stolid, unsym- pathetic architecture of eur city. Yet the air was elt cold and the streets were nearly de- ferted. Still, so bright seemed the glow of the sun that indoors the festivities and jollity, after the joy of the children at finding the loaded stockings, had somewhat subsided, went bravely forward, with no shadows to spoil thetr unalloyed happiness. The sweet bells pealed forth their LAUGHING CHIMES, seeming like the silvery: tongues of anal ) Chat- ting gladly, they leaned over the earth out the oriels of the sky. ‘Their melody never fell more softly, more tenderly, upen the ear, and never thrilled so upon the chords of the heart with its harmonies of joy. In all places. where children were gathered their clear and pleasant voics sounded sweetly in the Christmas carols, and th | bright taces giowed with a sunshine, not borrowe: , but all their own, When the eventide came on 4 Berfect, quiet filled the city, the streets were still and a gentle amour seemed to fill the sky. The day closed as Soeaane as the you eyelids of a drowsy babe, and the night wae starlit, beautiful andcold. It re- minded one of that eve of St. Agnes, when she prayed— Make Thou my spirit pure and clear ‘An are the frosty akies, Or this first snowdrop of the year + ‘That on my bosom lies, And let that be the end of us all in ‘The Sabbath of eternity, ‘One Sabbath, deep and wide— 4 Jight upon the shining sea e bridegroom and his bride! SERVICES IN THE CHURCHES. BT, THOMAS’ CHURCH. The Sumrise Serviee for Children—Ex- quisite Masic at the Service of the Holy Comm Yesterday wasa day of quict joy and piety at St. Thomas’ churen, corner Fifty-third street and Fifth avenue. Anobdle edifice, radiant with light, bright, happy faces, beaming with sunshine and good feeling, a vast chorus singing strains, sub:ime and joyous—this was St. Thomas’ church yester- day. In this church the day was indeed the day of our Saviour’s birth. Christmas breathed out of the fragrant wreaths with which the church was hung, Christmas sparkled in the eyes of the gaily dressed children whose faces brightened with the expectation of plum pudding and the dainties of the Christmas tree. CHRISTMAS GLEAMED through the oriel windows and seemed to be written on the marble and the stained glass, The scent of the flowers was sweeter than on erdinary days, the faces of the congnogetion were mspeier, the very atmosphere was made pleasanter by that bappy sense of Christmas. This was the feeling of the congregation, which fully entered into the spirit of the glorious day. At half-past seven in the morning there was sunrise service for the children. They came in large numbers, although the cold was piercing. They feasted their eyes upon the decorations. Wreaths and stars of holly, lanrel and evergreen; flowers breathi ng erfume, crosses, green and fragrant, and Scriptural motvos made out of leaves, festoons drawn all over the walls—all made the church beautiful. Four large cedar trees were on the chancel and two juniper trees on the altar. ‘The chancel looked a perfect grove, and from one Part of it the berries of the juniper trees glistened. THE LEAVES OF HOLLY AND IVY. were so bright and crisp that they reflected back the light, and so fresh were they that the dew seemed yet to be upon them. An immense cross of laurel, most beautiful to look at—it was em- bedded in fir trees—was in the back Pa of the chancel. The pulpit, the lectern and the Re od loft were richly festooned with laurel and holly. Mottos, “Glory to Godin the Highest,” ghiy God,” “Everlasting Father,” “The ‘Word W: lade Flesh and Dwelt Among Us,” “Prince of Peace” and on the wal They were set in green wreathed in laurel. a ht ren forty-tnird of the prayer book, “' shepherds watch their flocks by night.” Their bright, clear voi in the ears of their parents, forme ‘TO THE DEEP, SONOROUS TONES of the organ. One could not which sounded mighty muste ‘organ. The usual mo! jo. at ee was gos eleven o'clock. nal “Hosanna te King David's Son’ by 3. cath, was sung with much spirit. Itis expressive of Christmas joy and Christmas cheer. After the reading of the Psalms and of the lessons = few “aie roc “Jubilate Deo” cin jor) . Pease, was sung. PRA OR are seve: ry and they were admirably tendered. The Introit from Handei fessiak” (‘0 Thou Tellest”’) is in Handel's severe style, but the expression of joy and cheerfulness is perees alking’ “Kyrie Eleisam’’ and Zingarelii’s rapturous “Gloria Tibi''— which must have been inspired on a Christmas night—follewed. After am eloquent sermon by the Rev. William F, Morgan, the cl sang Mogart’s “Gloria in Excelsis,” which made the very build- ing riug with sublime echoes of a world full of hap Piness and glory. OHUROH OF THE MESSIAH. Prayer by ¢! Rev. Dr. Bellows and the Cnristmas Sermon by the Rev. Henry Powers. The Ubristmas services at the Church of the Messiah commenced yesterday at eleven A. M., and were weil attended. The Rev. Dr, Bellows offered prayer, and the Christmas sormon was preached by the Rev. Henry Powers, from the text, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But toas many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to