Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-26

the tabernacle, AIDING ereatiy 10 tue
magnifcence Of the scene.
THE GERMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
was very handsomely decorated with
flowers in crystal covers and wreaths OF
evergreen. The altar was richly IL
lumined with wax candles, rejecting
from glass-fringed candelebras prismatic
rays of beauty. Though small in size,
and making no pretensions TO grandeur,
this church hath cozy and holy aspect
Before dawn Father Toma chanted
solemn High Mass, assisted by full choir
of the German Philharmonic Society,
who sang several hymns with great power
and sweetness. The congregation,
though not numerous, comprised many
of our Esost worthy German citizens,
who are contributing their means liber-
ally toward completing the brick edifice
now in course of erection on the corner
of Market and Third streets, which will
be ready for consecration we presume
early next summer.
THE ORPHANS CHAPEL
in the Asylum, under control of the Sis
tiers of Charity, was perhaps the neatest
and most tasteiully adorned of any. The
little altar was brilliantly illumined, and
SO appropriately set off with exquisite
bouquets in vases as to become exceed
ingly beautiful. The white walls we're
gracefully festooned, looking charmingly
clean and cozy. But to us the most de-
lightful object was the congregation of
little children, girls and boys, with their
shining faces beaming forth innocence
and pleasure. No one could look upon
this crowd without feeling that be stood
close to heaven.
CALVARY CHURCH,
that was wont to be the centre of attrac-
ton on Christmas, fell short, we are sorry
to say, of its former splendor and display
Of taste. For years it has "held the
palm" but yesterday it scarcely ranked
third.rate in decoration. There was too
much of the green in clusters without
relief, and the crosses on the walls looked
bare without wreaths. The communion
table was deliberately festooned with
magnolia boughs, and the baptismal
font was filled with a massive bouquet of
white roses, bound with arbovitae.
Lamps and chandeliers were pro-
fusely draped in green. On either side
of the sanctuary walls were crosses and
stars in green and gold. A large cross
of emerald was stationed in the centre OF
the window above the communion table,
over which broad star, formed of jets
of gas, shed golden lustre. To the
right of the window on the wall were
these words, in green and red English
characters "Glory to God in the high
est, and on earth peace and good will
toward mem" to the left, in the same
style, we're the words HOLINESS to the
Lord But if the decorations of Cal
vary on this occasion were not on as
magnificent scale as former ones, its
exercises with the Sunday School chill
dren previous to the services at eleven
O clock made up for the deficiency,
Nothing could be more gratifying than
to listen to the sharp voices of those lit.
tie ones chanting the hymns and lessons
set down for them in the programme,
Many a mothers heart beat with joy as
the tones of her dear one struck par
ticularly on her ear in the cadence OF
voices. 1t was a charming, sweet and
impressive exercise, and we trust other
clergymen will follow the example of DR..
White in exhibiting the proficiency Of
their Sunday School scholars every
Christmas.
ST. MARY's CHURCH
was very prettily adorned, SO much so
that the tiny temple looked like fairy
palace. The walls we're superbly fes :
TONED. Chaplets, wreaths and crosses,
formed of evergreens and gemmed with
white roses, hung on the arches, looking
remarkably chaste. The organ was
beautifully twined with green around the
gold, which had rich effect. The bap'
tismal font was exquisitly draped in en-
erald studded with snow drops, which
was the most appropriate and touching
adornnent witnessed throughout the day.
The communion table, reading. desk and
front of the sanctuary were very neatly
trimmed, evincing great taste and judg
ment on the ladies' who performed the
task
ST. LAZARUS CHURCH,
although as poor looking in comparison
TO its sisters as Lazarus himself was in
comparison to Dives, was, nevertheless,
festooned with some taste, which gave a
sor, of freshness to its rough plastered
walls and unvarnished furniture. A few
crosses in green hung here and there,
with the letters "I..H. S. in emerald
over the communion table. The sanct-
uary ratings and organ platform were
lightly decorated. As this is only tenn
porary building, thrown up in hurry of
light material, and scarcely half COM
plete, we presume no time or opportu-
nity was afforded the ladies belonging to
the church TO decorate it in a manner
suitable to their tastes and in keeping