The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-12-27
have mercy on him, and to our God,
for He will abundantly pardon him. +"

have mercy on him, and to our God,
for He will abundantly pardon him. "
TRINITY METHODIST CHURCH.
In addition to the festival of the
Sabbath School on Christmas Eve,
already noticed in the JOURNAL, the
Church was opened on Christmas
Day in the forenoon, and a sermon
was preached by the Rev. G. n. Sims.
The attendance was not as large as
might have been expected on such an
anniversary occasion. The text was
from Matthew / :23s The subject Christ,
our InsBadaluel, was an interesting re-
view of the important incidents in
the life of Christ, as illustrative of
His character and the Importance of
His mission as the Saviour of men.
The speaker referred to the difficulty
which infidel and rationalistic writer's
had in reconciling the life and char
acter of Christ with their assumption
of His mere humanity; and in this
connection alluded to Remains Life of
Christ, and the late English work,
Ecce Homo. e'ii' ''
The sermon was entirely e:ctempore,
and as we made no notes at the time
of its delivery, regret that we must
allude to it so briefly. l@
CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION (CATHo-
his a LIC) .rt,
AS early as four o'clock on Christ
mas morning, the Irish Catholic
Church was filled till standing room
was scarcely left. The usual Christ
mas exercises were commenced by
singing beautiful hymn, after which
the priest and congregation proceeded
to celebrate the occasion with Mass.
The altar was beautifully and taste
fully decorated with flowers, and
paintings suggestive of the day being
commemorated. On the right of the
altar was to be seen figure represent
ing Christ in the manger, and immed-
lately above it hung a star, in repre-
scntation of the Star of Bethle
ham" The ceremonies were solemn,
imposing and interesting, and con-
Quoted with great reverence. a
Rev. Mr.. McDermot read chapter
from the Bible-the history of the
birth of Christ-after which. he de-
livered sermon on that subject, which
was listened to with great attention.
An event of such Importance to the
human family ought to be properly
concentrated. The birthday of the
Saviour of the world should never be
forgotten or disregarded by those who
profess Christianity. A great part of
the sermon was in exhortation to, the
congregation to prepare for the hour
in which all would be summoned to
stand before Christ aud the Father
in the day of judgment, and to a
more, faithful performance of all
duties devolving on Christians. He
recounted many of the sins and follies
of man, and urged that, to stand in
the favor of Christ, all sigs and all
stain should be removed; that those
who expected to reach the goal of
eternal bliss and happiness unalloyed.
must lead life blameless in the sight
of the Father. The discourse was de-
livered in feeling manner, quite for
chile and replete with arguments,
urging the congregation to piety and
Christianity. re.l ore rre.6l e.I:5
At the close of the sermon, Father
McDermot proceeded to take up col
lection for the benefit of the orphans,
to be applied for their use through
the Church at Vincennes. We are
not able to report the amount raised
for that purpose, but the contribution
was quite. liberal. = The priest then
proceeded with Mass, which conclud-
ed the exercises of the morning ~ -
TRINITY GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
There was Grand High Mass at four
O'Clock AM, celebrated by the pastor;
sermon by Rev. f. Viefhau assist
ant; also, services at eight and ten
o'clock Am, Attendance very full.
u Text from the Gospel of the day
And she brought forth her first-born
Clothes, and laid him IN a Manager, be-
cause there was no room for him in the
inn" 4. Luke. XII, 7.
Again, in the cycle O. years, does
this-dear to the heart of every Chris
tian-memorable Anniversary of the
Birth of our Saviour return; and, to-
day, we again commemorate the glori-
Gus event that transpired eighteen
Huuuiou anu slAt -SIA years aSo III
the Plains of Judea.
In what mysterious way, and yet to
mankind so seemingly ordinary, did
the birth Of Christ take place?
The Roman, Caesar Augustus-a
heathen-is by his edict of enrolment
the immediate cause of selecting the
birthplace of Christ. Augustus only
meant to enumerate his subjects, and
among them he numbered his God.
And yet how precisely were here full
filed the prophetic words of Mich
eas-Chapter 5, verse 2-and o what
a reception! He came among His
own, and His own received Him not. -
He, the Creator of Heaven and earth,
and all things therein, comes
amongst His creatures, and finds not
room for His helpless infant body
assumed for the salvation of mankind,