those that believe om His name,” taken from John 4, 11,12. The preacher com- menced:—The referemce in thease words is, of of course, to Jesus Christ, our ever blessed Lord and Saviour, whose birth ante this world of ours, nearly nineteen centuries , We celebrate 80 joy- fully to-day. And why? Because, as John ex- pressed it, ‘In him was life, and life was the light of man," that true life—viz., “which lighteth every man that cometh inte the worki”—and therefore we rejoiced to catl ourselves His disciples and seek by every means in eur power to make Him known unto our brethren. i of His adyut, id who belonged toa race, epoch ‘and locality in the history of for the wants He came to satisfy, the un- belief He came to dispel, the sins He came to remove, the misery and death He came to apt away, tre such as have cursed mankind in Le. did not exist from the be an for four hundred years and more without the presence in it of those elements and susceptibilities and necessitics which were rsonally met and satisfied by Jesus when He came in the flesh, and then, after an setesraption of thirty years or there- abouts, retarned again to its former condition, to continue thus unchanged and unimproved for evermore. Mr. Powers then went on to Wm We mid. } gescrie Ghagi’e migpjop op carn. apd ghowed | the opposition ved al? gu and pode fs ein Mag d ved our a . He “We are born Ferner oe eonvic! York, oven at the ‘of our Beat be At mae halpfa,ftuea trial and a ‘vantageous in every way te fhe daily struggle with civilization and Chris- ty. Speaking of ‘‘the degree of confidence displac- ing distrust which exists between man and man,” the speaker said:—‘I am. ¢ that there are ‘corners’ occasionally on Wall street and ‘ ? at Sig City Hall, and t box stuffing more or less, an RVERY KIND OF CORRUPTION in our municipal affaira, You eck your doors and windows when you go to bed at night, and I make fast my study here whenever Igo out-of it; but for all that faith in man as man is vastly more preva- Jent now than it once was, ere Jesus came and gave to us His own commandment te love one an- Other. If s Christian merchgnt, you order your ods and remit the pay for them; by meansof & jong chain of causes whose links reach back. and depend upon this Cerin — ema! ote were you conduc uginess in Piast or Africa you would ‘know of no such ‘confi- dence as this and no such way for its expression, as the explorer Livingstone and his discoverer Stanley more Lees = je found to their cost. Instead, you would start from your home to. bu; your ‘with your money on your person, an repared to defend it net all comers, it needs e, by your own strong right arm, and returning with your merchandise on your camels or oxen ‘ou Would sleep by them at night and know that hey were safe only as long as you guarded them. ie Rev. Mr. Powers then concluded with a brief and lucid view of our condition hereafter and the difference of opinion appertaining thereto, GRACE OHUROH, A Large Congregation and a Fine Sere vice=Some Plain Speaking Ahout the Fire in Fourteenth Street—A Very Brief Sermon, Grace church yesterday morning was exception- ably well filled with a fashionable and well-dressed congregation. Every seat was occupied, and the aisles were at their lower extremities blocked up with Christmastide worshippers. The service was, as usual at this church on the great holidays of the year, im exquisitely good taste, and what with its Yule decorations of ever- greens and holly and flowers, and the ‘bright: dresses of the assembled congregation, the scene was quite brilliant and imposing, The piece de résistance of the ceremony, however, was of course the music, and the authems and hymns were admirably rendered. At the close of the prayers Dr. Potter, in the course of his usual no- tices of church meetings, alluded to THE DESTRUCTION OF GRACE CHAPEL in terms of strong indignation, He said that he could not but regard the conduct of the proprietors of Barnum’s Museum as guilty of what he could only call an act of incendiarism, More than a Month ago the civil authonties had warned them that their premises were @ source of danger to the surrounding Boag ab A and yet noth- ing had been done to remedy the evil. Things in this city had, indeed, reached a deplorable pass when such wanton and flagrant disregard of the Tights and lives ana arp, of citizens was tol- erated. One of these fine days, perhaps, when hali New York found itself in the street HOMELKSS AND UNSUELTERED, a reform would be instituted. It was clear that the pee a of Public Buildings and the Superin- tendent of the Fire Department should have power to compel proprietors to protect themselves and others against loss and ruin, Dr. Potter's sermon was of the briefest, taking Jess than ten minutes in its Soller Ite point, however, was very seasonable and appropriate. This was the fact that Christmas, the birthday of Christ, was the children’s festival above ail else, and that it was our especial duty at tiris happ; season to provide for the comfort and the happl- ness of the httle ones. THR GREAT FEATUR® OF CHRIST'S TEACHING was that