New-York tribune., 1874-12-25

the ceremonial wave swept up to and gone beyond
the Episcopal rite. illustrated at st Ienatus ana
tho First Vespers and Midnight Mass OF last nRht couu
hardly be considered presenting the features OF wnat
is understood to be extreme ritual Ine interior
the church Is moro elaboraey decked this year than
ever before the members large guild OF the parish
organized last Summer for mission work among the
poor having been busy for weok IN preparing the
festoons Along the side-walls OF the church are
gothic arches Of evergreens one In each panel within
each OF those suspended rch banner eght III
all These banners bear severally the following titles
NJ tho HOLY Savior: "wonderul." Counselor" "Tho
MIGHTY God :" "The Everlasting Father" The Prince
of Peace" "The King OF Kings" "Emmanual," and
"IOrd of Lords" gothic roodscreen' bearing at It's
ton tho Holy Rood, stretches across from tho organ
chamber to the sacrsty separating tho choir from the
nave As tho nave represents symbolic language the
Church Militant tho choir the Church Expectant, and
tho sanctuary the Church Triumphant the symbolism
NJ tho that there is no way from earth to
Paradise except through the cross Green arches rise
above both the ana the the fronts
OF the ator being decorated with fcstoons and emblem
alto shields Within the sanctuary banner, Illuminated
with gold and COLOR hangs at each 500 OF the altar
The altar ITSELF clad Ia Its white vostments Is profuscy
odorned with flowers among which stand innumerable
uobts while the six largo eucharisc lights high
over ALL Along the upper edge OF the reredos stand
seven lights symbolic Of the seven spirits OF Cod Tne
rear wall OF the central shrine on the upper retabe Is
temporarily coored blue, by which device Inc superb
eweled altarcross Of this church Is more clearly dis
played than usual. The above, with sym'ohc Stars
wreaths and crosses In evergreen lorm thc MAN
features of the Christmas decorations.
At 10 o,clock last night the altar candles were nl
tho organ begin to sound with the festa tones
of the 3ost hymn. and tho First Vespcrs began The
voice of the Ofciant sounded family from within tie
sacrsty as he with tho chorfcrs sad the preparatory
prayers The choir then heard taking up the first
a1 hvn uh hisu f1lo ~
crsty doors we're thrown open, and the choir and CLERGY
entered the church and took their places In their espcc
tive stalls The First Vespers choral throughout
and need no description being the usual evening serv-
Ice of the church. varied by the "Propers for the day
At their CLOSE the Rev. Prof. Hall or the Gem
eral Theological Seminary preached an appropriate
sermon on the Birth OF the Lord about to be commcn-
grated at midnight, which Is supposed to be the very
hour OF the Nativity. After the sermon the Oaiciaut
passed up to the altar midst and the Magnincat as me-
mortal OF the IncarDaton was sOlcmnly chantcd THIS
was followed by the Collect for LldyDty and the Ben
dsoa Tine choir Snd erfy scr troh ors y
tho retrocessonal hymn. At mi,niSht tho eretNt ~
the American Again the voices OF the priest
and of the choir heard from within tho sacrsty
Again the organ sounded @ hd f h, doGs me OF tine ts
sion, singing, "Adesto Fidelcs," marched around
the church and approached the ar 1y way
meanwhile. First came the professional cro's, horne
aloft by crlcfcr clo led In Gotta ana violet caSs0ck
black cassocks and cotas Behind me ch0ir men came
the magnificent banner OF tho Gud OF ST. ignans with
figure OF the Holy Martyr emhroid"red on one side,
his motto below, "Do nothing without the Bishop and
Presbyters," and an appropriate device on the back
This costly banner made u Paris is gift to the church
by one Of its parshoners. 1t was borne in procession
was was followed by representatives. OF tho Guild
marching in couples. At the rear OF the pr1;
cession came tho acolytes aud other sacred
ministers the cclerant clothed In Girded alb an1 white
STOLE manple and cllasube being last OF all The choir
resumed their places their stalls where they proceeded
10 sing the IntrOt. which consisted of the PsI, Cal-
their secrea" consisting of the Psalm " Jullca me"
and the Connteor" The cclcbrant. who was the rector
OF the parish Dr. Ever then passed mp TO the cpiNte
side OF the altar and ntoned hc collect for Purity The
commandments with the Kyrie Erison" followed, the
choir ,s singing nsodr the nsr aSa .S ck ac music m
beginning Bright. bright in silver light" was
nor the t the side wsra the
Christmas Day was inoncd. The "Credo' was sung to
Merbeckes simple but grand music There was no scr-
dIaely after the Creed, the choir singing during tho
Offertory "The Marvellous Work. by Haydn; The
celebrant. The "sauctuS" and "Benedictus" were by
| Rink. The "Glora in ExceIsis" ana "N.no Dimittis"
of the priest and sacred ministers. large number Of lay
COMMITMENTS throngcd 10 the sanctuary rails 10 being
their sacramental communons at early celebrations or
in this at the midnight mass thus avoiding tho
without fasting at midday celebration. Tine latter
used III this church as acts OF worship ana Tor spiritual
cOmmuni0ns The midnight service, wGich was very
solemn and devotional throughout closed as usual.
"Hark, theiHeral1 Angels, was sung as rccess0nal,
the procession retiring o the sacrsty In the same order
in which had entered The services In TINS church to-
day are to be as follows: The ceobratiOn which
will be plain, will begin at 1880 a. NJ The Morning
al O'clock third celebration which will be choral
with sermOn will be sung at 1890 a. H., aud tue second
vespers will be said at 4:3O this afternoon.