The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-27
CHRISTMAS IN NEW YORK.
RitunlIstic Pranks-The Midnight Mass nj
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Ritunlistic Pranks-The Midnight Mass mt
The Christmas Eve doings at st. Adams Epis-
copal Church, in New York, were quite up to
the extreme ritualstic mark. During the whole
of the day before Christmas, says the New York
Tribune, earnest members of the church had
been busy decking it in its Christmas garb of
flowers and eyergreens; in fact, for a week
past several members of the Sodality of st.
Alsan's have been rusticating in Connecticut for
the purpose of gathering evergreens and con-
verting them into wreaths, garlands, testoons
crosses, and various other embems. The coup
d'9il, on entering the church, was certainly
as grand as could be accomplished in a small
building, and the decorations had this great
merit, that they were not only arranged in eX-
cellent taste, but with an eve to the eccle-
siastical. From the eight beams which sup
port the roof, masses of evergreens hung
in festoons corresponding with the archi-
tectural lines. Over each of the windows
were sacred texts and ecclesiastical emblems of
various devices worked in evergreens The
pulpit was also beautifully decorated, and in the
central panel was large triangle, signifying the
Trinity, of choice flowers. On the floor of the
sanctuary at either angle of the altar, stood
large illuminated vase containing pyramidal
bouquet of the choicest and rarest eXotics, of
great beauty; and on the retabe above the altar
we're two very large fam shaped bouquets equally
costly and rare. The altar itself was perfect
blaze of light, having more than sixty lights
about and around it.
Precisely at 8 o'clock the notes of the Adeste
procession entered the church, consisting of the
crucifer in purple cassock and laced Gotta; two
decolytes, in scarlet cassocks and cottas, carry
ing lighted tapers; thurifer, incense and boat
bearer, swinging incense; four acolytes, ten
choristers in blue cassocks and surplices several
priests, and lastly, the sub-deacon, deacon, and
celebrant When all had taken their seats in
the choir, the first solemn vespers of the festival
were rendered; at the termination of which
Father Morrill,, the rector, assembled the pulpit
and preached on THE Altar Our Bethlehem"
taking his text "Let us now go even unto
Bethlehem, and see this thing which has come
to pass" st. Luke ii, IS.
At the conclusion of this address, which was
listened to by the crowded congregation with the
most profound attention, Father Morrill,, vested
in q magnificent silver satin cope, heavily
trimmed with real gold fringe, approached the
altar, attended by the acoytes and incense
bearers, and Immediately the grand tones of
Peribeaus ''Magnifest" echoed through the
nave, incense being at the same time offered by
the efficient. At its conclusion, the choir re-
tired, singing "All My Heart as a recessional.
At midnight, the choir again entered the
church in the same order as before singing the
professional hymn, and then arise, Shine, for
Thy Light is Come" was sung for the Introil.
The function of Solemn High Mass was then
commenced. Father Morrill, celebrant; Father
Noyes deacon; Father Downie, subdeacon.
The vestments worn at this service were costly
and magnificent to degree, having been
worked especially for st. Adams, at the Convent
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chasuble and heavy laced alb of the celebrant
were unusually rich and costly. Nomo solemn
and imposing function has ever yet been wit
messed in any Episcopal church in this country,
its effect being greatly heightened by the in
tense devotion of the members of the congrega-
ton. The music throughout was admirably
rendered by the choir, which includes three
boys, brothers, who should be the envy of many
a neighbOring church. The number of communi-
cants was very large, nearly one hundred and
fifty persons having approached the altar. At
the conclusion of High Mass, the choir retired
singing Nunc Di1nitis.