The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-26

years dressed i'm every conceivable variety Of
side.splttttnR laughter and untold merri ment
Cnesnut, Eighth and Second streets were espe-
cially (dis)honored by these itinerant bands.
Horns were blown in all their old-time FREE
quency, and some Innocent aud unknowing old
gent was more than once completely knocked
OIL his feet and laid low by some dreadful and
almost supernatural shrek In his ear. The
crowd was SO great and moved so rapidly on
Chesnut street, that eighteen thousand passed
given point in one hour.
On Tuesday afternoon the office of the Home
Missionary Society, in North street, near Fifth,
was literally beseiged by the poor seeking food
and fuel, while others Of our benevolent instt-
tutions were kept no less busy in dealing out
TatOns, clothing, &c, to the destitute-who in
their poverty and almost starvation could
know no Christmas joy.
Yesterday, as usual, all the public offices
were closed, and the streets were thronged
from early morning all through the day, and
promenaders would have maintained their
march the greater part of the evening, had not
disagreeable rain driven them within doors.
The Catholic churches commenced their
celebration of the festival at the early hour of
tiVe A. M, at which time immense congrega-
tions assembled in all the churches. Solemn
High Mass was celebrated, the TIE Dettn chaunt-
ed and the Christmas anthem and hymn were
given with much effect. Indeed, the music in
the Catholic churches of this city was marked
and prominent feature of the celebration of the
day, for which the different cholrs made credit
The Grand Mass of Hummel, No. 2, was
splendidly sung at ST. Augustine's Church,
under the direction Of II. q. Thunder, superior
vocal talent participating in the rendition OF
the splendid work-an essential precaution,
by-the-by. to its success. Right Rev. Bishop
Wood celebrated Pontihcal High Mass at the
Cathedral, where Hummel's Nj ass was also
performed, accompanied by the Germania
Orchestra. The spacious ediiice was filled by a
large congregation, and the main altar was
splendidly Illuminated, and horally and other
wise decorated. The Assistant Priest, the
Deacon and sub Deacon of the Mass, the Dea-
cons, and the other ecclesiastical delegations
were clad in rich and magnificent vestments,
and, when the tapers were all lighted, the scene
presented was magnificently grand.
At the other churches splendid music was
given by the prominent choirs, amongst them
being the following, who sang respectively the
Grand Masses named:--
st. Patricks, Won Weber, No. @ under the di-
rection Of Marcus f. Aledo; st. Michaeps, Mo-
zart, No. 2, under the direction of L. e. Harkins;
st, Peters, Scheidermayer, No. l, under the dt-
posed by the director Angelo +. Dos Santos;
st. Philips. Mozart No. ~, under the direction
of Henry 7. Rochell; st, Josephs, the same
composition under the direction of w. A. New
land st. Vincent de Paul (Germantown),
Haydn, No. 3, under the direction OF James
AT the Northern Home for Frlendless Chill.
dren and the Associated Home for Soldiers and
Sailors Orphans, Twenty-third and Brown
streets, interesting Christmas festivities took
place on Christmas afternoon, commencing at
children; addresses by several speakers; and an
extra dinner was served mp for the children.
The public attended in large numbers.
The exercises at the Bedford Mission were
none OF the least important in the city. at
II o'clock the little Ones with eyes sparkling
IN anticipation of what was coming were as
sembled in the chapel, and after devotional ex-
ercises, under the direction of Rev. j. d Long,
they hurried upstairs, where huge piles of
roasted turkeys, and plates enough for each,
filled full OF goodies which they had hardly
known before, and Christmas trees, hanging
full of presents, were ready to receive them.
This was one of the most interesting of the
Christmas celebrations in the city, and no doubt
the kind ladies and gentlemen VINO were the
movers in it were wished many and many
hearty "Merry Christmas" by the little ones
whose hearts they had cheered.
In Camden, services of an interesting char
acter were held in the Broadway Methodist
Episcopal Church. by the Sunday School, con-
sis'jng of singing by the children, addresses by
the Pastor, r. A. Chalker, and Mr.. Sites, after
which Santa Claus appeared in their midst,
stripped the Christmas tree, and distributed the
good things it contained among the children.
set of silver napkin rings was at the same
time presented to the Pastor, as an appreciation
Of Ills services in this church and Sunday
School. This is of the most hourshing
Sunday Schools in our sister city, and did well
their part last evening.