Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-12-27

Much is said of the decline of religious feeling,
and the increase of immortality among the
American people. but the way in which the
great holiday of the year Is now observed i'm this
city does not bear out this croaking. There is
certainly much less drinking, gambling. shoot
ing, disorder and noise now on Christmas day
than ''in the good old times, and more church
going and home merry making. In other words
the crowds are not so great i'm the streets and
bar-rooms, but greater in the churches and
around the fireside. We have hone for our neo-
pie as long as Christmas exerts a harmonizinp
influence upon them. Christmas tay 1859
opened here cloudy and threatening hit not-
wlthstanding this. the churches where services
were held were crowded with large and atten-
tive congregations.
Christmas I'm the Churches.
Among the churches i'm Washington where
interesting holiday services were held were the
following:
CHURCH OF THE INCARNATION. p T.
AT this church, the Rector, Rev. X. w. Low
RE, preached an excellent and seasOnable SER
mon. from the first and second verses of the first
chapter of Hebrews, in the course of which he
set forth in most eloquent terms the divine
origin and attributes of Christ, and dwelt with
great force upon the Importance of earnest and
vital Christianity in every day life.
This beautiful little church edifice is deco
rated in unusually good taste,-han,isome
wreaths almost hiding the frames and pointed
OF trailing evergreens hang i'm clusters from the
cOrbels and gas-burners on the side walls.
Against the railing of the choir gallery is the
sentence, Glory to God in the highest" An
other noticeable feature was the completion of
the tablets on either side of the chancel For
this great addition to the appearance of their
church the congregation is indebted to the lib
erality and good taste of Mr.. f. III. Miller, who
generously presented them as Christmas token
The Christmas exercises of the Sunday school
were held on Friday evening, and were greatly
he 1,nfh 81
children Of larger growth who constitute the
congregation. A large and handsome Christmas
Tree occupied the chancel, from the branches
OF which was suspended a gOOd-sized and we'll
niled cornucOpia Of sweetmeats for every scholar
In the school, i'm addition to which each one re-
ceived another and more valuable present. The
selection and distribution of so large number
required rare patience and good Judgment but
so well was this delicate duty discharged by
those upon whom it devOlved that each recipient
was not only satisfied but delighted that his or
ner particular taste or fancy had been consulted
In the premises.
FIFTH BAPTIST CHURCH.
The lecture room Of the Fifth Baptist Church,
(SOuth " ashingtOn,) on " Christmas Eve, was
the scene of great merry making and mirth
L he " little 'uns" assembled i'm great number to
witness the anxiOusly -looked-for advent of
tokens which their ever-thOughtful teachers had
provided for them. And a CAV time they had
truly! The main feature of the evenings enter
tainment was the removal OF certain white
curious view Of the children the nice things con-
cealed beneath, which was accordingly DONE
amidst the jngling Of the sleigh-bels and the
shouts and exelamations OF the pleased chill
gren. santa Claus here put iii MS appearance
There were the usual number of surmises as to
VINO he might be, all of which, strange to relate
we're incorrect. Santa Claus (Nr. May) was
assisted in the distribution of the gifts by Mr. S.
s. TAYLOR anu . .sc rastor of the church D :,
G. Meator. At the opening of the exercises the
choir sung The Shout OF JOY" Afterwards
- The Lord Of the Worlds Above was rendered
in fine style The choir was under the leader
hugely pleased with their toys, books, &c. the
selection Of which was superintendent by Mrs.
West, Miss Cooper, and Mrs. Connell. At a
quarter before nine O'Clock the pleasing enter
tainment was brought to a close, and the little
ones went home to hang up their stockings
wondering what the g sure 'nOugh Santa Claus
would put in them.
FOUNDRY On. E.) CHURCH.
The sunday School room of the Foundry NJ.
