The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-26
RITUALISM.
The Fantastic Performances at st
Alban's Chapel, New York, ON Christ

The Fantastic Performances at ST
Alban's Chapel, New York, ON Christ
mas Eve.
From the ~. Y. Tribune Of ye,terddy.
AT 9 o'clock last night the little church at the
corner of Lexington avenue and Forty seventh
street, dedicated to st. Alban, the proto.mattyr
OF Great Britain, was filled to overfowing. The
service was the first Vespers of the great Christ.
mas festival. The body of the little church was
tastefully decorated with eyergreeBS hanging in
festoons from the beams OF the roof, and the
sanctuary, which was lighted by two large
standards of wax candles was rich in the most
exquisite flowers. Two immense vases, filed
with everything that Horticulture can produce,
or that can be forced into bloom at this
inclement season, stood on either side
of the altar; while on the reliable there were
two magnificent pyramidal bouquets OF white
camelias, azaleas, etc, in two large medieval
brass vases. The altar, which was lighted by
two branches of wax tapers, was vested in
very handsome frontal, beautifully embroidered,
the stoles and sacred monogram being exceed
ingly rich, and the super-irontal one mass of
gold embroidery, with heavy French gold
hinge. A few bars of prelude from the organ
warned the congregation that the service was
about to commence, and then the strains OF the
grand old Christmas hymn, "Hark the Herald
Angels Sing" quietly stole upon the ear from the
verse the procession entered the church,
headed by the crucifer, in cassock and Gotta,
bearing the Professional Gross, followed by the
choir boys, and four taper bearers in scarlet
cassocks and surplices, then the choir men; and
lastly the priests, Father Morrill,, the rector,
vested in very beautiful white cape, all wear
ing their briettas. At the conclusion of the
Professional Hymn, Evensong was sung; and
we must say that Father Morrill, has, In spite
of many obstacles, brought his choir up to
very fair standard; though we would suggest
"Helmore's Plain Song" as being more suitable
to congregational singing. At the termination
of EYensong, the hymn while Shepherds
watched their hocks at night" was sung, and
Father Morrill, then proceeded to deliver an
aln oAd cd ont q nj
the 10th chapter OF Deuteronomy.
THE MIDNIGHT SERVICES.
At midnight, when the service commenced,
the church was literally jammad, and to ind
even standing room was matter OF considerable
difficulty. At 80 1.-THE first acoyte,n clothed
in black, brought from the sacristy an open
pray book, and passing before the altar made
feverential geDutexion, after which he placed
the book on the altar. He was followed by two
others (these latter clad in close-htting vest
ments of scarlet), bearing the sacred utensils to
be used in the ohertory. These were placed on
table at the left of the altar. AT little before
IL o'clock the "6r5t acolyte" again appeared,
ana, having made his obeisanCe before The altar,
proceeded to light t he tapers, lighting first the
Two largest, which flanked the crucitX on either
side, then those at the lett and right Tin front) of
the altar, leaving untouched those already men,
toned as behind the altar. AT precisely IL the
solemn peals OF the organ burst forth in the pro-
cessonal, "All my heart this night rejoices," but
before its first bar had been completed the voices
of the choristers could be heard chanting the
sacred song; in an instant the head OF the pro-
cession appeared at the righthand door of the
saCristy. In the van was diminutive acolyte,
bearing aloft cross; next came several men
choriste1s and acolytes; an emblemat,c banner,
borne by an acolyte; more chorlsters and
acolytes; another banner, different in design
from the first, and finally, preceded by more
acolytes and two clerks or deacons, came the
Rev. DIR. Noyes the celebrant OF the services.
He was attred IN vestment OF celebration,
which is composed of skirt of white linen,
nn INV a "a
the edges with a gold and red band, and orna-
mented front and back by broader band ofthe
same material, which passed from the neck to
the bottom of the skirt, being crossed trans
versely near the shoulder. At his en-
trance he wore cap, as did also
his assistants, but these were removed and
taken BY tSe sAS A tas pTO
altar, each member of it made raverental
bow, and the bearers of the cross and banners
lowered them. AS soon as the acolytes had
filed 10 the right and left, the celebrant OF the
services assembled the two stairs Of the altar
and chanted the Ten Commandments, the
prayer.book from which he read being held
upon the hands of one OF the assistants pre-
viously mentioned. subsequently the Rev. Mr.
Morrlll, the pastor, entered, and proceeding to
the lett hand side of the altar he read the
Epistle for the day; then crossing with another
bow when before the centre OF the atari read
the Gospel Tor the day on the other side. The
Greed was read, or rather chanted by the Rev.
DR.. Noyes, and at the mention of the name of
our Saviour the ceebrants and congregation
bowed low, and when the passage ''and was
made man. was read, all knelt down and made
the sign of the cross.
All of the prayers were read by the celebrant
with ms back to the congregation, aud at cer-
tain times he spread his hands and looked up
| imploriDgy to the crucidx. During the offertory
| or communion service those tapers which had
| been left untouched by the first acolyte were
| lighted, and the sacred chalice OF wine and
| salver OF bread, which were covered with a
| triangular altar cloth, were paraken of by the
! officiating cleIgymen. WHAT with the numerous
| genuhcXOns, the chanting of the whole service,
| robes Of the celebrants and chorIsters it would
| have ueen no discredit to discrimination had he
| confessed TO ignorance as to whether he was in
a Protestant Episcopal chapel or Roman
| Catholic church. Wnen the ministers had par
! taken of the Communion the congregation went
! forward to commune, and all desirous OF going
home lit was then A. NJ. and the service hall
completed ).had an opportunity to do so.