The New York herald., 1874-12-26
ST. PATRICK's CATHEDRAL.


very Impressive. The festival OF Christmas being
one OF the greatest in the Church Of course every
thing was done that could be done tasteiully in
the way OF decoration to make the interior OF the
sacred edi1ce wear an aspect or more than
usual grandeur. No attempt had been made At
decorating the main body OF the building, hut
the grand altar was most beautifully adorned.
Not only was the altar itself ablaze with o thou
sand lights, but the walls OF the sanctuary were
hung with wreaths OF evergreens, and from their
topmost height lighted tapers threw down upon
the ricl gold cota which hung In glittering folds
from the stand where the candeabras we're
ranged nood OF light that was per.
iectly bewilderng The side altars too,
were neatly decorated and rendered
bright and beautiful by the numerous lighted can.
ales which were placed IN clusters on either side
OF the statues.
There was a pontincal mass, the ceebrsnt being
Archbishop McCloskey, Rev. Fathers Kane and
McNamee acting as deacon ana subdeacon re-
specttvely. The Archbishop and the deacon and
supdeacon, as well rs the Vicar General and the
other priests, were attred In rich vestments that
are worn only on the occasion OF great festivals
The musical part OF the services was superb
The mass sung was the Messe SOlennee. ''St.
Ceca.' by G0unod. Mr.. Gustavus schmtz pre-
sided at the organ and there was chorus OF forty
voices The "Veni Creator" just previous to the
sermon was sung oy Mrs. Ellenilch, and at the
Gradual the "Adeste Fdeles" was sung with much
expression by Mrs. Giles, who also SAND Cheru-
blnl's -, Jesu Redemptor." Mrs. Grosz sang 80
Jesu NIL The NEST attractive parts OF the
with chorus accompaniment. The "Et lncarna-
tus tei zetto and chorus vas splendidly rendered,
as was the "Agnus Der'-teuor and soprano
solos and chorus. From beRlnning TO end the
rendering Of this mass was magnificent.
THE SERMON.
Shea, >. J. The reverend gentleman took Tor
hts text, For God so loved tne world that He
gave Hts only begotten SON." DC. The discourse
nn:te power, sovereign. INDEPENDENT. He said that
nothing could In any way eitner add TO or take
from HIS happiness for, being infinite, from Him
proceeded every thing taat.cver was or is. Moth
ing could enter into existence without His per.
MISSION. He then spoke OF the creation OF man.
r snrousa Goas love for nim and then pointed out
how ever after He mad, as an evidence OF that
love, though man mad become rebel
mis- SINS gwen him His only Son. God,
he said, was innoite goodness as well as INFINITE
osa M nrss s ,oxe s ~ or own Was a. genera rie
He mad not only. been patient with man, but had
snowered blessings upon MIN even when ne de.
served wrath and destruction; and when he did
send His Son to US az q teacher as one after whom
We might regulate our own lives, He sent Him IN
the most attractive orm In that oi
LITTLE CHILD.
He might have sent Him a. an aven0er, to crush
out aud annihilate; but Hts great love Tor man
tnen showed how un2ratelui men were or ail that
God IN his mercy aud goodness had done
Tor them, and was daily dong tor them, and how
necessary IL was that we should, IN the midst OF
the bustle and excitement OF the world, think
more rnan We do OF His goodness and act accord
ingiy; tor God gave every one OF US the grace we
need OF Him. but though He did not need u.s. lie
was ever ready TO help us, to give as courage and
strength. Ii we lost our souls IL would be through
our Cwn fault and not that OF God, who wsned
that the sinner might be saved rather than lost.