The Sun.
London, England, 1869-09-10 00:00:00

rCednesday, being marked in the Church of triglimi
calendar as " The Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed
Virgin Mary," there were special services in connec-
tion with the 12th anniversary of the Association for Pro-
moting the Union of Christendom ; in other words, for
bringing the Church of England into eirect communion
with the Greek and Roman Churches.
The services commenced on the eve of the festival with a
service in the church of All Saints, Lambeth, which was
so densely crowded from floor to ceiling that hundreds of
persons wh6 arrived at a quarter of an hour before the
time for which service was announced vainly strove to
gain admission. The altar eves profusely decorated
with flowers, and an immense nuMber of lighted candles
and gasliers gave it a very magnificent appearance.
As the clock struck eight a procession which hal been
formed in the Sacristy, and which was the largest laroces
sion ever yet seen in connection with Ritualistic displays,
moved round the church. First came Mr. Alderson
Turner, a solicitor, who was habited in a red cassock and
cotta, holding aloft a gigantic silver cross, and having on
each side of him a chorister similarly attired, carrying a
lighted candle. Then followed persons carrying other
crosses and banners, bearing various devices., Next came
more than a hundred surpliced choristers, men and boys,
singing with great energy the processional hymn
" Brightly gleams our banner." Then there came a
gentleman who censed with great vigour along the
whole line of route, from the Sacristy, up the side aisle,
of the church, and down the middle aisle to the altar.
Next were twenty or thirty men, dressed in brown
garmehts, with red collars, said to belong to "The Order
of St. Joseph ;" and then twenty or thirty other men, in
darker-coloured clothes, attended by one who was more
richly dressed, and who carried a pastoral crook. These
belonged to a religious order the name of which did not
transpire. Then came the priests, twelve or fourteen in
number, the deacons, the precentor, ands. other officers,
followed by the Rev. Dr. Lee, who was gorgeously vested,
attended by two choristers, bearing lighted candles, who
conducted him to his seat in a large chair at the side of
the altar. When the whole of the persons composing the
procession, consisting of nearly 200, took up their position in
the chancel, which they did without any fuss or irregularity;
Evening service, with some variations, was sung, the first
lesson being read by an aged member of the Order
of St. Joseph, whose utterance was not very clear, and
who was evidently unaccustomed to reading in public.
The Rev. Dr. F. G. Lee preached from the second verse
of the eighteenth chapter of Ezekiel—" The fathers have
eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on
edge." After the benediction, pronounced from the altar,
the procession moved back to the sacristy, singing the
recessional hymn, " We march to victory."
At St. Alban's, Holborn, this morning, there was a
solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist. The Rev. Dr.
Littledalo was the preacher, the Rev. 11. T. Ilowes the
celebrant, assisted by two other priests, all wearing
eucharistic vestments. Prior to the commencement of
the service the altar was censed, as was also the church
from cast to west, and then from west to cast. There was
a large attendance.