he constantly urged us to cuitivate the spirit of children, Obedience was greater than achievement, and the periormance ef duty more sublime than the indulgence of will. And we could not do better than resolve now to imitate the trust- ful disposition and the confidence in the royal law of love which marked the child. OHUROH OF 8ST. MARY THE VIRGIN, Christmas Services, M: and Sermon. ‘The Christmas services at the Church of St. Mary the Virgin were held with very impressive cere- monies yesterday. The congregation present was quite large, and the church walls and altar were tastefully decorated with evergreen wreatus and symbolical banners. The procession of choristers entered the church at @ few minutes past eleven singing the customary psalm. Rev. Mr. Noyes, the officiating celebrant, intoned the Lord’s Prayer, Collects and Ten Commandments with responses with ‘Kyrie.’ Then followed in succession the read- Ing of the epistle, the creed and a sermon by the Rev. Mr. Brown, rector of the church, on the sub- Ject of the incarnation. ‘Lhe ceremonies continued with the Offertory, confession, absolution, prayer, sursum corda (or words of comtort), “Sanctus,” the humble pbion the consecration, the distributing of bread and wine at the communion table, the cleansing of the holy vessels and the benediction of the post-communion, The music was very im- barrel consisting of Von Weber’s Mass in G, rispin’s “Ave Maria,” the ‘Gloria in Excelsia,” and Rossini’s “Tantum Ergo.” Mr. Prentiss is the organist of the church and Mrs, Robinson the s0- prano, 8T, IGNATIUS’ OHUROH. Nimeteenth Century Civilization a Cheat—Christ the Only Hope and Joy ot ae come—Goa and priests re ‘ag they tts When Dr. it he publicly made the si; and forehead is _ OHUROH OF 8T. VINCENT FERRER. Christmas Among the Dominicans—A Musical Festival by the Philharmo- mics ands Beautiful Sermon by the Rev. Father Meagher. ‘To hear mass on Sundays and all holidays of obligation is the frat commandment of the Catholic Church, and it is one of the best observed of any of the commandments of any Church. The intensely cold weather of yesterday contributed to anything ‘but the diminution of the attendance at last mass atthe Dominican church of St. Vincent Ferrer, Sixty-sitxh street and Lexington avenue, of which the Rev. Father Lilly is pastor. Among the wor- shippers who filled every available seat and crowded along the aisles, the vestibule and even up into the organ loft, were a great many strangers from other parishes of this and the neigh- boring cities, especially from Harlem, whence came quite a large delegation, including General Swee- ney and other distinguished Catholic gentlemen. The “strangers”? came to enjoy a Christmas ser- mon from the great Dominican preacher, Father Tom Burke, who makes ‘the convent attached'to this church his home, and who was expected to deliver THE BETHLENEM SERMON yesterday. Father Burke, however, did not find it cenvenient to put in an appearance, being at Present in Nashville, Tenn.; but those who at- tended that mass specially to hear him lost nothing by his preanes for the were most pleasantiy dis- [pele a) @t finding the pulpit filled by quite as , theugh less famous, a Dominican brother, the Rev. Father Meagher, at , attached to the church of St. Vincent Ferrer, who well sustained the equally well-deserved Fedor which his order enjoys as “The Urder of the Preachers,’ Father Henghe + Who is @ man of fine propor- tions and handsome features, ascended the pulpit after the first Jal and, having read the gospel of the day and its beautiful story of the Saviour’s birth, proceeded to show the condition of the world at THE ADVEXT OF CHRIST. To all outward appearance the world was in a state of grandeur and magnificence approaching to absolute periection; the arts and sciences four- ished to a or e that gave little hope of there be- ing any parallel for it in after ages; but all under- Death was depravity and corruption. No time more ripe for the co of the Redeemer could agin have been selected. His very birth and the manner and surroundings thereof was a grand rebuke to the ideas which then pre- vailed. Hf anybody had heard of the birth of a new king, not of an earthly king- dom, but of the principalities of the entire universe, that miserable stable at Bethlehem ‘Was the last place in the world one would think of golng to look for tne infant monarch; yet that sta- le and its humble surroundings better became the dignity of a Ged and a Redeemer of mankind than would the most gorgeous palace ever reared by man’s art and labor. He came principally to cor- rect the three great evils which then prevailed, and which St. John called the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of lle. Father Meagher wound up his splendid discourse with an eloquent peroration, THE BEAUTIFUL CHURCH ‘was magnificently decorated with festoons of ever- greens, &c., the elegant little crib containing a wax image of the iniant Christ attracting general attention. The music approached the reporter's idea of the celestial harmonies. It came from # double juartet choir—Miss L. Morrison-Fiset, soprano