The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-26
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.

BLESSING AND Distribution OF THE PALMS
LARGE CONGREGATION AND A SPLENDID
CEREMoNY-sINGING or THE PASSION
Tho service at ST. stephens Church yesterday morn
Ing very imposing. Tho three affairs were
mented with palms. and purple coverings concealed
the pictures and crosses, but the usual number OF
lights illuminated tho sanctuary. Tho congregation
large that many persons were unable to nnd
seats and had to stand in the aisles. solemn high
sung, Of which the Rev. DR.. McGynn was
the celebrant Rev. Father McCready the deacon, and
Rev. Father DeHna the sup-deacon. The service,
which commenced at haltpast O'Clock, not
concluded until haltpast onc but all the details
extremely interesting and admirably carried out, tho
greatest precision being observable IN tho ceremonies
Before the mass began the palms blessed by
the celsbrant, tho deacon and sub-deacon assisting
AS It Is seldom tho blessing takes place at the hapast
ten O'Clock the large audience present looked on
with great interest at the ceremony. After prayer
lesson read oy the cub. deacon. the deacon then
singing portion OF the gospci0l tho day. THIS con-
chant prayers and ended by sprinkling the
palms, which were placed Immediately inside the
sanctuary with holy water and tuning them with IN
cense. The blessed palms were then distributed by
The ceebrant to the clergy present. while number Of
ushers carried them among the congregation.
THE PROGRESSION
Tho palms having been distributed procession
formed, headed by the thurrer, tho subdeacon COM
ing next carrying the cross, which covered with
Then came about sixty boys dressed IN dark coIored
cassocks and white surpces, and last OF all the cce-
braDt with the deacon, all bearing palms IN their
hands. The procession moved down the centre aisle,
singing anthems, and wnen II came TO tho
front door tho cecbrant, deacon and SUBJ
deacon, with tho other priests, went out into the
porch. WINE Que priest, who remained inside,
sang the two arst verses OF tho hymn "Gora Laus T"
These repeated by the priests outside
and, tho singer within continuing tho hymn, the
priests outside after every second verse, answered In
the nrst verso OF the hymn,
To Thee. Christ, be glory, praises loud,
To Thee, hosAuna, cried the j ewish crowd.
Tho hymn being over the sub-deacon knocked
twice with the foot OF the cross at tho door, which
was then opened, and the procession entered and
proceeded up tho centre aisle to tho sanctuary,
singing u mn, the congregation standing. The
then begun, all tho congregation holding IN their
hands Tue palms they had received. AS soon as the
gospel reached three priests entered the sancu
sy abs and stoes and proceeded to sing the
long gospel OF tho Sunday, which Is taken from
Matthew aud IN which told tho story Of the Pas
SION. These priests were tho Rev. Father McCauley,
Rev. DR.. Currun and tho Rev. Father Cotton, the first
taking tho part Of tho "narrator the second,
that OF The Jews and the third, thar OF Christ The
chant, in its different parts, very solemn and I'm
pressive At the conclusion OF the Passion the mass
as usual. Owing 10 the length Of the service
Rev. Dr. McGiynn announced that the Office OF the
Tenebre would be sung IN thus CHI .rch on Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday, beginning al four O'Clock, and
that Good Friday evening sermon would be
preached beginning at half-past seven O'clock lie
also unnounced that the collections at all tho
on Easter Sunday would DO for tho benefit Of tho
phan asy lums OF the city,