New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-25
THE CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL.
MUSIC AND DECORATIONS IN THE ROMAN CATHoLl
AND PROIESTANr EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.

The CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL.
MUSIC AND DECORATIONS IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
AND PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
The natal day of the Head of the Christian
Church will be Observed to-day with appropriate sery-
ices in tho churches the CITY, In the Roman Catholic
and Protestant Episcopal sanetusries the ceremonial
will take the most imposing form known to their order.
Their temples are lovely with flowers and vordsnt with
greenery, and today Will echo the choicest music
specially arranged for the OCCASION while tho worship
will put all the splendor Of which 1t is capable. In
OF the churches the decorations finished yes
terday in others the evergreens all put up but the
placing Of the flowers. whose bloom IL shortved Is
put off till the morning Christmas festivals the
children given yesterday IN several parishes; in
others they will be held to-day, the rest coming in
during the next few days Tho services Of to-day in the
principal Roman Catholic Churches will be as follows:
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.
Atst Rtephens Church in East Twenty eighth-st the
preparations for Christmas have been very elaborate
At 4:so this morning there will be high mass, when
Carks mass will be given by voluntary choir of 10
voices directed by MIR. Tracy. Masses will be given
every half hour after till o'clock. At 1880 a. M,
solemn high mass will be celebrated, and the Rev. Dr.
Ret S' te sermon sofses Ven Creator will
be rendered. ana the Adeste Fldeles" az the oner-
tory. The regular quartet OF the church, including
Mime Bredelli, soprano; Mile. Meunier, contrato; NJ
Bernhard. tenor; and NJ. Coletu, DasSo, VIII DO
of 20 voices from ST. Stephens Musical Association An
orchestra twenty pieces will take part in the musical
Danforth organlst OF the church At p. will he
chdren's festival and at $50 vesper service. rms
with evergreeps. long chains Of which extend from
pillar 10 pillar The gallery rails are barred with green
aud hung with verdant wreaths and stars. The altar
CLOVIS with flowers in all its spaces. Above its highest
pinnacle a 6Oral star three feet in diameter From
the ceiling OF the sanctuary depends star IN gasjes
ST. AIMS.
At ST. AIMS Church in East Tweftbst. the first mass
will be at O'Clock Then will be celebrated every
hour till solemn high mass ia given. L. Duchauer,
the organist Of st. AIMS, viii direct the musical
services. which are to be of SPECIAL merit The choir
Mr. Ahueger tenor and Mr.. Succio. basso will be as
sisted by a carefully drilled chorus Of twenty
No 8. viii be rendered Humners Alma
Virgo w,n be sung BY Miss Corr SCrrad om and
The principal decorations upon the grand altar and
confined 10 the sanctuary. Upon the top pinnacle
OF green trailing. on every pinnacle and candeabrum
decorations in evergreen Tall Dir trees stand before the
main pillars OF the arch over the sanctuary ana inc
OF flowers is before the altar Of ST. Joseph and beaut
fully disposed flowers adorn the altar
ST. PATRICK's CATHEDRAL
St Patrick's Cathedral Mulberryst. will be opened
at 400 a. H. At a. m, the prayer OF Kyrie Eeison"
will sung the music OF Msndanice, to he followed
by the Gloria" There win be masses every hour dur
ing the forenoon at 1880 grand Pontihcal High
Mass viii be celebrated, at which the music VIII DC
Archbishop will give the congregation the pehealctoh
At 500 p the Grand Yespers, just completed by Gus
tavus SchmitI who will conduct the choir, VIII be per
formed The church has been prousey decorated with
evergreens and natural flowers, arranged III iestoons
wTeatns and crosses.
