The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-26
SERVICES IN THE CHURCHES.
Trinity Church.


The divine services at Trinity church yesterday
were OF the impressive character that belongs to the
festival of Christmas and the sublime event which
the Church celebrates this OCCASION the nativity
OF Lord and Savior. Trinity mas always
held a foremost place among the churches Of
our city in its observances OF 1.-THE day and
the impressiveness with which 1t surrounds its
services on this time honored festival OF the
Church. The decorations of the interior OF the
building consisted entirely OF evergreens the appro-
pirate symbol OF the Church. fidelity to the teachings
OF the Gospel, and the unchanging and unchange-
able truths incucated therein. Above the altar on
either side were two evergreen trees, and In the
centre beautiful crown OF holly. The pulpit,
font and lectern were also ornamented with ever
greens draped in tasteully interlaced festoons The
chorster benches were trimmed with laurel. In
front of the chancel were two large fir trees their
branches neatly trimmed with laurel. The organ
loft was also deliberately and tastefully decorated
with fir and holly interspersed.
the morning services were very impressive, the
Rev. Drs. Vinton Ogilby and 0berly officiating. The
music selected was as follows:-rrocessonal 7.Come
all We Faithfully Vertte First Tone; Psalms TO- As 49,
~ De'tra and Jtoftate Smart In i; Nicene Creed,
Merbecke; Anthem, "The Grace OF God' (Barnby);
onertory, "For Unto us Child Is Born- (IIande):
"Sanctus Gloria in ExcelesIs,n Mssa de Angels; pro-
cessiona, From Lands that See the sum- Mr. A. n.
MASTER the regular organst performed assisted by
Mr.. John r. Morgan.
DR.. yinton preached the sermon, taking for his
text the fourth chapter OF St Pauls episte To the
Galatians and the fourth and nth verses.-aBut
when the fulness OF time was come God sent forth
His son, made OF woman, made under the
law, 10 redeem them that were under the
law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.p
From this text the reverend gentleman preached a
very eloquent sermon He first greeted his hearers
with his best prayers and wishes that they might be
blessed with all the enjoyments OF the season. He
fhen asked their attention to the words Of st Paul
as set forth IN the text. They had met as IL were
In the fulhlment OF the words OF the Apostle as
adopted sons OF God through Christ's redemption.
This was the day specially set apart ny the Churcn
for the commemoratlon OF the event spoken OF
by 81. Paul, In that all men had been redeemed
from their sins and made sons In unity
with Christ, the eon OF God The event to-day
celebrated gave Joy TO the whole world. The Coming
of the infant Jesus was the uDspeakable gift which
gave to all men the sonship with Christ in the uni.
versal Father OF all The sonship thus established
was the theme which the Church celebrated az n
symbol OF Gods unfading love TO man and OF man,s
undyng gratitude for the great gift thus bestowed
together TO praise God and invoke his blessings
upon themselves and upon the Church The
time Ps God sent His a Son ma ae process o.o OF
made under the law 10 redeem all that
were under the law that we might receive the adop-
ton OF sonship. and which gave us all the right to
cry out Abba, Father This act OF redemption left us
no more servants, but sons-sons and heirs OF God
and Christ, The Apostle says that the Son OF God
made in flesh with them so that man might not
be afraid to claim the KINDRED OF brotherhood-who
was not ashamed to call all men His brethren
them that were under the law that they might
receive tne adoption Of s,onship The words
be understood az applicable to the Church and
brethren OF Gaatia alone. although, perhaps,
the epistle addressed to the Galatians the only
one OF the Apostles numerous epfstles that were
written by him In his own hand. IL is the right and
duty OF all men-the free and the bond the Hebrew
and the Gentle. male and femae--to believe that
they were and redeemed by the Son OF God: that
all received the adoption OF sonship, and that the
baptism which all receive Is Gods witness that we
have received his adoption. This was the sole, hum
bling and at the same time exalting, truth that is
specially preached and inculcated at this
Christmas time, and with 1t is always ceie-
braied the holy communion as a further evil
dence OF their redemption from sin aud their
exataton to the sonshp OF God. Christ is the Cos
pei; but there IL another gospel different from that
OF Christs, which lnculcates, instead of spirit OF
union and freedom and brotherhood-a gospel thar
lnculcates spirit OF bondage running into observ-
ahces and methods contrary to the spirit OF the Cos
pei ms strange gospel the preacher denounced,
ahu IN concluding his sermon, exbOrted his hearers
~ apde ny the Gospel of Christ az taught by the
aposues giving or their bounty at this happy season
10 tbe poorer brethren around them. who needed the
charilf and benevolenne Of their fellow men; but