The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-12-27
RELIGIOUS SERVICES.
Exercises Held AT the Episcopal aud
Catholic Churches on Christmas

tatnO1c ShurCnes on CHRISTMAS
Day.
AT ST. ALPHoNsUs CHURCH.
On Christmas Eve the confessiOnals
were crowded, and on the following
morning not only the body of the spa.
cious edifce but the communion rails
were perfectly filed. There were six
masses celebrated, the first at O'Clock
A. NJ, and very large congregations at
each. The interior of the church itself
was indeed very tsstefully decorated.
At 10 o'clock the Rev. Father Collins
celebrated the high mass, during which
quent and effective sermon on the "ln-
Csrnatlon OF the second Person
of the most adorable Trinity
The morning services terminated
with the singing OF the ''re Deum"
by the whole congregation, lesd by
the efficient choir, under the superin-
tendence OF Prof. Seeiy. At - o'Clsek
Vespers took place after which the va
rlous sodslities Of the parish went in
procession before the Mott Blessed Sac
rament. Alter the Benedlction, the So
dslities proceeded to the ST. Alphonsus
school house, where the Rev. Father
| Collins, after having preached fee!ingiy
on the great goodness OF God in appoint
ing special angel to guard each one OF
US, solemnly blessed u very beautiful
altar AID statue OF the "Angel Guard
isn."
l. ST. MATTHEWS.
The Rev. j. q. Armstrong preached
stirring sermon on Christmas morning.
His words were well chosen aui
the delivery was in his very best man
her. The congregation was large one
and seemed much impressed with the
hdeas winch were presented. 81 feel"
[ said the reverend gentleman, "a delicacy
in introducing upoH these solemn
and vastly important days, an ndireS.
OF my own The services OF or church
contain such concentrated sentences Of
wisdom and truth and so thoroughly
cover each and every occasion that 1t Is
| difficult to say aught that can approach
them, either in dignity or impressive
ness. There is one grand thought con
| nected with our church that must strike
you all with It's sublmity. The various
services that you and | are engaged in,
encircle the world. There is one great
| swell of these services around the world.
| Owing to the rotation OF earth upon its
axis. which creates difference in time,
there is CONTIGUOUS and unceasing roll
OF these services all day. For
instance l. at halt past
ten o'clock read to you the first line of
mornings services; rs the sound OF my
voice dies away some clergyman west Of
me takes up the line aid alter him an
other still iurtner west and thus 1t con-
tinues around the globe. What is still
more impressive is that slI these services
and all these commemorative songs and
tributes, are ia honor of Que birth, al
humble BIRTH, birth in manEer the
birth OF Jesus Christ. For eighteen hun.
dred years this celebration has been much
the same and the birthday Of Christ has
been observed every year, Christ IS deep
enlng himself upon the human mind
day by day, yesr by year and
cycle by cycle. He has more honor to-
day than he ever had before. La spite
of the many skeptical influences which
have been brought to bear against his
church, can say, firmly and with
truth, that not a single gem has been
taken from my Redeemer's crown. The
influences of which | have spoken have
only ended in showing God to rs in II
| clearer light. We know more and more,
dsily of God than we did; more OF the
mode OF existence and OF the working OF
| the divine creation than before, and
more of the divine relations that Christ
| holds with God. II some of our texts
are swept away by the rising sun OF SCI
ence we may think We are lost, but it Is
not sol 1t is merely removing some o!
| the scatioldIng from around that graudesL
and most sublime temple,--the word OF
God. Many private opinions may be
swept away, and msnyEthcologIcal opln.
IONS proved to be false, but Christ and
His religion will be unchanged in spirit
and in strength. There must have been
something great and grand in Mahomet'
to cause his writings and teachings IT, hold
their sway over thousands of followers,
to this day, but a close examination will
| show that the best OIL all the holiness is
upon the side of Christianity. Let us
allow that holiness to deepen within Us,
and our charity and love to widen and
expand and then We shall not have
spent this Christmas day IN vain, and its
result will remain with US forever.
AT THE HOSPITAL.
High mass was celebrated ut the Hospi-
tai on Christmas day by Father Nc.
Ellcut. The old St. AiPhonsus choir
sang omitz, mass in superb style. Mrs.
NJ. Beuter sang the solo Ave Maria with
great beauty and expression. After the
mas: the choir presented the Sisters with
a handsome sum of money for the benefit
of the orphans.
CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS.