Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-26
Christmas.

orthodox manner, and passed off very pleas
antly. All places of business were closed, and
the streets were thrOnged till late al hlgnt with
pleasure seekers. There were no 1lslur Dances
10 mar the general happiness OF the DAY. At
night the various places OF amusement were
crowded., Notwithstanding the lnclemency OF
the weather. and gaiety prevailed throughout
the CITY until the small hours OF morning.
Religious exercises were held at many of the
churches and were well attended, some of the
places OF worship not being OF sufficient capa-
CITY to ACCOMMODATE the crowd.
st Mathews Church. Catholic, in cOnse-
guencs of the painting and other improvements
- progress, was not decorated, services being
y held IN the basement.
At st. Dominic's Church, Island. there were
twelve masses performed during the day to
immense thrOngs. At the early o'clock mass
the choir sang Haydn's seventh mass in su-
perb style The choir was led by Mrs. Brown,
with MI j. Esputa Organist, Miss Mattingly
soprano, J H Mattingly tenor, w. III. Barker
and Dir. Smith bassCs, Mr.. Jardella tenor, and
Mrs. Renshaw alto. THE shepherds abide in
the Field" was sung with beautiful effect.
Mass was read by Very Rev. Father Young,
and an excellent sermon was delivered by
fsJheL nelly, the ~" pastor OF o. DoHlIhlcs
St. PatrlCk's Church Catholic, was also
without decorations. The musical exercises
were excellent, and consisted of AT the o'clock
Mass of MOZart's No. 3 Mass, Mr.. Caulfield
presiding at the organ and Mrs. L. J. Shea
being the leading voice. This Mass was cele-
brated by Rev. Father McCarty. At the IL
O'Clock service, Mass was celebrated by the
Rev. ]. A. Walter, who also preached a p-ac-
teal discourse on the birth OF Christ. Haydns
Mass in ID, No 3, was sung under the direc-
ton OF Prof CT. W. Walter of Baltimore, or
ganist and leader by invitation by Prof. John
Caulfeld. the regular organist and leader.
The prominent soprano, alto, tenor and bass
parts of the Mass were we'll executed by Mrs.
shea, Miss SOran, and Messrs. Cephus and
Shea The solo "Gratias," was beautifully
sung by Mrs. Shea, and the organ aecompani-
ment artIsuCally rendered.
AT 81 AlOysIus, grand High Mass was cele-
brated at five o'clock. As early as four o'clock,
large numbers of persons could be seen wend-
no yC9V OyCa q MAJ of
them carrying lanterns to light their way, and
i street AT one time locked as if a tOrchlight
procession was IN progress. At this mass Rev.
Father Stonestreet was the celebrant, Rev.
Father ROccOtord, deacon, Rev. Father Nc
Dewitt, sub-deacon, and Rev. Father LOgue
master of ceremonies. The choir, under the
lead OF Mrs Kretchmar. mir. Harry Shuer-
man at the OTgan,) rendered one of Hayden's
Masses, and Mrs Kretchmar, in her usual ex-
vEere keeping their watch The mass was
followed by a sermon on the nativity by Rev.
&. II. StCnestreet, of Georgetown College. The
affairs We're pTOfusely decorated by the ladies
Of the Sanctuary Society, and il was really a
beautiful sight, being illuminated by myriad
Of lights. At the early mass, as many persons
rs the building could accommodate We're I'M
0ble 10 get admission, and a large number re-
NAMED and attended the masses which fol-
lowed. nine in number, the last one at II
O'Clock, being a grand High Mass, a. which
Rev. Father ROCcOfOTd, assisted by Fathers
StOnestreet and OCallahan, after which Rev.
