The New York herald., 1872-12-25

Rorty-second street ana Madison avenue, last
night The services commenced at midnight ana
consisted Of the prayers and hymns usual for this
Impressive occasion. The church, even at that
,mte hoar, was fairly filed with the fashion and
wealth belonging to thas congregation. Rev.
Steihen H. Tying, Jr., the rector, ofnciated In ful
raronical robes, assisted by the two deacons: The
sclan e cnoir esVe SssIs the Ase Mara and Te Deum
with exquisite voice. Long after the early nours
Gnrsmas Day nan ssoen nna an.S satisaed to IeI.
homes.
Services at st. Mary the virgin-An 1m-
pressive Celebration or Christma3 Eve
Midnight Services.
Christmas Eve was celebrated In an Impressive
manner at the Church OF st. Mary the Virgin, West
Forty- fifth street, between Broadway ana Eighth
avenue The church was richly decorated. 1t was
fragrant with MOWERS and bright with evergreen.
gne altar fairly btoomed with flowers; wherever
you locked you saw burning candles and exquisite
garands The 100 candles on the altar were not
lighted, being reserved for the high mass to-day,
but the red sanctuary light was burning. Like
Christmas the church was full OF light and ira
Ecance and JOY and sweet voices mingled In the
igrase Of the Almighty Giver OF this happy time.
Atthe vesper service, at eight O'Clock last even
ang, Mr. Prentice, the orRantst OF the Church,
played the oveature to Auber's Grown Dia-
monds' which is fun OF light sparkling airs. The
CHOIR then went in a procession from the choir
room to the chancel, and the Rev. Father Noyes
who ofciated, intoned beautiful prayer. The
yesper service from Gounod, a service OF psalms
and chants was sung by the choir, and then fol-
lowed the Novello's "Adeste Fideesn i"Come, all
We iaithful'l which is in the maestfo's best style,
and was listened to with profound attention.
During the Oflertory the "Cantique de Nochn was
Bung-a song OF Christmas Eve, full Of joyous
strains and happy sentiment Millard's 'Magnf-
Cat,n one of his forid compositions, which finally
breaks into brilliant "Gloria," followed. 1t was
sung In very creditable manner. But the choir
fairly outdid Itself in the "Te Dcum,n in which the
music seemed to express the sublime yearning for
Christ. During the ''Te Deum' not breath could
be heard. All was silence and devotion, and when
the congregation departed they expressed them
selves highly pleased with the beautiful, soustir
eng music. At midnight there was low
celebration of the holy communion.
large number of communicates attended de-
spite the bleak. cutting weather. 1t was
ing cold and the bowling wind that gave SO disma
q sound into the cheerful church, where everything
reminded youof peace and happiness and joy
without all darkness and desolation-within shin
lng light and the perfume OF lilies and the fresf
evergreen. The epistle and gospel lights illumina
ted the altar, which looked II possible, even more
beautiful than at the vesper service. Father Brown
Off1ciated, and the celebration, which lasted abOu
bali an hour, was marked by great piety and devo
tion On the part OF the numerous communicates
No more inspiring celebration OF Christmas Eve
could have been held. none that could have filled
ehe minds OF the communicates with nOble
thoughts or higher aspirations.