The New York herald., 1872-12-26
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.


mons by tho Rev. DR.. McGlynA-
Crowds or Christmas Worshippcrs.
Christmas was celebrated at St. Stephens
church, In Twenty-eighth street, with great splen-
dor. From early morning until evening the ser
vices were continued. The church itself was
splendidly decorated On former festival ooca-
stOns the services had been conducted with great
pomp and ceremony; yesterday there seemed to
be festival air about the church. the result OF
combination OF influences. The magnificent affairs
were decorated with great taste, and though there
was profuson Of flowers everywhere visible yet
everything SO fitted Its place. and the ornamental
additions were in themselves 80 beautiful that the
scene was exquisitely rich and harmonious.
There was no crowding OF candelabrums on the
altars and yet there was full illumination OF the
sanctuary, tinted by the mellowed light that came
through the stained glass windows. Evergreens,
frs and bouquets were scattered here and there;
bouquets Of flowers filed inches near the affairs;
the white marble pilasters and the higher parts oi
the affairs were gracefully entwined with green
leaves and 70 es Bromide's beautiful painting OF
handsomely framed with green leaves; the picture
over st. Joseph's altar was in the same setting, and
the picture Of the saviour. which Is hung on the
frame concealed with flowers. The fronts OF the
galleries in the transepts were festo0ned with
laurel and fr, the panels being ornamented with
crosses and other embems. Around the fronts OF
the principal galleries festo0ns Of green leaves
series Of iooped Strings 81 hemocR and laurel sx
tended around But all TINS bright and pleasant
picture was In contrast with the humble little crib
which stood near the Virgins altar, its roof
thatched with straw. .ra
The music at the solemn high mass was especially
grand. The most irreligi0us OF men could scarcely
have heard Mozart's splendid "Twelfth Mass," "a
it was rendered at this church yesterday, and not
which are believed to be the neversnding delight
ol the blest. Danforth the organtst, deserves no
small praise for the manner ~ which nc ne tea
orchestra and some thirty additional singers.
There were parts Of the mas. wnicn were Inspiring
the conceptions o. the composer and the truthful
and artistic rendering Of the music by the singers
1t is unnecessary to speak OF the many briliancies
OF the composition, for the mass has long been ad
judged almost unapproachable effort. Besides the
hymn, the .'Adeste Fideles !" which was given with
out the change OF n0te in that familiar air that
% 1 al sns woa " ,ba ID e
rangement for the hymn was, In point OF taste and
appreciation Q the sentiment, worthy OF the occa-
SION. In the afternoon Mercadante's "vespers were
sung. At the vespers the church presented q most
imposing appearance. At any hour the sanctuary
costly; but when the church Is lit up by gas and
the numberless candles on the affairs the effect is
still greater and there 81 t Is r.9nr =. o. awe
stirred by the continued now OF joyful or pathetic
music by the various religious cymbals, and, above
all, by the sOlemnity OF the service and the evil
IDENTITY deep devotion OF the numberless crowds
that oil the church in every part. The Christmas
hymn, the "Adeste Fdeles, was again sung at the
vespers with even better effect than at the high
mass The singers were Miss H0wson and Mrs.
Wiegand, sopranos; Miss Munler, Miss KOhmann
and Miss Conay, contraltos; Mr.. Bernhard and Mr..
Demacht, tenors; Mr.. Colletti and Mr.. Flick.
bassos. The chorus was from g. stephens Ans-
cal Association. Miss Coney win In future belong
to the regular choir OF st. Stephens and, judging
from her excellent signing yesterday and her ac-
complisnments % musician, she wlll prove
valuable addition.
From the arst high mass, ct halEpast four O'Clock
in the morning winch was celebrated by the Rev..
Father McCready, until that at halfpass ten
O'Clock, the church was literally packed with wor-
shippers. Masses were said every hour or hall
hour between the frat mass and the solemn high
masa which began at half-past ten O'Clock. and at
which the Rev. Father Flynn was celebrant, the
Rev. Father McCready deacon and the Rev. Father
Lynch sub-deacon.
Afser the frst gospel Of the Arst high mass Rev.
Dr.. Mc01ynn preached an eloquent sermon from
the gospel OF the mass. As this congregation was
to great extent composed OF the working classes
the sermon was particularly beautiful, for this
preacher is always best when speaking out freely
the thoughts Of his own mind TO those he loves the
best, who the very poorest Of the poor. II tho
solemn high mass, which began at half-past ten
O'Clock, DR.. McGlynn preached again, this time de-
hvering beautiful exposition OF the Gospel, then
explaining how "peace on earth" was to be gained,
aud concluding with loving appeal In behalf or
the OF phans in aid OF whom the collections ct Oil
the masses were taken YESTERDAY.