solo; (iss M. Tracy, alto; Messrs. Frenzell and Ott, tenors; Mesers. Sullivan and Marshall, bassos. The organ, under Professor C. H. Hanschel, was re- inforced by the splendid orchestra of the Philhar- monic ety, instruments, drums and all conducted by Felix Leifels. Haydn's Imperial Mass (No. 3) was magnificently rendered throughout, with Lambi:lotte’s ‘Christmas Anthem” and Gou- nod’s “Ave Maria,” by Miss Morrison-Fiset. The vio- lin solo, with orchestral ports epee | by Mr. Frank Danly, was much to be admired, and his per- formance of the “Adagio,” par Rode, was almost a Musical wonder. The congregation separated with “Qferry Christmas” on every face, It ought to be added that at the morning mass, at half-past five o'clock, all the conveniences for illuminating the church were employed with a most brilliant and highly devotional effect. 8T. PETER’S CHURCH. Grand Mass Yesterday—Music and Dee- erations—Serm by the Rev, Father Quinn. The Church of St. Peter, in Barclay street, holds &@ prominent place among the sacred edifices in this city by reason of the old-time associations which congregate around it. When New York was in itsinfancy St. Peter’s was generally re- garded asa magnificent structure, and those who loved the building in their youthful days cling to it with the same tenacity and tenderness in old age as circling ivy does to the hoary oak. Christmas Day is atways rigidly observed in this church, and the manager in which the interior of the grand oid structure was decorated testified that no luke- Mankind—Sermon by Rev. Dr. Ewer, The piaim and simple Reformed Dutchmen, who a year or two ago worshipped in the plain and un- pretending temple on Fortieth street, near Sixth avenue, would hardly knew their oid religious homestead as it appeared yesterday, decked with crosses and evergreens and pictures, and its altar lighted with half a hundred candies and gas jets. At high mass, as the half-past ten o'clock A. M. ser- vice is technically termed, ® procession of eleven boys and seven men entered from the vestry room, or sacristy, and made half the circuit of the church. ‘The first boy carried along stick in his hand, on the top of which was an ornamental cross, They chanted a Christmas carol, whose burden was that they were Christian soldiers and were bearing the cross of Jesus. The service was performed by an and land, Humanity | ‘assistant priest. The ante-communion service was comparatively brief, a bene she administration of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper or the mass, Dr, Ewer preached # sermon on the text, “Good tidings of great joy," Luke ti., 10, The first and only source of joy since the expulsion from Eden, he said, was now amnounced. What is joy? he asked, and then proceeded to define it as a spirit- | ual emotion and satisfaction. He had spoken, ne said, for a few weeks past to his people on some of THE DEVICES OF SATAN, and to. in the presence of the manger he would speak another device. The devil would p juade the world that cur civilization bas made t world better, bat he (Dr. EF ied it. Th comforts of life tou; P ristianity are not the cause of it. The of the nineteenth century, what is it? Our telegraphs and ratiroads and printing presses and the general progress of terrestial science have not uced one particle of comfort to the human race. This is the cheat. Love, peace, chastity, &c.—these don’t ‘ow with the growth of our civilization, Wealth increases and Satan persuades us that we ere bet- ter of, But t.e rich grow richer and the poor poorer. The large railroads swallow up the small ones; the large stores eat up the smaller, and while we are deceiving ourselves the red flag of the Commnne waves in our great citics. Ifyou want to see what is coming you need only look to Pat Ifyou want to know what shall triumph here in the next cen- tury look ac the tT. Make y for it. Many hope in some other way, and weaith beckons on to power, but it is usciess to think we can escape the incoming flood, ‘Give us schools,” cries Henry Ward Beecuer, ‘‘and we will have less crime. But cultured intellect only makes the bad man the wotse criminal, What @ wicked man wants is Without Him evil becomes more malignant iniquity. Why ts it that there is no real augmen- tation of human happiness? Because all its iorms are TYPES OF PALLES HUMANITY, in which the descendants of Adam have built and reared their joys. Born in ue image of the fallen Adam, — can he besry pion ise And thus aged @ perpetual propagat ry among men. is, therefore, im, that the sould rise ligher than ics source. He (the Doctor) would } Dot say @ word against schools or telegraphs or science of any sort. But civilization is not the | cause of sin, It is a gift of God, and we cannot affect it by one hair’s weight. It ts the wicked heart of man that grows beastly and proud with civilization, Build up your brown stone honses, throw open your !yceums to ie Tyndails, multiply your schools and colleges, still murders will not stop, robberies will not cease and lesser crimes wiil hot decrease. In Christ alone can man find warmness exists among its congregation. The