The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-12-27
LOCAL MATTERS.

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| 1t smfling with all the greenery Of Spring.
The work Of decoration was a work of love,
but much labor as well qs taste had been ex.
pended upon it; and for the past week the old
men and matrons, the young men and maidens,
had been bringing the fir tree, the pine tree, and
the box together, to beauiify the Temple Of the
Lord-for which latter You will, Us Captain
Cutie says, overhaul your Isaiah.
Grace EhMrch was festOoned from end to end
with 8 double line Of cedar wreaths Hoops of
the same hung between the windows and
along the galleries. Over the altar hung q star
h st. JInes was dressed with great taste. A
IEheavy braid of green ran straight around the
lEgAlleries, intersected by the loops of two rows
OF cedar festoons. A cross of bright green
were neatly trimmed, and the font was a
pretty picture. DIR. Peterkin spoke from the
chancel from the text, THE people who sat in
opening anthem, the choir sang, I" Unto us a
child is born" and sang during the service a
| new 1s Devna.''
At st. Marys German Catholic) there were
three masses at the hours of five, half past
seven and half-Fast ten Father Meyer, the
sole pastor, in consequence of his ardu0us
duties, did not deliver any discourse. The
altar was beautifully dressed with green and
flowers, and lighted with great brilliancy and
beauty. Vespers were chanted in the after
noon, and the benediction of the blessed sa-
crament performed.
At the German Lutherun CH,vch-St. John's-
the services were held by DIR. Schwarz, Of
Baltimore. The sermon was upon the nativity.
At st. Peter'S Cathedral services were COM
menced by n mass at five o'clock, which was
followed by others, continuously, until half
past ten O'Clock, when the Right Rev. John
McGin celebrated the POntifical Sacrifice. the
Rev. DIR. Becker acting as deacon, and Rev:P
j. Okief as Sub-deacOn. The church was
neatly dressed. The galleries and pillars were
festOOned and hung with wreathes. The altar
was arrayed with beautiful flowers, and bril-
liantly lighted. On an evergreen arch in the
We N rOldnn
ters, "Glorta in Esceicis, DeO." Mercandante' S
beautiful and brilliant mass, in B fiat, was
sung with great spirit by the choir. The
Adeste Fideles was sung as an Of1ertorium-
Professor DE Cnniel presiding at the organ.
DR.. Becker delivered an able discourse from
the gospel of the day, :" In the beginning was
the word, and the word was with God, and the
word was God" The dirinity of Christ was
demonstrated by tradition, oral and written,
and by the prophecies Of the Old Testament
His humanity was manifested by the teachings
and the whole economy of the redemption
Thus it was necessary that He should be both
God and man, in two distinct natures and one
divine person, In order to unite fallen human
nature to God in order to perform the func-
ton of mediatOr-the Great High Priest or the
Catholic Priest of the Eternal Father. He
gives us an example of humility, obedience
and modification. Inasfar as we copy this
divine model we are His children. His Church
offers the means through the ordinary channels
of grace-the Sacraments.
d. IuuG y WIS uuHR WITH 1cSlOOnS ana nOODS
OF green. There was a beautiful entangle
ment of green curves across the chancel pill
lars. A large white cross, covered with box
and holly-but not SO closely as to entirely
conceal the white-stOod beside the altar. The
font was dressed with braid of green and
flowers. The lectern and pulpit We're dressed
with much taste.
DR.. Minnigerode spoke from the chancel on
the theme OF Gods love in the redemption OF
mankind. This is the central truth of Reve-
lation, and the appearance of Christ in this
world as the Redeemer is the central fact in
the history of man. All that period of time
before Christ was but a grand evangelical pre-
paration. for his coming all that era since the
history of the spread Of Christianity, work
to 60 on until the kingdoms of this world are
become the kingdoms of the Lord. He pur-
sued this analogy in calling the advent of
Christmas the central fact of each mans Afe,
and closed by repeating the following beauti-
ful hymn of Ray Palmer:
Take me, O, my Father, take me-
That which Thou woudst have me, make Inc;
Take me- save me, through Thy son
Let Thy will In me be done!
Long from Thee my footsteps straying,
Thorny proved the way Itrod-
Weary come now, and praying,
Take me- to Thy love, my God!
Fruitless years with grief recalling,
Humbly confess my sin
At Thy feet, ., Father. falling,
Take me to Thy household in.
This relentng heart of mine;
Freely life and soul offer
Gift unworthy love like Thine.
Once the worlds Redeemer dying,
Bore our sins upon the tree
On that Sacrifice relying,
Now look in hope to Thee.
Father, take me-all forgiving,
In Thy love forever living,
must be forever blest.
The choir sang, as an opening anthem, Ex-
ulting Angels" Warren's new TIE Deum was
also sung.
The Monumental was a tabernacle Of green.
From the centre Of the dome hung thick pen
dant of green, and from the bottom Of this
hung, radiating, eight massive garlands Of ce-
dar to the galleries The dome and galleries
We're hung with double rows of loops. DIR.
Woodbridge preached from the text, !" Unto
MS child is born unto us a son is given, and
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Coun-
sellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Fa-
ther, The Prince of Peace The discourse
held that Christmas ought to be kept as \ reli-
0fous festival, and not merely as a day Of mer
ry meetings. He then gave an account of the
extreme antiquity Of the celebration. tracing
II as Tar back rs the second century. The choir
sang, as an opening, "ThOu Child Divine"
A new Te Deum was also sung. The music
was fino.
At st. Patrfck's three masses were celebrated
at the hours Of five, seven and a half and ten
and half. The chancel was dressed with ever
green and flowers, and hung with Wreaths and
crosses Of green. The pastor, Father An
dreWs, delivered short discourse, adapted to
the occasion, giving the early history of the
Church, and the great blessings brought by it
into the world .-.e.. -
st. Johns was most beautifully dressed. The
old and venerated church was arrayed with a
taste that speaks highly for the ladies Of the
hill: The pillars, galleries and pulpit were
profusely hung with wreaths Of green, and
underneath the choir gallery were arranged
the words, Holiness becometh thine house, q
Lord, forever DIR. Norwood delivered a dis
course from the text, I" In this was manifested
the love OF God towards us, because that God
sent his only beg0tten SON into the world, that
we might live through him." The sermon was
an able one.
CARIsrMAs At ST.. JosgPH's ORPHAN AsYIUx.
We called yesterday upon the good Sisters
who have this noble institution In charge to
see their Christmas tree.
These good ladies. whose presence In our
hospitals during the war saved the lives Of 80
many OF our heroes, have under their care
nifty -four orphans, and happier children did
not Yesterday sing lays of praise to the In
FAINT Saviour: Though they have not the
fostering hand OF . father TO care for them,
nor the soothing tones of mothers voice to