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


10 endeavor to Initiate its sacred example. Commu-
mon service was performed after the conclusion OF
tue sermon.
81. Patricl's Cathedral.
the third Christmas mass at the Cathedral yester-
Gay was gwen as pontlca high mass, with full
choral accomplishments, ana was, beyond doubt,
the most Impressive ceremony by which the gr All
festival was celebrated in this city, Punctus 1y NJ
half-past ten O'Clock the solemn proceslofi issued
nom the vestry room at the right nand or GOSPEL
side OF the sanctuary and PROCEEDED 10 the foot OF
the altar steps in the follecinS oraer-Rev Father
Mcinerny master o. Ceremonies, professional cross
oeaio'' WIN Scolytes carrying lighted tapers on
''i e sixteen acolytes In red cassocks and
we strphces; Rev. Father Kearney, assistant mas
der Of ceremonies; Rev. Father Mclean, deacon Of
the mass; Rev. Father Ducey, sub-deacon OF the
mass; Rev. Drs. Anderson and McSweeney, deacons
OF honor; Very Rev. Father STAIRS, assistant priest,
and his Grace Archbishop McCloskey, followed by
seven pages wearing sontans OF white with scarlet
trimmings and red slippers. On arriving before
the altar they all knelt and the ceremony
was at once commenced, while the Cathedral
choir, augmented by splendid chorus OF
some twenty voices selected from the Liederkranz,
ntoned the Knie Of Haydn's beautiful "Mass NO. ~
in @. After the gospel had been chanted by the
deacon the Rev. DR.. Anderdon assembled the pulpit
read the Gospel Of the day John y from the Ribo,
~ "And laid him in manager becapse there was
no room for them In the nn," proceeded to deliver
an eloquent and forctble sermon on the mystery or
the nativity and the circumstances connected with
u and the three motives which prompted our
Divine Redeemer to come into the world as he did,
rather than being attended by pomp and power, to
undergo suffering to show his humility and 70 tes-
THY his unbounded love for mankind. Concluding,
he said:-"What our Divine Lord wants, now is
room in our hearts; but in many hearts there is
room to receive Him. The heart the viii, the soul
Which shall have room in 1t for Him to rest Wen
m nor oil cir at NssIIln
Christ take up His lodgings in the 81 an enter
into that heart into which He s only '"cssed to be
among many other things belonging to The AFFAIRS
OF this world. When lie was coming to eat the
Pasch He sent the Apostles before Him. tell
ing them that they would find certain
house, and telling them to have that room pre-
pared and that there He would come and eat
the Pasch with them; so now He sends Ills priests
to have prepared the large upper room OF our hearts
that He may come there" He then made a tender
appeal on behalf OF the orphans Tor whose benefit
the collection was to be taken up and concluded hy
saying that Jesus would acknowledge from the
throne Of gloy tho offerings that should be made TO
him through the orphans
After the sermon the mass was continued in the
usual form, the choir at the Credo giving Haydn's
No. in G.; at the OGertory Mercadante's ''Quan.
the full chorus; at the elevation Procn's 'Ecce
Pdnfs,' for soprano solo, with French horn accom-
s Wss A. che ;Ss Of e
benediction, assembled his throne. The deacons Of
honor took their places on either side Of him, while
ranged themselves at the foot Of the throne.
The Rev. Father STAIRS, Vicar General then ,
Archbishop, by virtue OF the power conferred on
him, would then pronounce the Papal benedlction
gence to those who had recently partaken OF the
sacramento OF penance and the holy eucharist, who
were IN state OF g grace and VINO would otfer up
The Rev. Father Mclean then chanted the C01tteor,
after which the clergy and TIE congregation all
Grace the Archbishop, extending his hands slowly
e. y u ssss sEsysS
forming again In profession returned to the sacristy
There were no extra ornaments on any part OF
the edifcei but on the altar between the Candida
on either Side were large and tasteful pyramids OF
flowers, and on the spire above the tabernacle
large bouquet OF white roses and camelias. The
ordinarily fine. The Mass No. 2 in @ is well knowa
us being one OF Haydn's best and most popular
compositions, and the other selected pieces 'Qudrt
Deecto" and "Ecce Ia'sis," by Mercadante ana
Proch, were NEST fitting ornaments to the Der
formance. The French horn accompaniment
to the "Ecce ,, nants" . by Mr. IL schmtz
service was so smooth and tender and so exqusitey
plantive that the mpressiveness OF the entire cere
mOny was greatly heightened. The immense
gregaton and the robed clergy and acolytes In the
sanctuary all kneelirg and with heads be sed down
and preserving an almost painful silence the clear
full tones OF the horn swelling out so plantively yet
grandy and interrupted &C intervals by the warn
ing boom OF the church gong, contributed to form
scene OF indispensable soemnity. The solo parts
OF the mass were assumed by Mines. Chome and
Werner, soprano and alto, Messrs ii. Schmitz and
A. Sohst, tenor and basso Mr.. Gustavus Schmitz
presided ut the organ. and his ability and expert
ence in that position are well known Is almost
needless to say that the new and splendid instru-
ment, which is very nearly finished manpu-
lated in mastery style. The chorus also deserves
especial mention a. IL is seldom, indeed. that num-
Der OF voices can be obtained for single occasion
OF this kind which will show much taste and skil
did the chorus yesterday.