BRILLIANTLY ILLUMINATED ALTAR ‘was resplendent with choice flowers, of multifa, rious hues, which diffused an exquisite odor. The reredos was embowered in graceful firs; the galle- ries were festooned with evergreens, and spiral wreaths twined around the pitiars. Soon after the doors were opened devotees poured into the church, filing the nave, aisle and galleries, until even standing room was unobtainable. The music (an 1 feature in the services at St. Peter's) chosen for the occasion <y the grand mass in major, for four voices and chorus, composed by Kalitnoda. ‘The ‘Kyrie Eleison,” by Mra, Easton, was finely rendered; in xecuted rane choir, and the “Credo” and atus Est” by the tenor, M. Fritsch, was'well worthy of commenda- tion, Mrs. Easton's solo in *. Det” was su- pero, and the “Adeste Fideles” quartet brought into play the SWEET VOICES of other talented members of the choir. The alto of Miss Tobin ts fbn clear and dulcet, and her solo at St. Peter’s yesterday stamps her as a vocalist of no mean pretension, The chorus was weil selected and the nist, Mr. W. F. Pecher, deserves much praise for masterly manner in which he performed pues the dne instrumeat which adorns the rood io: ‘The sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Quinn, — of the church, and was specially notable for its simple pathos snd approp: ines. The learned divine opened his” urse by refer- ence to the festival of Christmas and the maaitold bier which the birth ef Christ had conferred ‘upon all mankind, and assigning that as a reason why it should be 4 SEASON OF JOY end vonage For four thousand years after Adam was driven out of Paradise man was separated by evil from God and ha) ss. The birth of our Saviour brought back jt peace our primal father lost for poor humanity, reconciled us unto God and gave us positive if of our redemp- tion, The promises God wo the patrtors at various eras, ag recorded in Holy Writ, that He would send upon earth one who would redeem all nm from sin, were fulfilled when Christ wae bore. rth o! to us in meekness ry: the blessed Virgin was of the royal House of Davi the poly omiie were in humble circumstances; so Boor fact, that accommodation at the ton at thiehem could not be accorded, and the Re- deemer of mankind was BORN IN A STABLE, wrapped in swaddiing clothes and laid in a man- Tr. It was probably the humbleness of Christ's rth that caused the Jews to Him with dis- favor and persecute Him during His oceans. upon earth, We, however, knowing ali the circum- recogn: 8 love for us in the pai jact thai He wicered Much for our sakes, should theretore take rr ae ae re in celebrating the an- niversary of the day of His glorious nativity by renderiug unto Him prayer and praise wiich is most justly due. Imposing Services Yesterday Morning— The Gregorian Musical Service—Sermon true happiness and joy, for in Him were not only ight and iive, put (fom Him must flow forth trye by Rev. August M. Brady. . The high mags at this phurch yesterday wag im- posingly grand, On the alter, which very large one, shone @ thousand lighted tapers, whose beauty was enhanced by the brilliancy of the gilded candelabroms which supported them. The altar and the pillars were festooned with greens, ‘which contrasted quite pleasantly with the lights and tended to seften the bold gorgeousness of the other altar ornaments. The music, which is un- lke tnat ‘of any otner church in the city, was fie, notwithstanding its monotony. The Paulist’s:.chdlr-is composed of male voices r 4 organ Sia conical aie on eit! or ide of tl Pod srrange ments Mauiy to the etigot of Une im- Ihisinnov Feneral ye, casa! mano watcl is often Se 6 into oz bdouge by ama- eur choirs--is dispensed with and is chanted. Music of the service isin slow time and very impressive. The voices are not ar- in the wate~aoprane, alto and basso—but ‘adi from the feeble soprano to the inunder! bass, The weak voices begin the chant, and as. 3 the other voices imper- ceptibly chime in, until at last the faint ripple of music has swelled into an immense wave of sound, Fe the whole church and drowning the notes of e organ. THE ORI. In the basement of the church is a panstereorama of Bethlehem, in which is prominently marked the over them hover angels stable and the » an hither and thither, Hike goss: jamner beings of another world, The mass was celebrated by Father Stone, assisted by Fathers Searle and I) MOR igh ne. eee q mon was preached by the Rev. August Who algo read: the Gospel which was from St, he Word was God.” John—‘“In the boaian wl ‘The reverend gent jan’s remarks went to show that Christ was no less God than man when He that the Church which He had established was @ suMicient proof to crush to atoms tie jallacies and sophistrtes of psilanthropists and atheists, When God gent His only begotten Son among men He gave to them THE PANACEA FOR THER AILMENTS. God might have cleansed the world trom allits sing without sending His Son smong us in the shape of man, or when He had done so He could have cleansed us without ees wy spill His precious blood. But no! He wi to give us an ex- ample of humility in suifering, teers