The New York herald., 1870-04-15
MAUNDY THURSDAY.
Music, Decorations and Ceremonies-
The Office Of the Tenebra.

Yesterday was Holy or Maunday Thursday. 1t
was celebrated with solemn pOmp and ceremony In
all our Roman Catholic churches. Temporary
inches, richly curtained with lace and muslin and
adorned with gold and silver lace and rare and beau
tfu flowers, were erected to the left OF the high al
tars, and within the recesses symbolic sarcophagi
were placed to represent the Saviour's tomb. Be-
fore these repositories after the blessed sacrament
had been deposited, throngs of devout wOrshIppers
knelt during the day, each remaining from fifteen to
thirty minutes.
These rites OF the Church OF ceremonies and SYM
bols celebrated on Thursday, Friday and Saturday
preceding Easter Sunday, are commemorative OF the
last sufferings and death OF her Redeemer. Every
expression Of festivty and Joy is laid aside In her
service. No Gloria in Ercelsis win ring forth, or
sweet bells be chimed instrumental sound In her
churches until Holy Saturday, which celebrates the
eve Of Chrst's resurrection.
The services at
ST. PATRICK's CATHEDRAL
were carried out with more rubricai ex-
actness than at any other church. An exquisite re-
pository mad been prepared on the evening before.
1t was glittering with white lace, gold and silver
fringe and Naming with the light OF many tapers.
The service began at half.pass ten A. NJ
Tas Ssfy 1 ssss' s sd ssfs
crossbearer being young clergymen, sem.
mari ans from Troy. Twenty acOytes headed
Vicar General In gold vestments, cope, mantle and
stole, as ceebrant and oicianr OF the service, ac
companied by the Rev. Martin O'Hagarty deacon
Rev. James Mclean, sub.deacon; REV. Michael
Phelan, cross bearer; Rev. p BrOpny ana Rev. Jonn
Kean. thurfers, and Rev. John +. Kearny, master
Meantime the Krie and Gloria were rem.
dered, with organ accompaniment by the finc
selected by the organlst schmltz. The C,edo was
splenddly sung, without accompaniment, by
schm,tS himself inns Mme Chome ana & Mile: Werner
tenor and basso, did themselves infinite credit In
the music rendered without accompaniment after
the Gloria
THE SOLEMN PROCESSION OF THE HOST
followed the celebration or solemn High Mass, the
whole audience reverently kneeling as the clergy
passed down the AISLE bearing beautiful canopy
over the head OF DR.. Stars, who ceebrant, bore
the sacred vessel containing the blessed sacrament
Grated wafer was placed within the repositOrJ
there to remain until Saturday morning.
CHANCELLOR PRESTON'S CHURCH
was adorned with the exquisite taste that charac-
terizes everything connected with this beautiful
cession, about a nundred little girls, dressed in
white, with white wells and wreaths Of white roses,
added to the beauty and artistic effect OF the
scene. Some bore in their hands bouquets,
Others baskets OF flowers others candles In tall
dlestlcks with broad bobeches to protect their
dresses from the melted wax. But 1t looked fear
fully dangerous tnat dense crowd to see the lights
flicker SO near lace tule and muslin. Six very
small girls dressed as angels, closed the procession
Chancellor Preston Ofclated as ceebrant the Rev.
Fathers Poole and DE Chard as deacon aud SUBJ
deacon.
ST. STEPHENS,
the most beautiful temple OF ecclesiastical art In our
city, fully sustained its reputation for taste and ele
gance this OCCASION Its richest repository redo
lent with thousand sweet ex0Cics, displayed, among
others, beautiful mammoth bouquet or nora
escutche0n bearing the legend Jesus" in red flowers
upon white ground formed OF cameias tea roses
ana spreas This beautiful gem OF floral was
presented on the evening before by o committee OF
young ladies, teachers from one OF our large public
schools.
SOLEMN HIGH MASS
was celebrated by the Rev. DR.. McGlynn, assisted
by the Rev. Fathers Grimm and KInsella
deacon and sub-deacQn. The Rev. DR.. McSwecny,
as master of ceremonies, conducted the process.
sion and ordered the services with his usual tact
and good taste.
THE OFFICE OF THE TBNEBRR,
chanted by clergy and acolytes, took the place Of
the usual vesper services III Oil the churches In the
off