+. Church was very deliberately festoOned and
decorated, and the festival at 10 clock on Sat
urday was largely attended. over the super-
intendent's desk, in evergreen, was the figure of
a star, with the word :" Bethlehem and about
Bethlehem" 80 Thou shalt call This name Je-
sus, "" Time" over the clock, .. Eternity over
a wreath. After a short address by the pastor,
Rev DIT. Gibson, the school sang a piece called
the " Christmas Tree" and at the last verse
kriss Kringle made his appearance at a house
in one corner of the room, and at the same time
the song roll changed to a picture made of cor
nucopias, and Santa Claus at once commenced
to distribute them to the scholars, and refresh
ments for the entire audience were handed
Mr.. X. y. TiltOn received a hand
Bible and Webster's Unabridged
Dictionary. DIR. Gibson, Miss Ann Adams, Mr.
ID. A. Gardner and others received presents.
THE CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY, Pc.
This church, on G street, was handsomely
and festOOned, and the following
legends appeared on the walls:-GlOry to God
N the highest 'On earth, peace" "(iOOd will
TO men, ''Hosanna to the son of David" "Mer-
y yS and ruth are met together kghte1usnsss
morning Christmas carol, entitled 1.-The Won
ierful Night" was sung, and at the IL O'Clock
service the rector, Rev. DIR. Starkey, Oficiated,
and the singing by the choir, led by Mrs. Camp,
with Miss Quail at the organ, was very fine.
ST. PATRICK's CATHOLIC CHURCH.
The first mass at this church was at five O'Clock
on Christmas morning, which was attended by
very large congregation. This was Immediately
followed by low mass, and at nine O'Clock
another low mass. At eleven O'Clock solemn
high mass was celebrated, Rev. Father Walter
de ms 18th mass was sung by the choir, with
Professor Richter at the organ. At the first
mass the sermon was delivered by Father Wal
ter, and at eleven o'clock by Father Keane.
Large congregations were in attendance.
ST. MATTHEW'S (CArHoLIC) CHURCH.
Grand High Mass was celebrated at IL O'Clock
a. M on Christmas day; Rev: DIR. White cele-
brant, and the sermon was delivered by Rev
Father Mackin, assistant pastor. The choir
rendered Benkert's Mass, with an orchestral
accompaniment of nineteen pieces, the whole
under direction of Prof. l.. f. Cannon, with
Prof. Benkert at the organ. The solo soprano
parts were delightfully."- sung by Miss Anderson.
Mrs. DroOp and Mrs. King; the contraltO by
Mrs. Callan, Mrs. Cluss and Mrs. Dr. Kimbali:
the ibass by Messrs. Cannon and Parker; and
the tenor by Prof. SchOtt, of Georgetown.
ST. ALOYsIUs (CATHoLIC) CHURCH
At 8 a. m. of Christmas the choir of the church
sang La Hache's " Missa Pro Pace" the 81 Veni
Creator Spiritus," from the mass, being excel
lently rendered by Madame Kretchmar and
Messrs. Burnett and Widney. Prof. Harry
Sherman was Unexpectedly prevented from off,
eating at the organ, but the place was well
hlled by Professor Walters, Of Grace Chapel
New York city, who Is here for the holidays.
WESLEY CHAPEL MISSION.
On Friday evening a number of the members
of Wesley Chapel Mission waited upon their
pastor, Rev. James q. Hennings, and through
Mr.. A. j. AmOss presented him with a suit of.
clothes, and some of the ladies also remembered
the preachers wife. At IL o'clock Saturday
morning the pupils Of the Mission Sunday School
assembled at the chapel, where two trees laden
with cOrnucopias, &c, had been arranged, and
after singing and short addresses the trees were
stripped and each pupil received gift.
ST. JOHNS (P. E.) CHURCH.
The decorations in this church were very ex-
tensive and tasteful throughout; the pillars sup
porting the gallery were twined around with
wreaths of evergreens and flowers, also the en-
tire front of the gallery surrounding the church
was covered with these decorations, and the ar
rangement Of notices, crosses, &C., worked i'm
flowers and green holly In the rere,!Os and Sur-