ey haters and obedience to God's will, which migh' be heid up for emulation to generations until the end of his example we have in the birth, life and death oi Christ, who, om cold, dreary night, just 1,872 years ae came into this world of sorrow and suffering redeem fallen, obduriate man from his errors, and open to him the gates of the Eternal City, where you are invited to join Him tor an etermty of time. Then take Christ for your mode}, and His humility in becom- ing man will not have been without its effect. May jou all tive to celebrate the Redcemer’s birthday or many years to come, and at the end emerge to & better world where Christmas is eternal. TRINITY OHUROH. Apprepriate Becorations—Musie and Prayer Upom the Day of the Christian World. Long before the usual hour of assemblage for Purposes of worship Trinity church was crowded with ladies and gentlemen eager to witness the imposing ceremonies with which the day is here crowned. The naves and chancel were richly dec- orated with evergreens, and through the stained glass in the western end, behind the altar, the light stole in slender shafts of myriad colors upon the fottage, giving it the appearance of bein, clusterea © with berries and irnit and an landed with flowers. Bands of choristers in white surplices were ranged on each side of the communion table, and in the distance appeared the deacons, the sub-deacons and the chapel master, The organ to the leftand immediately behind the reader’s desk was responded to by the tt one at the east end of the edifice, where the estia was also placed. Programmes, richly printed IN GOLD AND COLORS, were distributed in the seats, and by the time the first piece, the “Processional,’? was finished, there Was not @ vacant place for standing in either aisle nor in the open space at the vestibule, Aiter the Happy Morn,} hymn 43"Comer au te Fatchtul,? orn, “Come, fe Fatt the Pk yrie”™ and the “Nicene Creed”? (second mass) were given. The other music rendered was an offertory “Benedictus,” Sanctus (second mass) “Agnus Dei’’ (second mass) and “Gloria in Excelsis”’ (second mass). “HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING,"! though not the most profoundly devotional piece of music performed, was resonant with an admir- able sentiment, and poetical tothe last degree. So deeply touching was it that many of the wor- shippers’ eyes were suffused with teara, THE SERMON, “Christ was born,” said the rector, “for the good ofall alike. Not forProtestants, not for Catholics, but for all men, God hath created all men of one Diood. All arth shall rejoice in Him, and upon this Christmas day, most strongly are they exhort- ed to forget or heal old bitternesses and tounite in the bi est and Geapent brotherly love. Today, ful- fil the command of the Saviour to all mankind, “In your rejoicing love one another.” This annual commemoration of the greatest event in the his- tory of humanity is fullof the most sublime and beautiful of sentiments. Should we not on thit our Saviour’s birthday, make our peace with all men, and give our souls to God? Let ns here to- day renew our promises we have all made in times gone by, to give our hearts to the Lord. God bless you all, brethren, God keep you all forever, and slory be to the Highest now and forevermore, After the conciusion of the services members of the en went forward and partook of the com- munion, 8T. PATRICK'S OATHEDRAL Christmas Decorations and Ceremonies— A Pontifical High Mass—Brilliant Ren- ditions by the Choir ad Organist— rmon by the Rev. Father Ronay: S. J.—Reflections on the Nativity of the Saviour. Whatever there is in religion truly indicative of Teal praise, gratitude, sacrifice and love was cer- tainly visible yesterday at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of this city. Everything within the stately and hallowed tempie presented a uniform neatness of aspect and glittered, as it were, in the sunshine and gladness of the important event ‘which was being commemorated beneath its roof, Though a crowded congregation was in attend- ance all seemed comfortavly situated, and evi- dently disposed to spend the pious Christmas hour @s profitably as possible, The sanctuary, high altars and side altars were richly and profusely decorated with all kinds of floral offerings, natural and artificial, and evergreens of every description. In the sanctuary Were present the Most Rev. Archbishop McCloskey, officiating as celebrant of THE GRAND PONTIFICAL HIGH MASS; the Very Rev. Dr. Starrs, assistant priest. Deacons ‘Of honor—The Rev. Fathers McNamee and Kane. Masters of ceremonies—Rev. Fathers Farrelly and Kearney. THE SACRED MUSIC of the mass was by Mandanici. Mr. Gustavus Schmitz presided at the organ in a manner worthy of praise, remembrance and imitation. The choir, which consisted of @ full chorus of thirty-five Mg was presided ove Henry Schmitz, with much rit and viaenoes of sumicient experience ai the ti mass was silen' y the Archbishop, the beaut "Kyrie" aled forth from the choir and organ with tones full of sweetness which told most effectively upon every eat. “Gloria in Exceisis Deo" followed, and as