National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-12-25
MIDNIGHT MASS.
Services at St. Paul's Church.
SHARK, the herald angels sing.


For several years past the custom Of having
celebration Of the Holy Communion at midnight
on Christmas Eve has been one of the mostiupor-
tant events that takes place within the parish Of
St. PauIs Rituslistic) church in this city, and 1t
was the good fortune Of representative Of TIE
REPUBLICAN to be present at the service early
this morning. The service was announced to be-
gin at few minutes past midnight, butlong before
that hour the edifce was thronged with people.
st. Psul's church is situated on Twsnty-third
street, below the Circle, and is Of unpretentious
appearances, being small one-story church, with
wide nave, and possessed OF many colored and
stained glass windows. The one IN the rear Of the
window, is embel with magnificent repre-
sentation of st. Paul, which was q present from
this parish. The congregation Of this church,
which is composed for the most part of poor peo-
pie, was organized in the early part Of 1858 BY
for more than q year held their services over .
grocery store at the corner OF Twentieth street
ana Pepnsylyania avenue. Having had the pres.
went to work with Will to erect suitable church
for his fast growing congregation, and after thor
with the aid Of few kind friends. the corner
was laid in Der, 1899, and In exactly four
teen months from the time Of the laying Of the
their new church, the dedicatory sermon being
preached by Rev. CHARLES Hall, then rector Of the
Epiphany church, In this city, now Bishop Of Long
they had quite heavy burden upon their shoul-
ders in the shape Of debt amounting to some
q avs On the sF Of
the debt proper, and, with the exception Of q few
bills Of no great value, the church Is entirely
clear financially.
In his nrst sermon the rector announced that
It would forever be free church, where all could
assemble, without distinction rs TO gold and pre-
the service OF God in . fitting and appropriate
manner. For the services last night the church
WAS beautifully decorated. Across the entire
composed entirely Of evergreens, surmounted by .
croes Of white cameliar; behind this the altar
all relplendant with lights and flowers, the ar.
rangement OF which was truly artistic. There
were over one hundred candles upon the altar
and within the chaneel rail, which is an unusually
deiabras and jewel cross which graced the altar
were brought nom Rome and presented to the
church by one Of its members. Around the sides
beautiful Of flowers, empowered in green leaves
and emblamatical notices, telling In their own
poetical language the Joy and festiviy Of ths 90.
which q Ss SCREEN n
such manner IS to form one almost psSfe..s
cross, and in fact everywhere q. aovef 81 svsr.
green could Dc placed the cunning hands Of the
striking manner, At the appointed time the low
sEsstnStsso OF the magnificent new organ viorated
tafongn te3 church, accompanied BY the soft, yet
distinctive utteranoes Of that glorious professional
hymn, the "Adeste Fidelss at first way on In the
distance, gradually growing stronger and
stronger, TIM at length the Sacristy door opens,
the choristers march out in grand style, keeping
time splendidly, and fairly making the church
rfnp with their Joyous melody, emelematic OF the
birth Of our Lord. The congregation all rise and
remain standing until the procession IL ended
The procession Is headed by crucifer, carrying
magnificent ieweled Cross and 10 followed by the
acolites smallest FIRST, all attired In white cas-
sock and black Gotta; they nle down the north
aisle and up the centre, separating at the centre
precision to their accustomed places in the stalls
ranged on either side of the chaucel. There were
fnyltwo in the choir-men and boys-and their
singing Clearly evineed that the training Of their
muEicsl director was not in vain. a short anti
communion service preceded the regular celebra-
ton Of the Holy Eucharist, in which the masnin
cent singing Of the chofisters formed special fea-
ture IN the "Credo," by Oalkins, tenor solo
was admirably sung by Professor Sipe, and the
quertette In the "Benedictus, "-Messrs. Slpe,
Hay, Doyle and Prslle-Hss very fne. The
Communion service was simply sublime, the
long row Of white-clad choristers receiving the
bread and wine, so emblematic of the sufferings
of the Saviour, at that solemn hour Of this hsly
Christmas morning, affected majority Of the
large congregation in q manner unexplainable.
Over three hundred persons received Communion,
and the majority OF those who RETAINED from the
sacred table felt their insignifcance more keenly
than ever. The flowers and the church were
triumphsntly glad, proclaimed the Messtah's
coming, when sweet voices poured forth flood
of rapture, who is there TO deny that the hal
lowed eve brought balm to the weary spirit, and
made the "Star Of Bethlehem" shine DER dark
eued pathHays2