The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-25
2irhmond Iispatth.
25, 1866.
LOCAL MATTERS.

CHRISTMAS IL OUR CHuRCHEs-DECORA-
TIoys AND SERvIcEs.-Christmas, one Of
the greatest festivals on the calendars Of
the Catholic and Episcopal Churches, will
be celebrated by their members to-day
with allthe solemnity and grandeur appro-
pirate to the anniversary of the birth of
the Saviour. For several days past the
ladies of the different churches have been
busily engaged in weaving garlands and
wreaths for dressing the houses of God.
How beautiful the idea, and how express
sive are these emblcmS Of peace on this
day, when "suddenly there ,cqS ,oith the
on1e! a multitude ofHe heavenly lost, prais-
ing God and saying, Glory TO God on high,
aid on earth peace, good rM toudrd men,"
The lively evergrecns which decorate
the temples, iourishing in rich vcrdure
through the chilling blasts of winter, are
singularly emblematic of the imperishable
glory of that Saviour who was born unto
us this day. His majesty, His power, and
His love for us will remain forever fresh,
and will survive even the frosts of death.
We visited on yesterday our churches,
and busy were the scenes presented to us
there. The Transformation that had taken
place since Sunday seemed magical, and
wreaths and festoOns seemed to have
sprouted forth from the walls. We could
not form anything like just idea of the
decorations when completed, as they were
mostly only half finished at the time of our
visit, and we are therefore unable to give
to day anything like an adequate descrip-
tiOn Of them. The following is the order
of services for to-day:
CATHOLIC.
The Cdthedral.-Seryices at the Cathe-
dral will commence with high mass at 5
o'clock, to be followed at intervals Of a
half hour by q succession of low masses
until 10 o'clock, when Grand High Ponti-
fical Mass will be celebrated by the Right
Rev. Bishop Magill. The Rev. DR.. Becker
will preach. Professor DcCnnicPs "Grand
Mass Of Mary" will be sung by fine choir,
with orchestral accompaniment. After
mass, the Papal Bcnediction will be given
by the Bishop. In consequence of the re-
cent completion of the repairs to the church
the usual dressing had to be dispensed with.
The altar, however, has been very hand
somely fixed up, and the cathedral, with
its freshly irescoed walls, and newly paint
ed pewS and galleries, presents a very
handsome and much improved appearance.
st. Putrick'S.-At St. Patrick's there
will be a mass at ) o'clock, and another at
10, the Rev. Father J. A. Weed officiating.
The church, which is a very pretty one, has
been neatly decorated with evergrecns,
and the altar handsomely dressed with
flowers.
81. MnyS, (Gcrman.)-At st. Mary's
there will be a high mass at ) o'clock, the
Rev. Father Mayer officiating. Immedi-
atcly after the first mass, Father 1Sadore
will celebrate three low masses. At %
Father Mayer will again celebrate low
mass, and at 10 high mass, at which he
will deliver q sermon.
EPISCOPAL.
81. PdurS.-There will be the usual SER
vices at st. Paul's at II o'clock this morn
ing, the Rev. DR.. Minnigcrodc officiating.
The decorations at this church are hand
some and elaborate, and the ladies were
hard at work upon them at a late hour
last night.
Monumental.-Rcv. DR.. Woodbridge will
hold the usual services at the Monumental
at II o'clock. In point Of elegance of de-
coration it is hard to say whether the la
dies of st. Paul's or the Monumental bear
the palm. As regards taste, there is no
deciding, but as the Monumental, from the
nature of its construction affords better
field for its display, we think we may say
without inyidious distinction, from what
we saw of the half completed ornamental
tation, that the Monumental will be the
most elaboratcly dressed church in the
city to-day.
st. Jan,eS.-In this church, the Rev. DR..
Pcterkin will hold services at ii o'clock.
The dressing of St. James was being con-
Quoted yesterday very vigorously, and
much taste had been displayed when we
paid our visit.
Grace (Hurch-Thc Rev. DR.. Baker will
hold services in Grace church at ii o'clock.
We could not gain good idea Of the ex-
tent Of the dressing of the church, as the
ladies had not hung any Of their wreaths
or fcstoons when we called upon them.
st. JOhn'S.-The usual services will be
held at St. Johns at II o'clock, the Rev.
DR.. Norwood officiating. The ladies OF st.
Johns, owing to misfortune in not being
able to procure enough cedar, could not
dress their church as completely as last
year, but they have managed remarkably
well, and displayed great taste in what
they have done.
st. NWk'S.-The Rev. Mr.. DaShel will
hold services at St. Marks at II o'clock.
We found him yesterday buSily en-
gagged with the ladies in ornamenting his
little chapel, and from the progress they
had made, they bid fair to vie with any OF
the others Tor neatneSS and taste Of decora-
tion.
METHODIST.
There will be the usual services in all
the principal Methodist churches at ii
o'clock, their respective pastors officiating
DEATH OF SAMUEL L. HAwES.-We
deeply regret to announce the death on
Yesterday of Mr.. Samuel p. Hawes, an old
and highly esteemed citizen. He went to