Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-12-31
From the New lork Tribune.
Christmas Eve at ~. Adams.

Christmas Eve AT ~. Adams
At nine o'clock last night the little
church at the corner of I"~i"s ton-HNc
and For., -seyenth-st., dedicated To st /
Allan, the proto-martyr of Great Britain, /.
was filled To overlooking. The service |
was the first Nespers of the great Christ. |
mas festival, The body OF the little |
church was tastcfully decorated with !
rvergreens hanging in festoonS from the |
beams of the roof, and the sanctuary,
which was lighted by two large standard
II wax candles, was rich in the most cN-
luisite flowers Two immense vases filled
with everything that Horticulture can pro-
luce or that can be forced into bloom AT
his Indictment season, stood on either
side of the altar; while on the reliable
there were two magnificent pyramidal
boquets Of white camelias, azdlcaS, etc,
IN two large medieval brass vases. Tn,
tltar, which was lighted by two hrtucho-
t WAX tapers, was vested in very hand
,ome frontal, beautifully embroidered, the
stolcs and sacred monogram being cX-
eeedingly rich, and the super-iroutd ohg
mass Of gold embroidery with a heavy
French gold fringe. \ few bars OF pre-
Jude from the organ warned the congrr-
Jregation that the services was about 10
commence, and then the strains Of the
grand old Christmas hymn, "Huk the.
Herald Angels Sing" quietly stole upon
tho ear from the choristers yc,try. Al
the end Of the first verse the procession
entered the church, headed by the cru
cifier in cossack and Gotta, bearing
the Professional Cross, followed 10y the
choir boys, and four taper bearers in scar
let cossacks and Surplicos, then the choir
men; and lastly the priests, Father Nor
rill, the rector, vested in a very beautiful
white cape, all wearing their bretias At
the conclusion OF the professional hymn,
Eyensong 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 Evensong, the hymn,
while shepherds watched their hocks by
night" was sung, and Father Morrill, then
proceeded to deliver an eloquent address,
founded on the 18th verse of the 18th
chapter Of Deuteronomy.
THE MIDNIGHT SERVICES.
At midnight, when the service COM
meuced. the church was literally je'..'.,~l.
and 10 find even standing room was
matter Of considerable difficulty. At
ll.30 the First acolyte," clothed in black,
brought from the sacristy an open prayer
book, and passing before the altar made a
reverential genuilexion, after which he
placed the book on the altar lie was fol-
lowed by two others these latter being
clad in close fitting vestments OF scarlet,
bearing the sacred utensils to be used on
the offertory. These were placed on a
table at the left of the altar. At little
before II o'clock the first aoolytc' again
; appeared, and, having made his obelsanct
1 before the altar, proceeded to light the
topcrs, lighting first the two largest, which
flanked the crucifix on either side, thef
those at the left and right i'm front OF tn,
altar, leaving untouched these already
/ mentioned as behind the altar.At precisely
: II the solemn peals Of the organ burs
forth in the Professional, All my hear
, this night reioices," and before it, frs
bar had been completed the voices OF TN
: choristcrs could be heard chanting the VI
] cred song imam instant the head of tn,
procession appeared at the right-hant
:, door Of the sacrisJy, In the van was di
. minu,ive acolyte, bearing aloft cross
next came several men choristors anC
= acolytcs an emSlematic banner, born
J by an aColytc; more choristers and acol
e ytcs another banner, different in design
d from the first. and finally, preceded b,
.,,l clarke Il
came the Rev DR. Noyes, the celebran
! Of the services. He was attired III vest
y mcnt Of celebration, which is composed o
n a skirt eff white linen, surmountcd ly
= cloak of the same, bordered az the edge
. with gold and red band, and ornament
cd front aud back by broader band O
q the same material, which passed from til
: neck to the bottom of the skirt, bein!
l. crossed trayersely near the shoulder. y
], his entrance he wore cap, as dad also hi
d ASSISTANTS, but these were removed AN
j, taken away by an acolyte.
" As the Procession entered the chance
y and faced the altar, each member OF
Of made a reverential bow, and the bearers
"a the cross and banners lowered them. A
: soon as the acolytes had filed to the RICH
and left the celebrant of the services a
Is ccnded the two stairs of the altar an
IN chanted the Ten Commandments, tn
be player-book from which he read bein
" held upon the hands of one OF the ASST
- tants previously mentioned Subsequen
" the Rev. Mr.. Morrill,, the pastor, el
ne tered, and proceeding to the left han
or side OF the altar he read the Epistle {,
ol the day; then crossing, with another DO
I'd when before the center of the altar rea
the gospel for the day on the other sid
The Creed was read or rather chanted |
az the Rev. Dr. Noyc-, and ut the mentil
I'm Of the name of our SAVER the celebran
", and congregation bowed low, and VIII,
J.. the passage land was made man." w
read, all knelt down and made the sign
the cross.
All of the prayers We're read by t
to celebrant with his back to the congreg
rio tion and at certain times he spread
:, hands and looked up imploriugly to t
ui' cruciix. During the offertory or col
T., munion service those tapers which h
to been left untouched by the first acoly
he were lighted, and the sacred chalice
wine and salver of bread which were &C
'h' cred with triangular altar cloth, We
partaken of by the officiating clergym,
What with the numerous genufexiol
the chanting Of the whole service, t
is swinging Of incense, the banners, and t
M robes of the celebrants, and choristers,
md would have been no discredit to discrin
=