The Portland daily press., 1873-12-27
ChriStmas.

Christmas Day was pleasant, though the
sky at times threatened snow. Apparently The
day was very generally observed IN the way OF
fast driving, nearly or quite every team in the
city being out. The children were happy as
hapnv could be over their gifts, and those of a
larger growth seemed as much pleased. Christ
mas services were held at the Catholic and
Episcopal churches, and at the New Jerusalem
church
CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Bishop Bacon delivered very eloquent and
instructive sermon at the Cathedral from the
following words: "Gory be to God in the
highest, aud peace on earth TO men of good
VIII The day has arrived when the promise
made to our first parents should be fulfilled -
he chose for mother virgin, she whom the
prophets had spoken of. The abode of the
mother of God was at Nazareth In obedience
10 the command of H,rod she journied from
there to Bethlehem Being poor she could Oh
ain no shelter and was obliged to seek it in a
barn, and there at midnight in The most in
clement season of the year, Mary, pure and
spotless, without any detriment of her virgini-
~, brought forth the Redeemer of the world.
thus Cod came upon earth in human form.
He comes to redeem man, 10 reconcile him to
his maker He came into the world stranger;
40 one was there to receive him, Shepherds who
never leave their hocks, obeying the voice OF an
angel fall PROSTATE, and worship him. Then
was there rejoicing on earth, then did the angels
of heaven sing, "Glory be to God in the high
est and peace on earth to men of good will"
Peace is not security; true peace is the peace of
conscience. Our Savior comes to insti that
peace into our hearts; to redeem us from Sa-
tan, to return to us the Inheritance which our
parents lost, which we loose day by day when
we commit sin. Let US to-day and henceforth
be grateful to God; let us make to him offer
ing 1t is customary on Christmas to give
presents and gifts to our friends Let us make
Him an offering. He wants not worldly gifts, but
our hearts. Let us give Him our hearts; let us
with all sincerity and warmth offer them to
Him, and He will receive US with divine love.
The Cathedral was profusely eeorated and
brilliantly lighted, and the music was Very fine.
1t was given by quartette composed of Mrs.
Ellison, Miss Ella Lewis, and Mcssrs. Howard
and Coffin
ST. LUKE's CATHEDRAL.
At st. Luke's Bishop Medley delivered an ex-
temporaneous sermon from Luke |, 10, ii. He
said the message of good tidings was as much
a message to us to-day as it was to the Bethle-
hem shepherds. 1t should be received with
more joy, for we understand it better We un-
derstand the character of Jesus as Priest,
Prophet and King; not simply priest, prophet
and king; but the Priest of Priests, the Prop.et
OF Prophets, tine King of Kings. As. such HIS
nativity demands the greatest of all celebra-
tons.
The church decorations were elaborate and
than in former years.
NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH.
Bev. Mr.. Hayden delivered sermon from
Luke i: 10. He dwelt upon the idea that IL
was in pursuance of a divine as well as natural
law that Christ came into the world. As that
marked IA new epoch IN the history of the uni
verse of spiritual being, so Christmas should he
10 every one point of new departure, of con
irmation of all the good done before and of
new aud holier aspiration and effort for the flu
ture.
ST. STEPHENS.
Rev. Mr.. Dalton prea ,hed from John Eli
He spoke OF the ancient heresy that all that
was human of Christ was his body, and COM
batted 1t. He held that all flat is most pre-
cious in the New testament requires US to be-
lieve that Christs DIGNITY assumed our nature,
including soul and body
ST. PAUL's.
Rev. DR.. Pse took as his text, ''This is the
day the Lord hath made; let all the world re-
joice." He argued that Christmas should be
observed as the centre round which everything
moved. The birth aud death of Christ furnish
key to the subsequent history of the world
As Jesus and his apostles observed the feast
days of the Jews, SO should we observe the
feast days of our church.
ST. DoMINIcK's
AT St. Doninick's Fa her O'Callahan acted
as celebraDt, assisted by Father Wallace. The
celebrant delivered sermon on the Nativity.