The New York herald., 1870-12-26
SERVICES IN WASHINGTON.
81. MATTHEW'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CaUaCu.


81. MATTHEW'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
A Christmas Honiiiy by Father gallagher
The Mystery Of the Incarnation-The
Promise aud FuinImcnt Of the Coming OF
Christ.
WASHINGTON. Dec. rs. 1870.
The celebration OF the great Christian festival OF
the year in this city was attended by none OF the
noisy demonstrations which invariably characterize
this holiday when it falls upon week day. The
weather mas moderated, and bright sunny day has
taken the place OF the npplng, cold and chilling
atmosphere OF yesterday. The streets OF WASH
ington were literally thronged with people
this morning vending their way to the
various places OF worship. The Catholic
ana Episcopal churches were throDged, while the
churches OF every other denomination were also
crowded. The services at St. Matthew's tRoman
Cathohcj attracted many who not OF that faith,
and al tho eleven O'Clock service there present.
beside the members Of the foreign legations, a num-
Der OF Senators and Representatives and many OF
the government officials. Solemn high mass was
celebrated, with Rev. DIR. G. T. White cele-
brant Rev. Father Gallagher deacon, and
Rev. Father McDevitt as subdeacon. The mass
sung was Haydn's No. 8, with fun orchestra and
organ accompaniment, the chorus being COM
posed OF the best vocalists in Washington.
while the principal parts were creditabiy
sustained by the ladies and gentlemen belonging to
the choir. AT the conclusion OF the singing OF the
Vent creator, by MIR. l.. II. Cannon,
CHRISTMAS H0MILY
was delivered by Rev. Father Gallagher, OF San
Francisco, who said that we celebrate, In time, the
birth OF tine eternal Son. born OF tho Father before
all ages. 1t required four thousand years to pre-
pare the world for great and so ncomprehensible
mystery rs the incarnation Of tile Redeemer Of
known our first parents after their unhappy fall.
and became.ther only hope and consolation. and
that hope WAS perpeLuatcd by the chosen people OF
of
Jesus Christ upon earth He was the desired OF ma
Ing to the people Ills glory and HIS lgnomlny were
sung III caDtites OF JOY and lamentations OF the pro-
hope In expectation OF the birth OF the Eternal son.
who destined to be the Saviour Of all mankind.
Az Alter the ladlment OF the types ana figures Of the
what DO We behold An infant help.
less BABE, born IN stable and cribted
great SEVERITY OF the season. He was unable
to express HIS suffering save by signs and tears
rich might borrow from His example the lesson OF
humility. Yes. the desired OF the eternal hllls the
son OF me Most High, nrst saw the light OF day IN
speaker asked remain with the shepherds and adore
our new born Singy Or shall We with the incrudu-
lons Jews, turn away and dcspise itmg Or snail wo
nope for the coming OF another Redeemer than HIN
who was born in the city Of Davids we believe In
Him, and believing, we VIII adore him, acknOwl.
edgmg that i'll Lhe birth OF the Son OF God recog
niZe
THE REDEEMER OF THE WORLD,
the same Jesus Christ whose nativity we this day
commemorate But can IL be that the son OF God
was born in sucn abject poverty or DO we Judge OF
His surroundings according 10 our humane cstlma-
tion or thlngsl Indeed, may truly declare thaG
the advent OF our Divine Master most worthy OF
meekness Is condition most comporling with the
omnipotence of tine Eternal One-wOuld appear
somewhat paradOxical; but 1t IS one OF the most
sublime truths announced from a Christian pulpit
To understand IL in this sense, let as sup
pose the description OF the birth OF the Son OF
in glowing coors. Imagine the beauty OF arcnitec
tural design in some great palace whose halls and
walls might vie with the splcndor OF 5olomon's
temple Fancy the gems which adorn His earthly
cradle the nlad gold the radiant light OF precious
display that creative genius can devise. All this
may be grand IN human estimation, but when allied
to 80 gsat my ysey hoW wns nnTSty m t Of HIN
adored All that the world attaches value too what
are they but the things of Gods crealion Does not
THE VANITY or ALL WORLDLY Show
And does IL not praise. even nnwlngly, the glory
OF humility2 And what Is human display, after all,
but emptiness and vexation OF spirit? No; lie had
no need OF these things. lie came to heal our
would have OF the things the world licttiousy
values. People or common sense are dS2usted
when they hear OF the pomp attending the birth OF
royalty; and shall we surround our infant King with
what then is despicable In the eyes OF true great
ness Not Rather let us go over with the humble snep
herds and behold the Child OF Mary, whose coming
has brought giadncss TO the hearts of millions Let
us consider the poverty the lowllness OF HIS earthly
beginning: how He was hidden from the knowledge
OF the worldly great lie whom patrarclls and pro
phets desired to behold with all the ardor OF thcir
lnmost souls Behold lhe wise men ourneying at
the beckon OF the star IN the east 10 lay gifts at HIS
iee Jerusalem IL astonished at The herald OF His
coming and Herod trembles on his throne. Tue
persecution of the holy lnnocens does not reach
that little babe, whose only projectors on earth are
Jesepn and Mary Az the nge OF twelve He aston
isnes the sages OF Israel by HIS questions, and
later in life he confounds the Pharisces ana
Sadducees by HIS wisdom. He commands nature;
He heals all diseases: He attracts the multitude,
ra iles the dead to life and fills the whole world
with the wogder OF His deeds. lie dies and tio
third day He comes forth from the tomb triumphant
over all His enemies vviiymg all things With new
life. The Gospel snpplants the old law and every
thing Is changed. THIS is, indeed, the glory
Of Him who IL Christ the Lord. who was
born in the stable at Bethlehem. All ac-
Knowledge His divinity and He receives the incense
the face OF the earth. Behold the great
mystery are called upon today to contemplate.
lie breaches TO us from HIS cradle, aud we may
clam, ''The ways OF God are not the ways OF maa,
thoughts OF men, See what estimates God places
upon the wealth OF tile world. ana learn from HIM
the sublime lesson o; humility aud detachment from
all earthly things. Study 10 learn the great truths
lie has thus given In His 0wliness, IN His poverty,
III His obscurity. Let all, rich and poor, learned
and ignorant, meet around the crib OF Bethlehem In
true Christian concord, and with the angels aud shep-
herds bow down and worship the Infant Jesus. Let
unite with them In loving Hin who for us men anu
for our salvation was this day born In Judea; that
serving Him IN time II may be our blessed portion
to adore Him for all eternity.
AT the conclusion OF the sermon the CrcdO was
sung with excellent effect, the grander passages of
this portion of the mass being executed In the most
given at the offcrtory, Miss Juliana May sustaining
the prncipal soprano solo. The SnnctuS and the
dgn $ Del at The close or the mass, were both rem
dered Ia dac style particularly tue Dono N0ots