shenenerring hymn of ‘was most elegant: rendered. At the Grabeel a Ureh’s, basso, ang the “Adeste Fidelis,” the “Venite Adoremus” o| which was given in fall-chorus by the choir, and as the appropriate Christmas hy! may be said to bave one Of the most appei renditions of the selection. Before the sermon “Veni Crea- tor," a solo quartet, i 4 , Schmitz, was pathet- ically rendered. At ie Offertory was by Chome one of the swectest and most en- eas. hymns of the Church’s liturgy, the “Quam mang by Merca a, & 80) 10 Bolo by Abt sung by Mea Unger, truly ited: dy, su inger, a ly G concluded the Gettmable and brilliant Sitorts of St. | Patrick's choir bwla A Before the “Credo,” which, it ts well to state, was noticeably ve in its m: jcent ren- dering, and es 80 on visitors of other re. Higious denominat who were in attendance, the Rev. Father Ronayne, 8.J., of St. Francis Xavier's College, ascended the pulpit to preach THE SERMON, ‘which was culled from the nativity of Christ, the gteat event in . The reverend pant mead his text frem the Gospel of the day, e xi. ‘The advent of Christ, the piencher sald, was an event which was expected for four thousand years before the birth of the Saviour. As that eventiul moment roached mearer and nearer when the ‘words of the prophets were to be fulfilled there was JOY IN THE HEARTS OF ALL in expectation of some wonderful king who should come upon earth clothed in majesty and power, But Bethiehem robed, not in the splendor and ificence of royalty and beauty, but wrap, cd in lowimess and wre' ness, presenicd (9 the three Magi quite a contrary scene to (hat picture! in the imaginations of the multitucc. Some there ‘were who relused to believe that Jesus, the son of Joesph and Mary of Nazareth, was not the Messiah | on this account, But who were they that they should attempt to criticise the grave and uniathom able attributes of the God-man, or question the wi!) of His eternal Father? CHRIST'S OBJKOT IN COMING ON BART was the redemption of mankiud, Man, of himself, was unable to caycel sin, by which divine jugugy | at of tures was Softies Taejon cs tranagression so save Hence it hat eu Chest aamamned a “the His Fathe: a r by suifering and dying upon a CHRIST Ww: ‘48 CONCEIVED cr ever blessed V! and He is. by whom ah were made, $e secon reon of the adorable its tated aaa msn; Ww! in the divine and Numan ne. Pulgndtutencutinand isa’ oate” Selene: Speaking in his first chapter and r GOING INTO THE REALMS OF ETERNITY in his inspired thoughts, that Jesus Christ is od. St. Matthew, in the i chapter of his Gos- tells us also that Mary is the mother of Jesus ; mol 1 revealed truth that Mary is the ir thus proving the divine rnity of the eased Virgin the eeanee drew avivia ture of 80c! evious to the irs of-Christ and during His reign. anes | and vice of the basest B22 3 , and truth ‘was nowhere respected. Christ came to overturn pee oy EOF On! NITY: ‘upon © their” ruins. 8 etructurs This structure waa Do other than His Church, into which He breathed by his divine power the spirit of faith, hope and charity, and which. He ito preserve until to-di and ba to wateh over forever, Her foundation t and, faithful to. that divine. commission wi ent to her, in her every struggle never been known to yield. the conclusion of tne mass celebration, which was inevery part carried out rc the iit of the Church, ond performed in that be- imble manner which seems uliar even. the consecrated preiate who of the’ Most Reverend Archbishop gave the Benediotap, to the large congregation on At half-past three o’clock P. M. solemn vespers Were sung in & beautiful and touching manner, bone iace of the morning being punctually in at: endance, 8T, STEPHEN'S OHUROH, The Decorations—Splendid Music—Ser- mons by the Rev. Dr. McGlynan— Crowds of Christmas Worshippers. Christmas was celebrated at St. Stephen's church, in Twenty-eighth street, with great splen- dor. From early morning until evening the ser- vices were continued. The church itself was splendidly decorated. On former festival ogca- sions the services had been conducted with great pomp and ceremony; yesterday there seemed to be @ festival air about the church, the result of a combination of influences, The magnificent altars were decorated with great taste, and though there ‘Was a profusion.of flowers everywhere visible yet everything so fitted its place, and the ornamental additions were in themselves so beautiful, thatthe Scene was exquisitely rich and harmonious. There was no crowding of candelabrums on the altars, and yet there was a full illumination of the sanctuary, tinted by the mellowed light that came through the stained glass windows. Evergreens, firs and bouquets were scattered here and there; bouquets of fowers filled niches near the altars; the white marble pilasters and the higher parte of the altars were graceiully entwined with green leaves and ro es, Bromide’s beautiful painting of the Mother of Jesus, over the Virgin's altar, was handsomely framed with green leaves; the picture over St, Joseph's ultar was in the same setting, and the picture of the Saviour, which is hung on the epistle side of