The New York herald., 1877-12-25


procession arrived at tho entrance to Trinity
Church they were met by the clergy and tho choir.
ano a'a,saa paired on on each side Oh the church,
hlling tho pcws, aud ranging tho bann both
sides OF the centre aisle Al the conclusion OF the
services the Rev Dr. D.x delivered short address Of
welcome. No sooner had the singing or tho hymn,
"rhe Christmas Trccn been concluaed than the
richly carved oakcn doors OF the centre porch
were thrawn open, revealing to the astonshcd
gazs OF the enraptured youngsters fairy scene
Al the rear door lowered tall Christmas tree abaze
with lights. At tho foot OF the Tree long table
ranged which fairly groaned with books and packages
oil candy Tho clergy aud rector, together with tho
choir urst paid their at The shrine OF Santa
Claus, ana were rewarded ior their devotion by re-
cevEg each one package oi candy from the attending
young ladies, who performed tho agreeable task
10 the hundreds ol children as they moved eghted
astonshnent past tho table where tho stores oi
nucop'n were arranged, and around tho GROWING
glory oi the scene tho WONDERFUL Christmas tree fbc
children returned 10 their homes laden down with
presents oi books aud candy their hte hearts made
glad NJ the beautiful prcseuts they had received al the
hands Of Their good pustor and kiDd teachers.
MADISON AVENUE REFoRMED cnlEcH
The Madison Avenue Rctoennod Church presented u
true holiday aspect The organ, balconies ind reading
dosk were hung with garisnds OF evrrgrecns. FIR
branches rose nero ana there from tha balustrades
ana BANDS OF misetoe gay with crimson berries, we're
stretched across hc dark OAK backing 0i Tho paform
bqc SILK banner bearing Tue words OF welcome stood
IN tre centre OF the church. A large aud very iruit
iu Christmus tree, gittering with tiny tapcrs, stool
on each SIDE OF tho platform, ana several tables stood
Just by them hcapcd up with gayiy bound volumes.
4 large assembly Of ladies' ana gentlemen occupied
tho sidc pews and galleries, while the centre o
church was filled with tho crowd ot exuectant
youngsters. On the platform Dr. Lloyd, tho pastor
OF ths church, and Dr. l.. bevan, of tho Brick
Church, we're seated with several other gen
Sunday school, presidcj. rho exercises consisted
chiefly Of singing ny the choir and the children OF the
school. DR.. Beran made short address He sad
that lie supposed that such attractive objects as
the trees were before them, the children might with
out being guilty ol treason devote much more OF
thor attention TO them than TO numbor OF solemn
looking Cicrgymen, lie only wished TO give little
lesson which he would draw ron iho history Of the
Hc cxnorlsd Tho chi cn, OF all ages, 10
be good tempered away, as She was, even
IN traIs to be obscrvant especially oi opportunities
OF serving otherA and to pe sympathetic 10 be
always ready to respond to tho sensations OF their
fellows and thus afford them consolation on greater
pleasure DR.. Lloyd and two other gentlemen
also mndo short speeches, after which the most lm-
porlant event Of tho night the distribution 81 przes
took place Each OF the children received doubio
present. designed TO please alike tho intellectual and
ply steal tastes, aud alter some more singing all de-
parted Tor home, we'll pleased with their Sunday
school festival.
CONVENT or THE GOOD sHEpnsRD
An Interesting sccnC WAS witnessed III tho Good
Shepherd Convent last niant nj the grand nigh
In the nuns choir tho high backed stalls were hned
with those who devote their lives to Tho loss iortu
nate Of their WhitO robes nnd wnite mantles with
black wells crowping this snowy costume, oil moro
than ntty proicssed religious as they knclt 10 nm
broken ranks presented SOLEMN spectacle whilo tic
novccs, clothed whto IRON tho SNOWY
veil to the white shoes on their icot, formed
n choir Of sweet singers who carollcd tho
Christmas songs with fcrvoL In tho Mag
daeps Chapel on the episte sdo OF the altar knott
some eighty Of thcs, brown rooed daughters Of Mount
birth the angels sang SO many years ago. In u side
chapel were assembled tho class OF detention, with
their presiding In her statc whilo In tho gall
cry surrounding tho nuns choir knei the pentents
in their black dresses ind quaint ws caps. As the
hour 0f midnight toed tho altar reflected the rys Of
myriad wax lights, and gas jets CLEANED amid
the tasteful floral uccOrstOns. Tho chaplain, With
his acoy tcs entered tho and
tho white ropcd choir burst forth tho joyous
Of Lanbilotte's mass, the plainve "Kyrie" hubsid-
ing and tho exuItant "Gloria III Excesls' filling tho
hacwed space and re-cchong from tho vauItcd roof
until Inauguration almost bchcld the first angelic
choir The "Credo" and ofertory followed in sweet
cadence, until AZ the preface cxutant nosannas again
greeted tho car and this again replaced the old but
ever Ice of the "Adcse Fdelis Ut the
GRAFTON Whiie tho notes OF tho Agnus Dor pleaded
mercy the whito obcd nuns approached the altar,
and there knceIng received tho holy communion.