FSther HItZelbergeT preached very beautiful
discourse on the nativity of the Redeemer,
which was listened 10 attentIvely by the large
congregation, among which were quite num-
Der Of PrOtes tants. The choir, as is always the
case here, was OF a high order, and the music
was superb, besides the organ accompaniment
full orchestra being present. During the
services over loo persons partOok of the
Holy Communion, larger number than ever
befOre IN single day in any church in the
District
At ~. Mary's CGerman) church, on 5th street,
near II, high mass was celebrated at ) o'clock,
BY the pastor of the church, Row Matthias
a han ThE HFIWTwF NtaH
municants. Zimmer's Mass was sung by the
choir, lead by Mr.w- Neff. At 10 O'Clock high
mass was again celebrated, when Farmers
Mass was admirably rendered by the choir,
and very appropriate discourse was delivered
by the pastor. The usual vesper services took
place IN the afternoon. The choir consists of
but nine voices -four soprano, one alto, and
two each tenor and bass) but il Is one Of the
best drilled IN the city, and Is ably backed by
Mr.. HartbreCht at the organ. The high altar
was magnifcently set off with ornaments,
fOwerS, sc, as well as smaller affairs either
side OF the high altar. erected in honor of ST.
Joseph and -. Mary
At the Few Church Of the Immaculate Con-
CepuOn, Solemn High Mass was celebrated at
an early hour by the Rev. ]. A. Walter, of St.
Patrick :, ito which this church Is attached as
missIOn,) and was attended by an immense
cOncOurse Of persons, large number being
obliged 10 stand during the service. The choir,
which has been organized but n few months,
conducted by Prof .IeOr EGW. Walter, of Bal
<SmOrr. who also acts Organist, rendered in
en- excellent manner MOZarts Twelfth Mass,
the leading soprano and bass being Mrs. and
Dir. Shea Father Walter delivered a short
but exceedingly appropriate discourse on the
birth Of the Saviour.
ST Peters Church, on Capitol Hill, Rev. F.
y. Boyle, pastor, was densely crowded at day.
break by the COMMITMENTS, when mass was
celebrated, the choir. lead by Mrs. Anna King
who also presldes at the organ, rendering Hay-
denis No Mass. In the forenoon, Hayden's
sixth Mass was sung, and the sermon of the
day, which, by the way, was excellent one
was preached by the pastor. The usual yes-
per services took place in the afternoon. This
sI-aI, which was profuseiy adorned, and wore
really magnificent appearance, over hun
dred lights illuminating H.
"a ~, yiie TT2In ana II streets, the solemn mid
night Mass was celebrated AT II o'clock on
sunday night by Rev Father Ii. +. Wigett, at
which none We're present except the celebrant
Solemn high Mass was celebrated at the St
EinceIt's Orphan Asylum during the morn
ing. af which all the orphans Were present.
A delegation OF the Sunday school of St.
AIOysius waited on Rev. Father Wigett and
Z resen ed him in behalf OF the school with
beautIful dressing case during the day.
This evening the Christmas tree for the
schools Of ST. AlOysIus, containing presents
for the seven hundred scholars Will be lighted
up IT, the hall on First street west, between
i and h north, and on Thursday evening the
Christmas play Will be given in the same.
The Church Of the Epiphany, Episcopal, was
beautifully decorated. The upper portion of
the auditorium was Ornamented with festOons
Of evergreen, as was also the space above the
adorned with crosses and on the face OF the
altar appeared a chaste monogram Of Christ.
Y pon the walls suspended six large shields,
each with silver stars upon ground of blue.
representinga constellation, and over the WHOLE
upon each, in large and graceful letters in red
appropriate scHptuTal sentiments. The con-
stellatIons thus represented were Orion, PleI-
AIDES, Corona, Arcturus, the Southern Cross,
and SeTpenturus; and the scriptural words
upon them seyerally were as follows :-"The
Everlasting Father ssThe Prince Of Peace"
t he Mighty Cod Wonderful Counsellor"
&-ilOry 70 God on High" sand on Earth,
Peace" and along The galleries, over the tran
scepts, on one ~, Is traced the sentence:
Unto US son 6prn," asd on the opposite
side, ssUnto us child u given" The music
Us the composition Of Mr.. j. r. FairIamb. the
Organist and musical director of the church
and were as follows: !. Organ, voluntary. 2.
christmas anthem "And there were Shop
nerds, &c" 3 Nenite in ID. l. TIE Deum, in
d. 5. Jubilate-chant- 6. Hark! the Herald
Angels sing T. Responses
Ascension Church, Episcopal, was also hand
sOnnely trimmed with eveTgreens. Bouquets,
and wreaths OF flowers were placed on the
altar, small cedar and FIR trees stood in the an