The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-27
CHRISTMAS IN TIE CITY.

| CHRISTMAS IN TIE CITH.
How 1t was Observed In Public and
Private-The Day In the Churches and
at the FIresides.
Christmas In Charleston was o drizzly,
sleety, sloppy, uncomfortable day, In which
anything like enjoyment out OF doors or al
any distance from roaring fire was out ol
the question. The Incidents of the day were
few and far between. There were no shows
In Charleston, and perhaps 1t was a good thing
| (for the shows) that there were not. a few
/ 1 sconsolates gathered On Coming street to
witness slight chicken dispute, and the
members of this party heroically and persist
emily claim that they had good time, and
that they will be heard OF again at certain
little entertainment to be provided some
time next week by our enterprising neigh
bors at Savannah. Other small parlles
were made up In the various club-rooms
about town, where sundry sedative games
with the pastsboards formed the STOCK
attraction, and these parties were en-
gagged as general thing In active and inter-
ested Investigations into the doctrine OF
chances until late and unseemly hours Of the
night or morning. These were, however, e4-
ceptional cases, and the day, on the whole,
proved favorable occasion for the cultiVa-
ton OF the domestic virtues, the weather out
side being such as to emphatlcally encourage
any rowing propensity, and 10 make the happy
sherer of family freslde rest supremely con-
tent In the snuggest corner OF the hearthside
and toast his shins and slippers without a
Wish to brave the elements which whietled
and paltered In the streets. The yule log
burned merrlly on many hearths, whether
typiaeld by the modern coal stove, "oase
burner,n or baltimore heater" and the yule
log under any or either of these aliases proved
By far the most powerful attraction OF the
day.
Most of the Episcopal and Catholic churches
were tastetully decorated with rich masses OF
evergreen relieved by bright red glimpses OF
the holy berry, and by groups and clusters OF
such hardy blossoms as were to be obtained,
but the attendance at most of them was serl-
ously interfered with by the inclement weather.
At st. Philips Church, which was richly
trimmed, a sermon was preached by the Right
Rev. Bishop Howe. At st. Mlchael's Church
the ladies' had tastefully draped the chancel
rail- and chandelier with evergreen and dow
ers, and in addition to the service Of morning
prayer, the communion, and the leasons and
collects for the day, an address appropriate to
the occasion was delivered by the rector, Rev.
Mr.. Trapier. The other churches were gener.
ally decorated and open for morning prayer
except Christ Church, which will appear In its
Christmas dress next Sunday morning.
st. Johns Chapel, Hampstead, was neatly
decorated. On the wall above the chancel
were the words "The Prince OF Peace" form
ing semi-circle and enclosing star. The
chancel rail, desxs, altar and font were deco
rated with festoons of evergreens intertwined
with artificial flowers. On the walls between
each of the windows was large wreath OF
eyerereens, and there was large festoon
upon The wall under the choir gallery. Morn
ing service, sermon, and the communion
were rendered by the Rev. A. W. Marshall,
rector. ---------.-----.--~
The decorations at st. Johns Lutheran
Church were especially elaborate and effect
i've. In an alcove behind the pulpit were the
words, "Glory to God on hlgh," forming a
semi.circle. On the south of the alcove was,
..Joy to the world, the Lord has come" and
on the north, -'Unto you Is born this day a
Saviour" The altar, reading desk and pulpit
were dressed with festoons of moss and ivy.
The pulpit bore the letters VI. b. g." Be
meath the balnstrade of the choir gallery was
a Tyre bearing the word "Joy," and dressed
With moss and ivy. The pillars supporting
the gallery were sdornea with wreaths. In
consequence OF the lnclemency Of the weather
the special services for the Sunday school
were postponed to halfpast three o'clock on
Sunday afternoon. A short sermon. by The
Rev. T. W. Dosh, pastor, and the services pre-
scrIbed by the ritual of the church, constl-
tuted the celebration of the day.
THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
In the Cathedral Chapel high mass was cele'
brated at five o'clock A. N. At that hour the
church was Illuminated by over four hundred
tapers, which were kept burning for an hour and
a half. Tue altar was literally 10 blaze CT
light. It, together with the Virgins altar on
the western side of the church, were decor.
ated With graceful festoons of evergreens.
There was no-other dressing. Low mass was
celebrated every helt hour untll niue o'clock.
At half-past ten the tapers were relit, aud
pontiacal high mass was celebrated by Bishop
Lynch. At the same time the choir, consist
Ing OF thirty voices, under the leadership OF
Professor Muller, rendered Wya ffs's Mass In G
with grand effect. The shop afterwards
preached sermon on the Incarnation, taking
his text from the first chapter of st. John as
follows: ''In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God.n
Just after the five o'clock mass pleasant
incident occurred In the presentation to Pro-
fessor Muller, the Cathedral organlst, of
handsome gold.headed cane from the mem
bers of the Cathedral Choral Club. The cane
was engraved with Professor Muller's name.
The presentation was made by the Rev. D. j.
Quigley.
In st. PatrIck's and st. Joseph's Churches
the altars were decorated with evergreens.
In the former high mass was celebrated at
midnight on Tuesday, and a sermon was
nraached by the Rev, DR.. Moore. Low mass