ST. PETERS CHURCH
At st. Peters Roman Catholic Church the Christmas
services will begin with mass at a. M, followed by
solemn high at l0 80 The musical programme
under the direction OF W. F. Pecher includes Mass No
in r fat HAYDN; Adeste Fideles. Novelo Ofert0ryT
rsalO. Milard Elevation,
church IL prOtusely decorated with eyergreens ana
flowers fronts Of the galleries are festooned with
verGTaens and also the sides the ehance over the
picture OF the Crucihxon is the Inscription Goria IN
Excesis Dec" on the side altar rests the figure Of the
infsnt and beneath it the word Jesus" In the front
OF the tabernacle massive gold cross and surmoun
ing II an immense floral one OF great beauty large
nnmber OF candelabrums, with lighted candles. are
arranged each side and IN front OF the tabernacle ana
between each bouquets and various floral AT
the back OF the cbancel are hemoek trees and ever
greens. 49,. ,,..,,o,, ~ cr,r,ocu,s
At the Church Of ST. Mary the Virgin services will be
held at a. H. and At IL a. m. celebration OF
the Holy Eucharist will take place. Evening prayer
will lie offered up The music Will DO sung by
boy-cboir and quartet Of picked voices The decor
atons consist OF eyergreens aud flowers covering the
altar circns the church. and adjoining the pillars
There will also he white banners displayed bearing the
usual Christmas symbols High mass VIII he celebrated
at the Church Of the immaculate Conception Inc Rev
Tohn Cotton will act as celeDrant, and the Rev W F.
Hough, DID, will deliver the sermon The church mas
been very tastefullv decorated with evergreen
The Church OF ST. Francis Xavier has been handsomely
decorated with flowers and evergreens inc nsna ser
vices will be held. The music Will lie rehoefea oy All
extra choir and orchestra
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
Old Trinity takes the lead among the Protestant
Episcopal churches in the ambition OF its musical pro-
gramme Alta. IN. the holy communion will be par
taken Of; at o'clock there will be second service,
and the grand service will take place at 1880
The Rev. Drs Morgan Dix and Il. Ogleby.
aud the Rev. Messrt. Hnchings and Hongh,
ton viii take part A. H. Messlter; the o chez
az voices will sing orchestra of 20 will take part
directed by Henry Carter, assistant Sresnist A,er
Mozarrs First Mass In Cconssting OF opening Anhem
NiceDe Creed sanctus, Agnus Del, and Gloria in Excel
Beethovens First Mass The opening anthem. GLORY to
God the Hghe.t" u adapted -, from Monarss
The decorations OF the church include large trees OF
in the spaces between the windows and IN the
corners the churches with larger ones Oh either SIDE
Of the altar Tie pulpit steps and railing are decorated
with Of evergreen and holly and the back part
nj the altar IL raped in q similar manner The organ
iott is adorned with large trees and the windows
prettily decorated Large branches OF holly are
sdarnneD.s Of the chancel and altar are chaste
and beautiful and include large cross OF white flowers
sewers and the iectern and font beautifully
mented Yesterday afternoon the children OF Trinity
the Rev Messrs Hitchngs. Walker. and Houghton,
and Bishop Tozer took part In the service and the Rev
some of Them very splendid and carols were sung by the
children. Christmas music rang out from the enimes
last evening.
GRACE CHURCH.
AT Grace Church the principal service will be at il
a. m when the Rev. DIR. Potter Will preach. Samuel r.
Warren the organst viii direct the music, winch VIII
he snns by chorus Of 10 voices the choir OF Grace
Church beng assisted by that OF the broadway IaOef
nacle The sole singers are Mrs. W. N OIiver sopiah
Miss Anna Drasdil. contrato George simpson, t1no',
and J0hn CLARK, basso. The programme 'ncmues
Uaydn's chorus, the Heavens are Telling !; o. r. WAT
100 :. Vsnite (,ouDOds "Gors in EXcesis, Warreps
are DENIM Mozart's "JuDilate" and Bachs shthen
And tnere were epherds at the Ohertofy: ,r.
Tbe decoratiols ber unusually otapofatc. Tue
tablets over the altar literally covered Win osei
Greens In the center there 10 star OF lsutei, o'