The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-01-07
First Evening Service In Trinity Church


CELEBRATION or THE FEAST or THE ErrPHANY.
An important interesting and al the time I'M.
woned service, was celebrated at Trinity Church IN
broadway last evening, In the presence Of al great
fhrong the capacous walls Of the sacred temple could
contain For the first time since It's erection the gates Of
"Od Trinity made to Gift up their heads that the
thousands who worship there from day 10 day, with
many devou strangers pleased TO join their ranks Of
fellowship might enter into the courts Of the house of the
Lord to sing praises and prayers beneath the pale light Of
the stars The fact worthy Of note that the service Of
last evening the first of the kind ever held In that
venerable chnrch though its portals have been
closed for the daily services Of the church, the assembage
of the faithful within its sanctincd precincts In the
hours OF night has been, until now, circum-
stance altogether unknown But the interest which has
been exhibited by the public for the religious under
taking most concusvey leads 10 the expectation that if
these nightly services continued they will not be
among the most unimportan Of those movements which,
OF late have been made in the poemical world for the
reclamation OF backsders and the conversion of the pro-
hgate and ungodIy knowledge Of the truth On the
contrary the enthusiasm manifested by the immense con
gegaton that clustered about the gates and blocked the
entrance to Trinity church last evenngn defiance Of the
unpoptous state Of the weather and the anything but
cheerful condition Of the but convince the
authorities of that church that series Of similar services
conducted with all the s0emnity and inspiring effect
Of that Of last night result undyng good those
who Seem 70 be hrstng for the waters of the fountain Of
1t is not purpose to enter into learned dsquisiton
on the early observances of the Feast celebrated yeser
day by the churches OF this city, to parade the Greek
and Latin dcrvations Of the word Epiphany" This is
task which be accomplished by any who is COO
enough to appropriate unto himself half c0umn SO of
other mems ucubrations. Those who desire to be in.
formed the technical and classical connections Of the
word with statement Of the manner in which the feast
was observed the days Of yore at their leisure
up to any commentary the Bible theological dicton-
airy extan All that is necessary to be stated for the in
formation Of those who do not give due attention to these
matters Is that the sixth day OF January has been
apart by the church from time mmemorial as day on
which there should be celebrated feast of obligation
memory and honor of Chrts manifestation to the Gen
tiles By an extraordinary which conducted the Mag
from the East to adore him in the manger, where they
presented unto him divers precious gifts set forth by
the sacred historians The simple meaning OF the word
Epiphany, is the Christian feast
named is called the Manifestation of the Saviour. 1t
also known as Twelfth Day. because celebrated by the
nations OF Christendom the twelfth day after the birth
OF Christ. The same day ia also apart for the
memoraton Of our Saviour IS baptism and the first mira
Gle performed at Cana Of Gaee OF turning water into
wine.
The doors of Trinity church were opened halfpast
SIX O'clock and by the hour announced for the
hen OF the service every available place that could in
any way be occupied was fully appropriated. The deco.
raons OF the church were in every respect the same
they on New Years day, when fully described
them in the HERALD and there little to add that the
buildngnasmuch as has hitherto been used for
nigh, services therefore has no gas convenences-
was brilliantly illumined by myriads of lights which
shone forth with steady iusre from every part The
chance aud the altar place were flooded with light, but
scury-a design which, it seemed to us, we'll pur
posed and executed-so that the brightness Of solitary
lamp hung far up above the organ might shed its
into the darkness below 10 type OF the star in the East
which went before the wise men. This about the
most noticeable part Of the arrangements of the
evening.
The chimes began very sweey to ring their beauti
full tones after O'Clock and the soft of
the evening hymn the sciian Mariners hymn and the
Old Hundredth came with grateful sound to the Of
the congregatcd thousands.
voluntary afterwards played on the organ, and
1bp cloYCy CT Inv
vestry to the Communion. The Right Reverend Bishop
Potter last and TO the episcopal chair at
the north end of the Communion.
The Rev. DR. Haight then began the ordinary form of
Evening Prayer according to the Liturgy OF the Church
of England. The selections from the Psalms of David
well sung by the choir, followed by "Captate Do
miner and sJaudste Domnum."
The first lesson was very impressvey read by the
Rev. Dr. Price, and selected from the Book Of Isaiah,
49th chapter.
The second LESSON was read by Dr. Turner. 1t embraced
the first part Of the second chapter Of the Gospel accord
ing to john which relates the circumstances touching
the miracle performed at Cana OF Galilee.
The choir then chanted sGod be mercful unto and
bless and lift up the light Of bis CounenQnce and be
mercifu unto u.s.
The sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Higbee. His
text taken from the forty ninth chapter Of the book
of the prophet Isaiah, thirteenth verse:-'Sng, o
sing We mountains for the Lord hath comforted his
people--the Lord hath mercy his affected The dis.
was explanatory of the manifestation Of Christ
the Genties and contained passages of great bril-
ancy and power. 1t was received with marked attention.
and no doubt produced the desired effect
collection then taken up in aid OF the mission to
Africa, and for the PRONUNCIATION OF the light Of the
Epiphany TO the farthest of that remote region
Another hym then sung, and thus terminated the
first evening service celebrated in Old Trinity.