The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-12-27

in the sacrifice He made Tor our salvation.
st. MrkS.-At St. Marks services were
held at IL o'clock, the Rev. I. G. Dashiel
officiating. The sermon was from st. Luke,
first chapter, eighteenth verse " The day
spring from on high hath visited u.s."
Allusion was made to the hymn of praise
| from which this text was taken, and part
of which Is incorporated into The morning
service of the Episcopal Church. The
points dwelt upon were the character and
offices of Christ as suggested by the word
day spring." or dawn. As the dawn
brings light and comfort, so does the ad-
vent of Christ bring spiritual light and
comfort to the world. The congregation
were exhorted-lst. To use this gift Of
Saviour as God designs we should. I'd.
To try in all things to initiate this heavenly
visitant, and especially to follow His exam
pie in striving to diffuse joy amongst
those whom He seemed to care for so
much. We should always remember the
poor, but especially at this time, when
| they felt their necessities most keenly, and
we enjoy our blessings most sensibly.
The church was beautifully decorated,
and a choir of ladies dispensed sweet
music, accompanied by a cabinet organ,
used for the first time.
CATHOLIC.
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. were COM
menced at the Cathedral with high mass
at 5 o'clock in the morning, celebrated by
the Rev. Father Thomas A. Becker, d. ID.
The church was crowded, and the scene
presented in its interior, frightened by o
number of brilliant lights, was beautiful
one. The first mass was followed by sue
cession of others until half-paSt 10 o'clock,
when grand high pontifical mass was cele-
brated by Bishop Magill, assisted by the
Rev. DR.. Becker, as deacon, and the Rev.
J. P. O'Kief as sub. deacon. "The Grand
Mass of Mary" beautiful composition by
| Professor DeCGnel, was sung with great
spirit by the choir. Kessnick's orchestra
accompanied them, the whole being
under the leadership of Professor De-
| Ceniel. The music of the mass was va
ried and brilliant, and was rendered with
splendid effect by the choir and orchestra.
! The sermon was preached by DR.. Becker,
who took his text from the lSt chapter OF
St. John, And the Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among u.s." We give below the
chief points of his discourse
Inc VI lilC - w h'upN WV
divinity of the Lord. The church, as in
the days of Arius, condemned in the Coun-
Gil of Nice, A. D. 325, still speaks one and
the same language, and declares Him, the
! Saviour of the world, consubstantial with
the Father. The proofs Of this teaching
are First, from the divine authority of
the church second, from the views OF
the Prophets, as interpreted by the voice
of antiquity, tradition; third, from the
teachings of the Apostles, EvangeISts,
and Disciples of Christ fourth, from
Christ's own teaching concerning His ma
ture, His Office as Prophet, Priest and
King.
The necessity, however, Of Dirine Faith
was inculcatcd in order to teach men to
captivate their intellects into the service
of God, and believe the great mystery OF
the Incarnation.
st. PatrickS.-At St. Patrick's, services
were held as announced by US yesterday.
81. Hary'S (German) The Germans
celebrated Christmas with great spirit,
both as a religious feast and time Tor
social enjoyment. At the German Catho-
lie church the services commenced at 5
O'Clock in the morning, and were continued
until halfpas 10 o'clock, when high mass
was celebrated by Father Mayer, who also
preached an appropriate sermon in Ger
man.