The New York herald., 1872-12-23
The Greek Services in the Russian
Chapel in Second Avenue.
THE COMING OF CHRIST.
Brother Beecher's Words of SYM
pathy After the Burning of
the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
BL ESSIN A BELL.

Yesterday the weather was colder than 1t has
been before during this season. The wind blus-
tered aercey from morning until night. The warm
glow OF the red hearth at home shed through one
cOntented feeling OF happiness heightened by the
contrast of its generous warmth with the bitter
suffering out OF doors. The streets were covered
with CLASSY ice and were dangerously slippery. IL
was very sad, as well as curious, on the previous
night, at about twelve O'Clock, when the intense
coldness began, to watch the inebriated creatures
who were wandering about through certain quarters
OF the town. as is their custom, through the thick
gray clouds of snow that were falling tumbling
upon the sidewalk at every other step, and
the utter indifference and stolidity with which
they would there remain until picked up by
some kindhearted passer-by and sent upon
their way. Yesterday morning the wind had
swept the nagstones rather cleany, and seemed
freighted with keen arrows that pierced every
nerve of the body through the heaviest outer
clothing and made one shiver distractedly even
when walking at II jolly pace. Still, however, the
churches were not by any means empty, and people
seemed to brave the congelating mood of the ce-
ments merely for the sake of wildly daring them to
the very utmost. Red cheeks and smarting ears,
and stin, numb fingers were the consequences.
The eyes sparkled with the glow of freshly
inspired health and the solemn services in the
Bhad0wy sanctuares were followed with keener
Eest OF piety than is perhaps ordinarily displayed
by calm worshippers who have nothing to disturb
''the even tenor OF their way" There was some
driving In the Park and skating on the frozen
lakes, where the ice is now thick and smooth but
the cold was too bitter for much outdoor diver
tisement, and people who never go to church but
to amuse themselves went yesterday for that pur-
pose.
The sermons that will be found reported below
viii be read, undoubtedly, with considerable inter
est, from the mere fact that many Of them refer
directly to the coming Christmas festival, near
Mt hand. One great incident OF interest yesterday
In religious circles the presence OF the chill
aren in larger numbers than usual In the Sunday
schools, eagerly studying the lessons appropriate
to an approach OF the anniversary of the mys-
terious birth OF the Messiah. In all these little as
Bemblages also preparations have been going for
ward for q week past for the annual ceremony OF
the Christmas tree, which must never be omitted.
In order net to interfere with family rites OF far
more tender order many OF these celebrations will
take place tonight instead OF on Christmas Eve
Itself. One OF them occurs in the Quaker meeting
house in Schermerhorn street, Brooklyn, and will
De singular and curious because 1t is only recently
that the societies OF this denomination have con-
descended to so far debase their dignity as to copy
any Of the traditional customs of the world.
The Christmas season at present promises to be
one OF unusual JOY, satisfaction and good feeling