Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1868-12-28

: a
mas, | mustered up courage, with the
thermometer at zero, and wendell my
way to st Mary's Church. Upon my
arrival there at o'clock, 4. NJ, [ was
met by the gentlemanly sexton, who,
when made myself known to him,'
kindly furnished me with q seat near
the chancel, which enabled me the bet
ter to witness the ceremonies. The
large edifice was already crowded with
devout worshippers-the rich and the
poor alike bowed in fervent alteration
Shortly after my entrance the numer-
Gus lights around the church, which
before were partly dim, now shone
forth blaze Of light on the large altar,
revealing in full and glowing c,lors the
beautiful figure of the CruciiiSion ST.
multaneous with this was the lighting
of the large candies on the main altar,
which seemed to be the signal for the
pealing forth of the organ, with the
we'll known Christmas Hymn, "Adeste
Fedeleis," which was sung as solo and
chorus by the Queen of Song" Miss
Lizzie Lutz, and other able assistants,
at the conclusion of which, Rev. NJ. e.
Kane, as celebrant, fully ROBBED with
rich and costly vestments, preceded by
nine boys attired in cassock and sur
plice, entered the sanctuary and com
menced the mass-reciting at the foot
of the altar the AID Psalm, and ending
with the ''Confitior, or Confession,
when he assembled the altar and read
the Interit-the choir meanwhile sing
ing the "Kyrie Eleison," at the close
of which the celebrant moves to the
centre. of the altar, and entones tina
g Gloria in Excelsio Dec, which is
taken up by the choir, and sung to the
end, during which the celebrant de-
sends and remains seated, when he
again ascends the altar and sings aloud
the Collects, Epistle and Gospel, which
is responded to by the choir.
At the conclusion of the Gospel, the
celebrant, taking off his outervestment,
reads the second chapter of st. Luke
.:15 v, Gust sung,) which forms the
text for an able and impressive dis
course on the mystery of the incarna-
ton and birth Of our Savior, forcibly
impressiug on his congregation the ne
cessity Of their following in the paths
of virtue marked out by Him whose
birth they that day had assembled to
celebrate At the conclusion of the
sermon, the celebrant again resumed
the order Of the mass by informing the
"Credo in unum Deum," or Nicene
Creed, also taken up by the choir.
Here the celebrant, assisted by one
of the congregation, passed through
the aisles of the church, taking up the
" offerings, which Judging from the
large bulk Of greenbacks, L am led TO
conclude that ST. Mary's congregation
still preserves their well earned reputa-
ton for liberality in thesupport of their
church-which, by-the-way, would be
well worthy of imitation by their more
wealthy neighbors. Only think of a
congregation-the majority of whom
are dependent on the employment of
others, and at this season of the year,
when every body is complaining of
hard times-contributing One Thous-
and and Seventy Dollars at an ordinary
collection. It speaks well for them.
The order of the mass being resumed
during the recital of the ofertorium
prayers, the choir sing the beautiful
Christmas anthem The Sheppards, -
by Pastoralli, consisting of recitative
solo and chorus. Here Miss Lutz again
distinguished herself, sustaining her
reputation as an artistic of no ordinary
ability. In this as in the other pieces,
she was well sustained by the choir. =
Next in order came the Preface, which
is the shedding of an additional light
of nearly 100 candles in and around the
high altar. Being yet dark outside the
effect within was the more visible, rem
dering the chancel end of the building
a fame of light. Followed as this was
by the solemn act of conservation of
the elements, it was one of the most
impressive sights my eyes ever rested
on. Next the ''Pater Noster" is inton-
ed, after which follows the g Agnus
Deo," sung by the choir, followed by
the Communion. Nearly every one
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