The New York herald., 1872-12-26
CHURoH OF sT. viHOEHT PERRER.

Christmas Among the Domfnicans-A
Musical Festival by tho Philharmo-
mics and Bea Sermon by tho
Rev. Father Mcagher.
To hear mass on Sundays and all holidays OF
obligation ID the nrst commandment Of the Catholic
Church. and IL s of the best observed OF any Of
the commandments Of any Church. The intensely
cold weather Of yesterday contributed to anything
but the dimfnution OF the attendance at last mass
at the Dominican church OF st. Vincent Ferrer,
sixty-sitxh street and Lexington avenue Of which
the Rev. Father Lilly is pastor. Among the wor-
shippers who filed every available seat and
crowded along the aisles, the vestibule and even
up into the organ loft, were Q great many
strangers rom other parishes Of this and the neigh
boring cities, especially from Harlem, whence came
quite large delegation, including General Swee-
ney and other distinguished Catholic gentlemen.
The "strangers" came to enjoy Christmas SER
mon from the great Dominican preacher, Father
Tom Burke, who makes the convent attached to
this church his home, and who was expected to
deliver H9t
THE BETHLEHEM SERMON .
yesterday. Father Burke, however, did not nnd II
convenient to put In an appearance, being at
present In Nashville. Tenn; but those who at-
tended that mass specially to hear him lost nothing
by his absence. for they were most pleasantly dis
se the1e ess sae sd DS se ,Ss rs
Rev. Father Meagher attached to the church OF st.
Vincent Ferrer, who well sustained the equally
welideserved reputation which his order enjoys as
" The order or the Preachers.n
Father Meagher, VINO is man OF hne proper
after the frst gospel and, having read the Gospel
OF the day and Its beautiful story OF the Saviours
birth, proceeded to show the condition Of the
THE ADVENT OF CHRIST.
TO Gil outward appearance the world was in q
state Of grandeur and magnincence approaching
to absolute perlection the arts and sciences -four
Ing any parallel for II in after ages; but all under
meath was depravity and corruption. No time
possibly have been selected. His " very birth land and
grand rebuke to the ideas which then pre-.
vailed. II anybody had heard Of the birth
Som bS neT ans the not earthly king ne
entire universe that miserable stable at Bethlehem
was the last place in the world one would think Of
BILE and its humble surroundings better became the
dignity or God and Redeemer OF mankind than
ns y
rect the three great evils which then prevailed and
which st. John called the lust OF the nesh, the lust
OF the eye and the pride OF liIe Father Meagher
wound up his splendid discourse with an eloquent
peroratiOn.
THE BEAUTIFUL CHURCH
was magnincently decorated with festoons Of ever.
wax image Of the infant Christ attracting general
attention. The music approached the reporters idea
OF the celestial harmonies. 1t came from double
quartet chOr-Miss L. Morrison -Fiset, soprano solo;
Miss N. Tracy, alto; Messrs. Frenzell and OFT,
tenors; Nessrs. Sullivan and Marshall, bassos.
The organ. under Professor q. H. Hanschel, was
inforced by the splendid orchestra Of the Philhar
conducted by Felix Leifels. Haydn's Imperial Mass
mo. 81 was magnihcenty rendered throughout,
with Lambtl0tte's 'Christmas Anthem" and Gou-
mods "Ave Maria by Miss Morrison -Fiset The vio-
lin solo, with orchestral accompaniment, by Mr..
Frank Danly, was much to be admired, and his per-
musical wonder. The congregation separated with
'tMerry Christmas" on every face. It ought to be
added that at the morning mass, at half-past fye
O'Clock, all the cOnvenielces for Illuminating the
church were employed with most brilliant and
highly devotional effect.