The New York herald., 1872-12-26
SERVICES IN THE CHURCHES.
ST. TH0MAs, CHURCH.

The Sunrise Service for Children-Ex.
quisite Music at the Service OF the Holy
Communion.
Yesterday was day OF quiet JOY and piety a
St. Thomas church, corner Fifty-third sire ct ant
Fifth avenue. noble edlnce, radiant with light
bright, happy faces, beaming with sunshine and
good feeling, vast chorus singing strains, sublime
and joyOus-ths was st. Thomas church yester
day. In this church the day was indeed the day O
Saviour's birth. Christmas breathed out of the
fragrant wreaths with which the church wal
dressed children whose faces frightened with the
expectation OF plum pudding and the daintfes o.
CHRISTMAS CLEANED
through the Oriel windOwa and seemed to be
written on the marble and the stained glass. The
scent Of the flowers was sweeter than on ordinary
days, the faces OF the congregation were happier,
the very atmosphere was made pleasanter by that
happy sense Of Christmas. This was the feeling Of
or the glorious day.
At halfpast seven in the morning there was
sunrise service for the children. They came in
large numbers, although the cold was piercing.
They feasted their eyes upon the decorat tions.
Wreaths and stars OF holly, laurel and evergreen
fragrant, and Scriptural m0tt0s made out OF
leaves. festoons drawn all over the walls-al made
the church beautiful Four large cedar trees were
The chancel looked perfect grove, ana from one
part OF II the berries OF the juniper trees gstened
were 80 bright and crisp that they rejected back
the light, and so fresh were they that the dew
seemed yet to be upon them. An immense cross
OF laurel, most beautiful to look Att was EN-
beddcd In Or trees-was In the back part OF the
chanceL The pulpit. the lectern and the organ
Mottos, .Glory to God In the Highest,n mighty
Cod" Everlasting Father "The Word Was Made
Flesh and Dwelt Among Us,'n "Prince OF Peace" and
others were on the walls. They were SET In green
leaves and wreathed In laurel.
The children, after having looked at the decOra-
tons, sang merry Christmas carols, Mr. George w.
Warren playing the accompaniment on the organ:
prayer BY the Rev. W. r. Morgan, pastor Of the
church. The children sang also the forty-third
hymn Of the prayer book, "Khile shepherds watch
their nocks BY night.n Their bright clear voices,
ringing merry In the ears Of their parents formed
III no Tax DEEP, soNoxoUs TONES
OF the organ. One could not say which sounded
better, the lusty sharp voices Of the children or
the mighty music OF the organ. The usual morning
service at Christmas was held at eleven O'Clock.
The professional "Hosanna TO King David's Son"
by h. 8. Cuth. was sung with much spirit. 1t Is
expressive Of Christmas Joy and Christmas cheer.
After the reading OF the Psalms and OF the lessons
the "Te Deum Laudamus" and "Jubiate DeOr lin
F major), by Alfred N. Pease, was sung
The music Is OF brilliant style. There
and they were admirably rendered: The Introit
from Handels messiah" TO Thou Tenest'D Il in
Handel's severe style, but the expression OF JOY
and cheerfulness 10 perfect. Calkins' "Kyrte
Eletsam" and Zingarellis raptur0us Gl0ria Tibi''-
which must have been inspired on o Christmas
Rev. William F. Morgan, the choir sang Mosart's
"Gioria in Excelsts." !" which made the very build
ing ring with sublime echoes Of q world full OF hap
piness and glory.