The New York herald., 1874-12-26
GRACE CHURCH.

The services at this popular and fashionable
church yesterday were III the usual elaborate style
always shown on Christmas Day. The attendance
was, In great part, made up OF strangers, the
regular pew holders not being on hand In their
usual force. Through ineniciency OF the attend
ants q great many people who might have been
provided with seats were kept uneasily standing
throughout the service.
The decorations OF the church were In very good
taste. Evergreens In profuslon were hung all
over the edifcc. Along each pillar depended mas
sive rolls OF these from the ceiling to the foor
Bunches and branches of leaves were placed at
equal distances along the side walls. The most
striking point. however, was the decoration or
the altar, which was literally buried beneath the
evergreens with here aud there q rosette formed
OF q huge bouquet, Frightening up the effect or
the whole. Here and there these souquets were
placed ul about the altar and pulpit
Tne music was consistent with the good reputa
tion Of the church IN this regard though the choir
10 any thing nut strong one Just now. % Some very
managed with thorough skill. The musical por
tion Of the service began with an opening anthem
tidings,n a composition OF J. Goss. The remainder
OF the programme was as fonows:-"..vente.n -
Bertno,d Tours; .re Deum," in dat bud.
ley Buck; .Juoate Deo" IN c, Dudley Buck; !;
Hymn u, Mendelssohn: Gloria Iioi;" Anthem
virgin shall conceive" And after the sermon the
..O1ertory' was sung, with more taste than any.
thing else on the programme.
A short sermon, or rather address, was deiiv-
SPOKE Of the importance Of tho Christmas In the
Christian laIth AMI the beautiful significance or
the day. subsequently communion service was
held.
ST. PAUL'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
The services at this church. IN ll7th street, res.
terday, at baii-past ten A. NJ. were o! a solemn
and In presslve character, the altar being beartl.
iuily decorated Win flowers and evergreens.
Rev. Father o'Kceie acted as cele5rapt and
Rev. Father Mcclure delivered an eloquent ser.
mon on the gospel or the day, and also stirring
appeal IN behalf .. the orphans.
The music consisted OF Generalli's Mass, In @.
cuted IL the most artistic manner oy TIE quartet
OF the churcL-Mrs. CHARLES hamilton. soprano /;
Miss Agnes Dowdal, alto; Mr.. NJ. Donovan, tenor /;
Mr.. Phtip +. sullivan. bartone-under the direc.
ton OF the urganlst, Mr. Ii. Malum.
CHURCH OF ST. VINCENT FERRER.
The Dominican church, Sixty.nlth street and
Lexington avenue, presented a brilliant appear.
ance at high mass yesterday. ihe body OF the
church was crowded with earnest devotees. on
the alta.. which b.azed with light, richly mantled
ministers and attendant acoiYtes moved TO and
Iro, while the strains vi organ ana choir awakened
the devotion OF the congregation.
Haydn's Imperial Mass was rendered IN good
styic Oy the chOlr uHuer tue direction oi the
organlst, MIR. Han-cheL Miss Louise Morrison
Fiset sang the hymn 80 Salutaris nostran to an
ARIA ~ Verdi Lambillotte's chris slnas Anthem,
PASTORS, IN o. WAS also rendered with much efect.
Mas Was ceebrated by Father Mlkenua, ASSISTED
Dy Fathers stlnHer ana Delnchnn as deacon and
SUB deacon respectively. The sermon was preached
Dy Father Daiey, who chose Ior HIS text the hrst
cnapcr OF ~. JOnn, hrst aud tenth verses ending,
..he came unto ms own aud ms own received hln
not" Ihs idea was tue prominent one OF the dts
course. and on 1t the preacher hinged all his ex-
hortafions, painting 10 his listeners In plain colors