New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-12-27
PERFORMING PIETY.

|
time when suddenly there was with the Anger
a multitude of the heavenly host praislng
God, and saying "Glory TO God in the high
"est!r The divine song would have been
critically commended by some knowing re-
porter as "a most successful effort" and after
besmearing the performance with compliments,
| the enterprising journalist would have printed
the names of all the solo artists and told us
who played upon the harp. But If this profa-
nation has been spared us, there Is still the
anniversary of the holy Christmas time,
when the song of the heavenly host is re-
peated in our churches, and heads are
bowed in humble reverence at the recol-
lection of the great mystery of Bethlehem.
and into the midst of the devout assemblage
comes the mpertinent little man with his note
book, turning the temple of prayer into pub
lie show. To him Christmas is day when
there is much to be seen and much to be writ
ten; piety is rather picturesque performance
| that calls for picturesque language; the chuich
| is a Sunday theater, where the quality OF the
| performance and the character OF the audience
alike demand his most careful inspection.
Yesterday he told the world how we all looked
at our prayers, and how we sang our praises,
and now and then he was kind enough to de-
eide whether we had smart man for our pas
tor. The Church of All Souls is fortunate in
| a clergyman who possesses "a highly intellec-
"tual countenance which bespeaks the sympa-
thy of his hearers and whose "eloquence
"is of the highest order" Naturally, there
fore, ia fashionable congregation gathered
cat this temple of liberal Christianity,
"who were bent on hearing Christmas ser
"mon.n The younger members of this fashion
able company of wOrshipers seem to have
amused Themselves according to The Btdfher-
skih, with gallantries at the church door, but
as soon as the sermon began they were riv-
etedr by the "quiet earnestness and faultless
" elocutionn of DR.. Bellows. St. JOseph's
Church, i'll the Sixth-aye., is less fashionable,
its congregation consisting of the solid mid
die class" but even these people were not
wanting in bright happy faces and comfora-
"ble, well-tO-dO exterior" The music seems
to have been too fine for any but first-class
congregation. Madame Martinez sang a very
sweet soprano solo with telling effect" and
there was every exquisite" Sanctus, consist
ing of light and almost dance music" st.
! Theresa's Church, in Rutgers-st., was more
successful than st. Joseph's, for it has
lone of the most select congregations in
| "the city," and on Christmas Day drew
highly respectable and fashionable audience,
before which we are happy to say that the
service was conducted with much artistic
ability" by the talented organist of the
church." Mr. Gleason, and the Rev. Father
Fhttery, who, being an orator and accomplished
scholar, and not at all an "Over-estimated"
man, "gided into some beautifully pointed
: ~ -, npnl,
ties At the New England COngre gatiOnal
Church the sermon of the Rev. Merrill Richard
son "was repletc with all his accustomed i'm
FASHIONED style and cOpious energy of argu-
" ment and illustration " the anthem was
"most superbly rendered." and the voluntary
was exquisitely played by the accomplished
| Organist The Church of the Messiah is now
| the "favorite resort of the fashionable church
goers of Murray Hil," and was crowded
by an audience apparently as jealous
and devout one could wish for"
which was gratifying indeed The elegant"
Fifth Avenue Baptist Church was filled
"by the usual fashionable congregation"
all of whom were "attired in their sober and
comfortable winter garments" The reporter
| is particular to mention that these garments
were worn in consequence of "the pinching,
cold, frosty wind"-a statement from which
readers will draw their own conclusions. The
choir was every effective !" the prayer was
"fervent," and DR.. Armtage in his mastery
sermon, was aglow with eOquence. The wOr-
shippers at st. Patrick's Cathedral were prob
ably not fashionable; but Madame Chome sang
with so much expression, and the other vocal
lists displayed such " fine musical ability in
| fI,air nartc fbat tha ubaot
people in the city might have listened to tho
entertainment with satisfaction. At st. Vim
cent Fener's the audience was filled with
religious delight" and "for a solemn spec
tacle on Christmas morning" the performance
could not have been surpassed 1.-THE must
zeal portion of the services reflected much
credit upon the Organist and his well-tTained
assistants" the fine choir being augmented
"by additional soloists," and Miss Fissett
especially giving rendition of GounOd's
"AUe Maria with all the feeling and express
sion which that beautiful composition re-
"quires." At Plymouth Church the festival
was celebrated with anthem and song of APP
prOpriate mental and metrcal harmony" and
with INSTRUMENTATION of rituaism;" but an
unfortunate fanT pas was committed in setting
up Chrstmas-tree so tall that its branches
hid the face of Miss Morgan, the new con
tralto, and other feminine members of the
choir" Mr., Zundell's anthem, =" for operate
effect, could scarcely have been surpassed"
One OF the choruses was strongly suggcs-
/" tive of The Whisper Chorus in Les Bri-
gands.'" The tenor and soprano "distin-
gushed themselves, and, taking into consid
GRAFTON the zero condition of the atmosphere,
may be said TO be in excellent voice. Pass