Super oress and her assistant rst then tho other
members Of the community according to their rank;
the pcnitents slowly followed these 10 tho holy table,
then such OF the children OF detention us we're
found 10 DO properly disposed 10 receive this sacra
mcnt, and lastly, The mnsdalcns knclt before the
opened grating that separates their chapel from tho
saLcuary, and with lhelr ve'ls lowered over their
eyes silently and revcrcntiy received tho holy COM
munon, tho choir meanwhile celebrating this least Of
love with tho choicest musical selections AS seon as
the high mass ended another mass was begun, at
which tho dcvout communcans assisted IN thanks
giving AS nouo OF tho inmates had had any rcposo
previous TO tho celebration oil mass they were served
with light repust alter which ihey retired but
to sleep, for at three O'Clock parties OF sohsstcrs
travcrscd tho corridors and saucd their com panion5
with Christmas carols sweetly sung
CHURCH ST. MANY THE VIRGIN.
In tho Church OF St Mary the Virgin, High Episco-
pal West Forty -ath street, Christmas Eve services
opened at eight O'Clock by solemn vcspcr
vice, conducted BY tho rector. Rev. Thomas Mckee
Brown, assisted by iull caor. The musical part OF
tho service embraced the following sciecsions-
Selection Tor organ and piano. Haydn: srocessonal,
a aa .Da rseaS rssI @ as
Hymn 3s7 MONK; Ohertory, Noel" uounoi- ''Masnih-
sScny sS No. e. Hymn - Finale fro" sym
AT mdnigh solemn high mass celebrated ny
Rev Father Sosss a wh0 was assisted By Rev fsihor
dolphia, suD-ieacon The principal music Of tho mass
was taken from Farmers Mass IN u HAT. but sclcc-
tons other composers appropriately inter-
sperscd through II. Following IS the programme Of
the music
symesoSy 81 is e. organ and plane Haydn KRIS
unestory.. "coutigne do voel." Adams; "sanctas."
sa.r Mas Mas, IN a, nfn in
organ ard piano Goria.
STRANGE MIDNIGHT MASS
Ono OF the most extraordinary religious services
that perSps over took place IN this city was per-
formed :hs morning, Immediately alter midnight IN
which Rev. J. v. Mcnamara. an cx-prlcst Of
the Catholic Church, was the chief actor. In Accord
nncc with al announcement made q W weeks since
the house No 3A2 Water street, under, Us stated in
the tickets OF admission. the auspices nnd authority
ot the Irish nation.
just as the clock ceased striking twelve he entered
from roar room attired In the usual vestmonts worn
by priests 1t the celebration Of mass Hc halted at
tnc loot OF n smnil altar which were several
vases with artificial flowers ana several other orna
mcnts. There we're candles, cruciix and u large
niissal, aud above al was tho legend in
MONIES proceeded IN tho usual manner unacc0mpanied
BY music OF any kind The congregation, almost
entirely composed OF men, filled tho room, aud
there remained outside crowd who prevented
from entering mado more or icss noise.
policeman stood guard nj tho door and
others hoycrcd about In the vicinity The congre-
gaiion seemed 10 act as II the services we're all rc;
uar and there was no disturbance though very iull
precautions had bccn taken 10 meet any cinculty
that might arise.
Father McNamara's object IN starting the Holy
Church ol Ireland scoms 10 have IN view war against
the Interference oi Italian or otncr foreign ecc.csi-
ustics In the spiritual AFFAIRS oi Ireland. He
conteLds that tor centuries the iulucnce sof
religion has been employed 10 Keep down
the Irish people aud 10 deliver them
and their country over to tho English gdvcrnmcnt,
and no protests ms own part against the operation
OF clerical machinery SCI In moti0n IN Italy aud en-
pioycd by Great Britain to keep lrshmcn III bondage
hSaALo reporter had sonc conversation with
Catholic residents oil the district In which the
mony took place this morning They regarded Father
McNamara's action Win feeling akin 10 horror, ard
declared that thorc were not halt doz rcspccta
bic members oil their church prevent. They doubted
even II that humber would onplomise themselves
by assisting at what they must have known was .
gricvous scandal.