the sanctuary, had its gorgeous frame concealed with flowers, The fronts of the Ree in the transepts were festooned with laurel and fir, the panels being ornaménted with crosses and other emblems, Around the fronts of the principal galleries festoons of green leaves were hung, and from cap to cap of ae ® graceful series of looped strings of hem« and laurel ex- tended around. But all this bright and pleasant picture was in contrast with the humble little crib which stood near the Virgin's altar, its roof thatched with straw. ‘The music at the solemn high mass was especti rand, The most irreligious of men could scarce! ave heard Mozart’s splendid “ Twelfth as it was rendered at this church yester and not have felt some longings for the celestial ‘monies which are believed to be the never-e! delight ol the blest. Danforth, the org: erves RO sinall praise for the manner in which he presented this mass, even though he had the aid of # full orchestra and some thirty additional singers, ‘There were parts of the mass which were ips} from the mingle’ religious emotions of tle hour, the conceptions 0: the composer and the truthiul and artistic rendering of the music by the singers. it is unnecessary to speak of the many brilliancies of the composition, for the mass has long been ad- judged an almost unapproachabie effort. Besides the mass, however, afew pieces were sung, the great old hymn, the ‘‘Adeste Fideles,”’ which was given with- out the change ofa note, in that familar air that was , all the world over, in the imagined presence of Infant in the crib. Daniorth’s ar- rangement for the hymn was, in point of taste and appreciation o the sentiment, worthy of the occa- ston. In the afternoon Mercadante’s “Vespers” were sung. At the vespers the church presented a most imposing appearance. At any hour the sanctuary of this church strikes the eye as massive, rich and costly; but when the churci is lit up by gas and the numberless candies on the altars the effect is still greater, and there is @ something of awe created in the mind of the visitor, as his soul by the continued fow ot joyful or pathetic music, by the various religious cymbais, and, above all, by the solemnity of the service end the evi- dently deep devotion of the numberiess crowds that fill the church in every part. The Christmas hymn, the “Adeste Fideles,” was again sung at the vespers with even better effect than at the i mass. The singers were Miss Howson and Mrs, bay sopranos; Miss Munter, Miss ae and Miss Coney, contraltos; Mr. Bernbard and Mr. tenors; Mr. Colletti and Mr. Flick, to the regular choir of St. from her excellent signing yesterday and Seen as @ musician, she will at half-past four o'clock preacher is Jwaye beat wh a peak out freely ir y the sa ite Of his own mind yy Se best, who are the very poorest ofthe poor, At the solemn high mass, h beran at hall- ten o'clock, Dr. MoGlynn preached this Pirae de- livering @ beautiful exposition of the then explaining how “ aceon earth" was awa and concluding w: the o1phans, in atd of whi the musees were taken yesterday. 8T, FRANOIS XAVIER'S OHURCH. Haydn’s Jmperial Mass—Sermon by Rev. Father Daly, 8. J. This beautiful little church was crowded to suffocation at High Mass yesterday. The decora- tions of the altar and the body of the church were of the richest and most tasteful description. High Mass was celebrated by Rev. Father Hudon, Presi- dent of the College and Church of St. Francis Xavier, assisted by Rev. Fathers Cazeau and Cassidy. The mass was Haydn's No, 3 (imperial), which is as well known and as popular as the twelfth mass 0) Mozart. It was performed by the following ladies and gentlemen :—Misses Teresa and Mary Werneke, Signor! Tamaro and Bacelli, and a large and cient chorus and a well trained orchestra, supplied by Mr. F. Eben. Dr. William Ber, ontciated as organist and conductor and brought the mass through successfully. At the Qffortory, the brilliant arrangement of ‘‘Adeste Fideles,’” by a was given with rare effect. The orches- tra and organ played a march bofore the mass and the overture to niello” at the conclusion of = baachns =r bdo e gospel el joquen' festival, alluding to the generat expectation of the Messian ‘prevalent at ‘the. time, that the star of Bethiehem appeared, the ngs of the angels and the shepherds, the lessons to he deriv — the ee of the ceeds Lanes eemer and the great boon 7 kind by the sodeeaption, The Misses Werneke sang the solo, soprano and contralto parts of the mass with remar! expression power. In the evening Generali's “Vespers” were sung, wit! Karbleri’s beautiful “Tantum Ergo;” Lampbilotte ‘Onristn oratorio, “Pastores bari Mozart “ave Verum,’’ and Alma ‘“‘Redemptoris,” by Berge. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CHARITIES, The Howard Mission. Practical Christianity made itself manifest y2ater- day at the above Mission, in the New Bowery, The grand red-letter day cf the Christian year was cole- brated with @ gleesomeness that found its way to the hearts of about seven hundred children, ana the joys thereof were shared by a number of the woykers of the institution and witnessed by sug