The New York herald., 1875-12-26
A srArup or AnoNIs
CHURCH or ST. MARY THE VIRGIN.

The services yesterday at the Church of St. Mary the
Virgin were of the high rituastlc character. The ed
ace which is at Fortyhfth street and Eighth avenue,
beautifully decorated. The altar was draped in
white and gold and the upper part Of the tabernacle
was adorned with flowers, the most conspicuous OF
which bright scarlet star. Waxen lights Of
every size and brlliancy gorifed the sanctuary while
the church aises in the shade, the day being
dark and few gas jets lit. The services began
with the midnight and were continued in
the morning until the meSsG cuntdtd, which was
celebrated by Father Brown, the pastor. AT eleven
O'Clock the last morning service was begun Dy the
choristers chanting the professional and appearing
acolytes white surphces and red soutans- the
choristers dark soutans the celebrant white
satin cbasuble, with golden cross, over white alo
The procession entered chance by the centre door
and the services progressed. La Hasdie's mass was
sung, and Rev. Dr. Batterson OF Philadelphia, preached
the sermon, after the first gospel His text was FOUND
IN Matthew, xxi, AZ what think ye OF Christ whose
son is He3"
The sermon was a model OF brevity and dealt prin-
cipay with the questions OF Christs incarnation and
divinity and their influence Christianity. AT the
outset of his remarks he said that the whole Church
was ringing with Joy this Christmas morning be-
10 commemorative OF the Saviour OF mankind
Still he felt constrained to call attention to the papa-
BILE tendency Of mankind in these days to reject every
form Of religion and follow a philosophy OF their own
under tho specious pretext that they were doing SO
under the banner Of human freedom. Condemning the
prevalence OF nhdety thus apparent and deprecatng
the latent desire in many hearts in these times
hurry forward IN the direction opposite to the relgion
the Master Dr. Patterson repeated the words Of Ihe
extand described the old old story OF the nativity
at Bethlehem; Christs lowly lie and origin far a.
they were known TO human beings at that time, the
grand victories He has since achieved the world
wisdom and everything; He by His word had conquered
not only nations but also human hearts, winning them
from themselves and turning them to God The
preacher described Rome as IL at the time Of the
birth and passion OF Christi its religious social and
temporal condition. and the total change wrought 20
speedily in these TO make the Imperial CITY the
home Of Christianity in three centuries The preacher
speaking Of the Redeemer and His attributes quoted
the words Of Napoleon I. on ST. Helena which sub.
stantially declared that Christs achievement In
tho conquest OF mankind through love rather
than by force proved Him incontestably more
than man, surely divine From this to the close of
the sermon Dr. Patterson devoted his attention and
arguments to proving how absolutely necessary were
the incarnation and divinity OF Jesus to the faith
OF the Catholic world The divinity the heart
Of religion. In the incarnation Christians found rest
from SIN, woe, suffering and distress and through
both mankind found redemption In conclusion the
preacher eShorted his hearers TO avail them selves OF
the salvation afforded by these means and TO hasten to
do something for their souls this day of general re-
J0cing