The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-26

Grace Church.
More than usually fashionable seemed the audi
ence gathered yesterday morning in Grace church.
This may be partially owing to the effect OF the out
door sunlight streaming in through the richly
stained windows, giving richer glow to the toilet
OF the ladies' making up fully twothrds OF the
gregaton. The church, moreover, with Its festoons
OF evergreens ana wreaths OF cedar and laurel deco
rating the altar pillars, walls and chancel, wore
pleasingly festal look. The monster-we speak now
In purely physiological sense-Brown appeared
unusually festive, and did the honors Of his special
vocation with wonted grace and agility. At
eleven A. NJ. the hour for the services to commence
the church was crowded. even to the standing room
in the vesiibule, and continued so to the close A
few came, beyond doubt, as sincere worshippers;
many came to see and be seen and the most to hear
the exquisite music for which this church has so
long been eminently historic, and in order to hear
which, y being fapdwtched among the dry ceremo
MES Of the ritual It was necessary to remain through
Rev. Dr. Potter, the rector, aided by Rev. pr.
McAllister, conducted the usual morning services
ana ~ tnelr close Dr. Potter preached discourse.
ne LOOK Tor his text Hebrews l., 6-"And again.
When He bringeth III the first begoten into the world
ne saitn, AND let all the angels OF God worship
Him." They had come together on this day, COM
memoratiye OF the birth Of Christ, to worship and
sing songs Of gladness that Christ was born and
come to redeem the world. lie would have them
drens laughter-a day when they should carry out
the rule OF the Old king, aLet us be merry, But
there should be something deeper than mere worldly
enJoymenlt-a Weiling up OF sympathy for the poor,
spirlt OF forgiveness toward those who had injured
them, determination to enter with more fidelity
upon the discharge Of their duties as CHRISTIANS He
pictured what would be the result If Christ was I'M
recognized on earth, II the bells of churches were
tongue-tied and 4 the worship OF Christ was inter-
dicted. The condition OF society," he showed, would
then be worse than in the most terrible times Of the
French hevoluton, and that lust and rapne and war
would take possession or the earth He next pro-
ceedcd TO enforce their duty on this above all other
days. to remember their Obligations to Christ. First
u was as the th.. duty TO worship him. Most meet
should ring with the worship and praises OF their
great Redeemer, VINO put on this human life OF ours
that we might know something OF the Godlike life Of
His This was day fopen hearted bounty to the poor
and OF stretching out the hands OF Kindness toward
impoverished little ones. Hehoped that none would sit
down To-Day 10 bounteouS repasts in their own COM
Portable homes without sending the sunshine of glad
ness into homes where comfort very little abounds
and abundance Ia not known. He would also have
them show their worship OF Christ by good will to
all men, and with the enforcing general forgiveness
OF all our enemies and enlargement OF beneyOence
and more Christian like lives, he brought his sermon
too close.
The musical programme of the services consisted
OF Ventte and Gloria by Mosenthal, Te Deunt by
from the Messiah sung by Mrs. Bodsten hymn by
MorZart and Christmas Anthem sung by Mrs.
Bodstein and Mr.. George Simpson. All the pieces
were executed with that artistic neness OF rendering
and power OF expression, for which the choir OF this
church have won such reputation. The music fea-
'ture of the service was entirely a rare treat The
make up OF the choir is as follows:-s. r. Warren
Organist Mrs. Bodsten soprano, Mrs. Rachan alto.
Mr.. G. simpson tenor and MIR. Nisbusch basso.
Prayers for the church militant, and taking up a
collection closed the services which lasted nearly
two hours.
st. Stephens Ci,urch--Dietsch's Mass.
Those who wish TO hear the highest form of church
music viii lnd it at this church on all great festi-
yoia mar ticula rlv or (hr,-f T,a
mass sung there yesterday was one never before
heard in this country-a work Of Louis Dietsch, or
ganst of the Church OF st. Eustache, Paris. 1t was
first produced in that church the year 1885, 1t Is
on grander and broader scale than any of those
masses commonly In use in churches. 1t Is also
very long ana elaborate there being no less than two
hundred pages In the score. The KyIre alone Is q
work in itself. The mass was given yesterday in o
superb manner by Thomas orchestra OF thirty in
srumentalists, the BeTge Choral Union and others,
numbering over sixty voices, all under the direction
of the orgaIAst, Dr. William Berge. The soloiss were
Nine. De Lussan, soprano Nine. Anschutz central
to; Signol Tamso, tenor aud Mr.. ruschmitz, basso.
