The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-26
ASCENSION DAY.

IMPRESSIVE SERVICES IN THE CITY CHURCHES
GREAT CROWDS AND SPLENDID MUSIC.
The solemn festival commemorative Of the ascension
of tho Saviour into heaven forty days after His
rection, was celebrated yesterday many Of the
churches throughous tho city. II especially day
oil religious obligation in the Roman Catholic churches
which were crowded to repletion at the different
Masses while the Protestant places OF
ship the attendances we're unusually large and the
vices Interesting and impressive. II was day on
which Christians generally united in their joy for
Christs triumph on earth and His assumption OF HIS
seat at the right hand Of the Almighty. Ascension
LAY Is q movable feast, always falling on the Thursday
before whisuntide. More suspicious weather could
not have favored solemn OCCASION and what with
imposing ceremonies large aud devoted assemblages
grand and appropriate music, the sacred event was
honored in a very ediying From early
hour ST Patrck's Cathedral crowded to the doors
The services were throughout marked with character
istc mpressiveness and, from all tho surroundings
the great festival which one OF the most important
in the Roman Catholic Church, vivdly brought be-
fore the minds or the faithful Tho first ccle
brated as early six O'Clock mt which there
every hour, aud at half.past ten O'Clock there was
solemn high mass, the officiating clergymen being the
Rev. Father Quinn, Vicar General ceIebrant, Father
Kane, deacon. and Father Mort, sub. deacon,
Rev Father Kearney acting as Master OF
Ceremonies At the termination OF the first gospel the
ceremony Of extinguish,ng the pascha candle, which
has been lighted IN the sanctuary since Holy Saturday
forty days was pcriurmed The ceremony itself
is typical OF thriss departure from earth Tho high
altar was brilliantly illuminated and large number OF
acolyles At the mass, the effect being very
posing. The musical arrangements were, as usual ex
cellent Similar services were held in 81. Stephens
church the spacious ed,nce being completely thronged
all the masses; IN ST. AIMS church, IN ST. Francis
xavers in the Church OF the Paulist Fathers and in
ali the other Roman Catholic Churches throughout the
city. In the Protestant Episcopal churches there
also large crowds OF devotees Services were held in
ST. Ann's church, Eighteenth street. at seven and
halfpast ten O'Clock, AT four in the afternoon and
eight O'Clock p. ~, when the Rev DR.. ). Osgood
preached a sermon inc following programme
yesterday viii be repeated next sunday professional
hymn dlsl, "lhe Atoning Work is Done" James
and twenty -arsu, TIE Deum Laudamus, Henry Smart;
Benedictus Dudley Buck; lntroit, Jerusalem, My
Happy Home (4se); kyrie Eleison lss. W. T. Best;
Hymn 1l3 "Thou Art Gone Up on High,' J. P. 0ner-
tory, "Blessed Are the Mercliul'' II. Hcs Sanclus,
Gounod; Hymn 0O9: 20 Paradise!' :. Barnby. Of
London "Goria in Excesis, DR.. Monk OF York; Re-
cessionai hymn (llS), '.lhc Atoning Work"
TRINITY CntRCH.
The services at TRINITY church were very imposing
They commenced at half.past ten aud lasted until the
chimes had run2 out two O'Clock. The church was
crowded to Its utmost capacity before tho service COM
menced Metropolitan society was well represented,
the ladies' being In the majority.
THE MUSIC.
Mr.. Henry Carter had in the organ gallery an
orchestra selected from the best members OF the Phil
harmonic Society, thirty-hve In number. Mr.. A. h.
Mcssi,er IN the chance conducted chorus OF sixty
aud boys, and also played some selections the
choir organ. The sololsts on the occasion were:-
Soprani Masters Baier, Coonbc and Irvine; alto, Mr.
smedley; tenors, Mr.. b. Farr and Mr. Macpherson;
baritone, Mr. Price; basso, Mr. Dunkinson. The fol-
lowing programme rendered:-Sonata for organ,
No. g. A. G. Ritter. magnhcenty played by Mr.. Henry
Carter; "Processional,n Hills from the composers
oratorio rhe Crusadcrs anthem, the priests chorus,
from Handcls solomon - the Gloria, from Mozarts
mass In c major: the .orla,n '.Credo." ''Sanctps'
and "Agnus Del, . from Gounods St. Cecilia mass; The
first movement OF Schuberts great symphony in c,
and Mcndessohns grand illustration OF Psalm ia,
eight vocal parts, with orchestral accompaniment
Critically viewed the performance nything but
successful The orchestra were placed In positions
calculated to neutralize their efforts completely The
wind instruments, or at least some Of them,
perched above the organ the brasses distributed
around mscel ancously below, fanked by prlsou.lke
bars. the strings could scarcely use their elbows,
close they around the organist, and tho chorus
was the other end OF the church and INDUCED in
queer vagaries IN regard TO tempo. worse musical
performance could scarcely be imagine
The services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Dix, as
sisted by Rev. Dr. 0gIeby, Rev. Mr.. Hltchngs, and
many others The altar was brilliantly lighted, and
the noral display was very picturesque The services
altogether well calculated to enlist the attention
Of the faithful and worthy OF the solemn occasion.