The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-12-30 00:00:00

CHRISTMAS DAY AT ST. ALBAN'S.
HOLBORN.

The services at St. Alban's, Holborn, were, as usual,
very tharacteristic of the day, and were well attended,
the congregation of the principal one, at eleveii o'clock,
being very large (says the Daily News). There were
four early celebsations of the Holy Communion,
namely, at six, seven, eight, and nine o'clock. Morn-
ing prayer came at a quarter past ten, and immediately
after the main service of the day, full celebration and
a sermon. The Christmas decorations were tasteful
rather than profuse, while the music was ample and
effective. At the opening was sung, "Behold, I bring
you good tidings." This was followed in due time by
the solo, "The people that walked in darkness have seen
a great light," merging in the chorus, "For unto tie a,
child is born," the lovely strains of which were beauti-
fully rendered by the choir. During the celebration was
sung the Adeste Fideles, "0 come all ye faithful,"
oue of the boys of the choir singing the opening verse,
the choir and the whole congregation taking part in the
remainder of the hymn. Gounod's "Nazareth '' was
also included. The sermon was preached by the Rev.
E. F. Russell, from the lit chapter of St. Luke's
Gospel, verses 78, 79, and 80. The preacher dwelt
especially on the words in the text, "The dayspring
from on high hath visited us." Having spoken of the
Gentile darkness prior to the coming of Christ, and
some of the dreams of the future connected with
it, he alluded to the expectations of the Jews of old In
reference to the promised Messiah, and their idea tbat
the kingdom to be established would be one in which
all evil wonid be abolished and nature itself be trans-
formed. Christmas night, he went on to say, was the
climax tf great expectations and the birth of a great
surprise. The long-looked-for and long-hoped-for,
the Sing in his splendour, was come and the
little human child in its mother's bosom was far
more stately and royal than the highest expecte-
tiose. When the night was gone the light which roee
at Bethlehem streamed from earth to heaven and
from heaven to earth, and revealed the infinite love
of God for His children Christmas was to them all a
glad surprise, because it disclosed G,id to them in the
depths of His immense charity, while it also revealed
man to himself and showed that he was indeed the
image of God and had within him the germs of infinite
holiness. The vision of Christmas was not like the
vision of the shepherds at Bethlehem, which was
succeeded by the darkness of night. Christ
came for something more than that; he came
to "give light to them that sat in daeknese,'
and to "guide their feet into the way of
peace." In concluding the rev, gentleman earnestly
enforced the duty of active Christian benevolence
towards those who, owing to their position in
life, can know but little of the joy of Christmas fes-
tivities, and expressed a hope that Chrkstmas would
make those present batter men and wofeen, and give
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peaial Mass. The benediction was followed by the
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Christmm carol, " Cradled all lowly," sung to
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Gounod's music.