The orchestra throughout the mass Is very fpe and
abounds in striking effects. 1t occasionally reminds
one Of the Meyerbeer school, In ma3sing voices and
instruments to produce climax Mr. Dietsch dis
After triumphant outburst or the entire orchestra In
which the staccato OF the strings forms an effective
contrast to the sustained notes OF the brass and wind
instruments, and which n somewhat like the open
ing Of the Gloria In The Twelfth Mass OF Mozart the
voices come In as In an octette and produce STIR
ring effect. The words Gloria IN ercetSis Dec are
afterwards repeated in plain chant STYLE with strings
alone IN the accompaniment. The LduddntuS Is one
OF the most beautiful tenor solos we have heard
in q mass, and 1t received full justice from Mr..
Tamaro, the strings alone accompanying the voice.
Then follows lovely quartet, QW Tolls. which is
equal In melody to anything we have heard In church
music. The QliOsitdm Ia repetition OF the opening.
The cum Sdnco ~ a iugue more trying than even the
celebrated one in Mozarts Twelfth. The BASES open
the Cref0 in an effective manner. The soprano has
excellent opportunity to display her powers In
the soto III Iicds'lGtus, with string accompaniment
and flute, clarionet and baSsoon 0Digati. the cru
cinJus is fine example OF defamation on the part
OF the BASES and dramatic effect the part the
orchestra. E ResWTerts commences with the
trOmboles and IL gradually worked up 10 a grand
climax, emblematical OF the triumph OF the Re-
deemer over death. ~ Neran VeHtU,1ts Est COM
mences with fanfare OF trgmpets to signify the
coming OF the last dread Judge. The finale OF the
CTedo ID grand in the extreme There are many
gems also IN the Sitotus and Agnus De-. AT the
oIiertory Bcrges brilliant arrangement OF the dueSe
sung. Thomas led the orchestra In the Snt1'd-
11tde overture before mass and In the march from
the RetHe de saba at the'end. II is seldom such q
grand work as Diet6ch's Mass IL heard IN clurcA
in this cltY.
The great church was crowded IN every part
pews, asles and galleries. vast human wave ling
is whole space, beating restlessly but noiseessy,
against the steps OF the sanctuary MANY among
tins concourse were but Idle oungers, curious re-.
speeding the forms OF Catholic worship or attracted
ly the expectation Of grand orchestral display. But
there were Others, and these the larger number,
pious Christians. who came 20 make their humble
Offering Of love and prayer to Him whose first COM
ing they that day celebrated, aud join IN the holy
sacrifice OF the mass commemorative OF the work He
afterwards accomplished Between the gospel and
creed the Rev. Dr. McGlynn, pastor preached an In
sructive lesson from the gospel Of the day. the first
chapter OF John, commcnclng "in the beginning was
the Word and the Word was with God and the Word
was God,' and closing, land the Word was made
nesh and dwelt among US" The reyer-
end speaker pointed ont from these sen
fences the immensely and grandeur OF the
mystery or the incarnation, the eternal Word,
which was in the beginning, taking mans weak
ana sinful form for the work Of hts redemption Re
ferrng 10 the lowly condition OF the ncarnate Ones
entry Into tins life, he called attention 70 the virtues
OF humility, patience aud pious resignation, and
which Jesus wished we should learn from him; and
also charity for the poor and abject, the weak and
the crippled, closing with an appeal IN favor Of the
poor orphans lett TO the care OF the church, and for
whom a collection Il taken up in all the Catholic
churches OF the city at all their masses on Christmas
Day.
but little effort ut supplementary ornamentation
was apparent ia the church. the rich, prominent
decorations OF the building rendering such unneces-
sary. The altar was, however, tastcluly festooned
with green, In honor Of the festival.