The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-12
COMMEMOR OF TEE IMMACULATE GOV.
CEPTlON.

In the greater number or the Catholic churches OF
this city solemn and beautiful services were held
yesterday afternoon, In commemoNtion Of the I'M
maculate Conception OF the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The festival proper occurs on the sth OF Decem.
| her, but 10 very often celebrated on the sue
cceding sunday, owing to the fact that more
| time can on that day be devoted to
tine celebration than would be possible on q week
day. During the afternoon yesterday the vicinity
OF every Catholic church IN the city thrOnged
by spectators, who took delight In watching the
professions OF handsomely dressed female children
who passed into the sacred edces, their fair inno-
cent faces and shoulders snrOuded by white wells
and wearing white gloves on their hands In some
OF these professions candles were borne by the
young girls, and In all banners appeared bearing
the naIAes OF the
sODALITY OF THE CHILDREN OF MARY
and the Sodality OF the Holy Infancy. The former
society is composed OF grownup girls, and the latter
Of smaller children, belonging the different con-
gregations, who wore on their heads wreaths OF
pure white flowers. In the different parishes the
banners were borne in-procession by the young
affairs, and havirg taken their places IN the pews
set apart for them the impressive hymn or Regula
cell and the hymn Of the Socialists were chanted
by fresh choruses Of youthful voices.
AT ST. PETERS,
In Barclay street, the services were very fine over
three hundred children dressed IN white skirts bine
NANTES and white wells assisted In doing homage
TO the Mother OF God under the supervision OF the
good Sisters OF Charity OF the congregation OF st.
Peter's. The services were also very fine at St.
Joseph's, st. Mary's, the Church OF St. Paul the
Apostle ST. Teresa's Church Of the Immaculate Con-
ceptiOn ST Bridget's, ST. Columbia, Church of the
Holy Redeemer, IN Third street, and many other
parishes.
So. Mary's Church, Jersey City.
The congregation who attended st. Mary's church
in Jersey City last evening witnessed solemn and
edifying spectacle. II has frequently happened
when the feast of the Immaculate Conception
which is the national festival In the Catholic
Church throughout this country, occurred
in the middle Of the week. IN this year. the public
celebration was deferred till the following Sunday
Accordingly the girls OF the Sodality OF the Holy
Childhood, about one hundred in number, and the
boys OF ST. Aloysius Society ranged in St. Mary's
church at the hour appointed for vespers under the
charge OF the Sisters or Charity and the Christian
Brothers. The girls were neatly attired in whIte
with wells and wreaths on their heads and at the
head OF the sodally a handsome banner was borne
banner, wore sashes, and following them were
several boys in surplces and sOutanes. Then came
large canopy borne BY four aymen OF the parish,
and underneath TINS canopy the blessed
sacrament was borne by the pastor,
Father Senez, on either side Of whom
were Fathers snyth and Fox. roDed In vestments
known as "damatics.n few PAGES preceding the
canopy large crucifix was borne by one Of the
acolytec, and as the procession moved along the
was most solemn and Impressive. The Choir sang
the Lnudd Sion. position which 10 evidently de-
signed to remind the faithful OF the lofty ouibursts
praise and Thanksgiving continually poured forth
10 the throne Of God by the choirs or angels. the
fugue movement 10 well calculated 10 elevate the
mind which 10 distracted with worldly cares and
Troubles 10 the conception oil the spiritual and super
natural Altogether the celebration In st. Mary.s
was one which cannot fail to produce deep I'm
preston on those who attended. The services con-
cuded with benediction OF the Blessed Sacra-
mSe