Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-29

| the day. In fact, the veritable festival itsell
| was not so much honored as its harbinger.
The bearing in of the huge 'yule log" to the
Castle court inaugurated the day, and. as its
blazing sparks caused ruddy glow to flash
| on the faces of all, the festive board was
spread, and ali attacked the "brawn," the
boar's head, decked with bay and rosemary,
and the roasted OK, with appetites sharpenc,l
by the frosty air. Them
THE wassail round, in good brown bowls.
| Garnished with ribbons blithey trolls"
and, drinking of the joy-inspiring liquid, all
| BECAME inspirited and the merry laugh and
| jocund jest resounded through the hall.
Then came the merry maskers in.
And carols rolled with blithesome din;
II unmelOdiOus was their song.
IL was a hearty note and strong.
Who lists may in their mumming see
Traces OF ancient mystery.
MIDNIGHT SERVICES AND MASSES.
All over the Continent of Europe, and
more especially in Roman Catholic coun-
tries, the custom of ringing a merry peal
upon the church bells at midnight and SOL
emnizing mass prevails.
On Christmas Eve the bells were rung,
On Christmas Eve the mass was sung;
That only night in all the year
saw tue stOAou priest MS cnailCe rear
In Italy, France and Germany this chs
tom is never dispensed with, and the cere-
monies are usually of the most imposing
character. In ireland, too, almost all the
converts have a midnight mass on Christmas
eve, and the soft strains of the organ, and
sweet voices of the spotless devotees harmo-
nize together in a song of praise and thanks
giving to God. In England this custom,
strangely enough exists in one or two
places. Cronan Abbey, Lincolnshire, is one
of these. Formerly, when in the possession
of the monks, grant of land was made it
for the purpose of paying for the chanting Of
masses on Christmas eve. The abbey still
exists, but has passed into the hands of the
Episcopal Church, and the grant, too, has
not been rescinded. Each Christmas eve at
midnight the Cathedral choir on the battle
ments of the abbey chant a number of Ang- |
lican hymns, by which means the grant of |
land, now very valuable, is retained
So soon as the village chimes proclaim the |
hour of midnight the carol singers commence |
their peregrinations, and the gray eve Of |
Christmas morning still sees them at their |
labors. This last custom, and one of the time .
honored usages of antiquity, prevail tothis /
day all over England. From the first sleep |
OF night one is awakened by the sound of |
sweet strains of music and simple melodies
wishing one happy Christmas and recalling
the enly message promulgated so long
since, oT Peace ON earth, good will toward
men," The church bells, too, ring out
merry peal, proclaiming that the JOYOUS fes-
tiyal of Christendom has again returned. In
America these customs have fallen into dis
use, if, indeed, they ever existed Having
M ,,Th L l
cares not TO borrow those of other countric-
and losing nothing by this determinatio.
her children enjoy their Christmas as heart
lily as those of any nation. 1t is not unlikely
that were our hardworklng citizens disturbed
in their slumbers by the sound of Christmas
carols, however sweet, the performers would
receive other than blessing as the sleeper
walked up, and the "waits" would assuredlv
have to establish the correctness of their coz
nOmen ere they would receive any large.ses.
MIDNIGHT SERVICE AT st. ALBAN's
CHURCH.
A service of an imposing and withal pecu-
lar character was solemnizcd at midnight
It the Protestant Episcopal Church of st.
Adams, Forty-seventh street and Lexington
venue. In England, for some time past,
what is called Puseyism has been creeping |
IL |
lovation, and only one step removed
rom Roman Catholicism. Disturbances in
hurches into watch it has crep; are not
unusual. Instance those at St Georges in
he East where the greater portion Of the ,
congregation would not permit the service !
o proceed for several weeks in consequence
# the Puseyism introduced. This has kept
way from America for a long time, but now
) in existence, the church in Forty-seventh
treet being probably the precursor of many
thers of similar kind. A large congrega-
ion was present at the service referred to,
he handsome edifce being quite filed. The
hurch was tastefully ornamented with ever
reens and the channel decorated with |
overs. The altar cloth was of scarlet on
Dp, with a draping of white satin, on the !
-ont of which a representation of cross i
Ias prominent. On the altar itself there I
las in the centre a large gilt cross, and on :
lther side vase of flowers. Four tall way !
lndles were burning, two at each side while !
each extremity of the altar a candelabra, {
Ill of burning candles, was placed. A | d
umber of evergreens in flower-pots were |
laced at the sides of the chancel. Alto O
ether the appearance, though tasteful in the Y
rtreme, seemed strange as in n church I"
here all desire for display is ignored and g
npty forms as little attended to as possible u
So soon as the chimes told midnight a n
III strain of melody, from unseen singers c.
ole into the church, as if angels were re- Il
icing over the birth of Savior. This I,
for a short time, when the doors d
the vestry opened and number of young II
DIS, attired as acOlytes, entered before the 2,
tar. They we're preceded by an individual A.
'essed in a long robe of black serge. after ! q
e manner of the old monks. He wore no | 4,
liar, and the robe was gathered round the n
llst by black cord. The hands of the | II
olytlsh chOristers were clasped rs in y
aver. There were six Of them. After a.
ese came four surpliced gentlemen, who c,
sisted them in the rendering of the hymn n
ey chanted. Then came a small acOlyte IN
pporting large wooden cross, entwined a.
tn holly. After him came the three ~
iciating clergymen, which completed the o,
vel procession. This line proceeded 4,
und the church chanting hymns in Eng a.
h, the congregation the time standinv IN
d, after making a circuit Of the building. tri
turned to the altar, when the choristers
ed into seats on either side, while the
rec officiating clergymen walked up 10 l.;
e altar and made each a low obeisance. | Il
with his back TO the congrega- fir
n, the others doing the same, the priest, ",
he is termed in the Pusseyitish church, tic
the ordinary Episcopal service NJ
the communion. On coming TO the Fr
he turned his face toward th
} congregation, but his companions still Ia
NAMED as before. The service was full an
oral. All the members Of the congrega- att
n, instead OF, as in most churches, sitting thl
ring prayer, knelt down facing the altar, hu
, clergyman, or priest, in the same po- ba
on After the regular. service the Lords un
'peI, or Eucharist, was administered TO a ! ily
ge number Of communicates. All through ri
service it seemed as if the fervency Of 10,
clergymen, as wefi as the congregation. Ia,
; made subseryient TO form, by which il | bio
much Of its sincerity. The peculiarly IN,
formed service was concluded at one ed
ock this morning, when The members or for
congregation congratulated each otht du
the occurrence Of fanother Christmas. and h
he'd one another that it might prove 70 &.
a happy one. but
------ fd,
he lately published police report Of New III.
rk for the wear ShOwa that the arr...t. r Hot