The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-26

| The music of Leprevosts mass is singularly beauti-
ful preserving. it does, many touching themes by
the older masters The most notable parts the
Kyrie, intoned by Miss Mary Wernecke and opening
with chorus by the sopran which is taken up by
the teno,i this dying away gave place 10 SOLO by
Miss Teresa Wernecke, the whole closing with
brilliant staccato movement The Gloria Is me con-
certed piece ailordng Mr.. Dupin good opportunity
for display his resonant voice and excellent method
in the solo Domino Deus Bat perhaps the most thrill
Credo. opening with splendid volume OF har-
mony. and in which the whole chorus Joined. MISS
Mary Welnecke sang with excellent effect the SOLO
part Unum Sanctum. 1t would be difficult 10 mag
inc anything more impressive than this splendid mu,
the With Vi Glow of religious
enthusiasm well calculated TO carry heavenward the
human heart sermon drawn from the ePistie OF
val OF Christmas preached by the pastor rather
Merrick The feature of the afternoon service was
the singing for the first time OF Saint saens peau,l
full cantata Noel. with Ave Verum. specially
composed for the occasion by DR.. William Berge
ST. PATRIcK's CATHEDRAL
A large congregation assembled before ten O'Clock
in St. Patricks Cathedral to take part i'll the solemn
Christmas services of the Catholic Church. The
main altar, well those of st. Joseph and the
Blessed Virgin. was decorated with evergreens and
wreaths. On the top OF the tabernacle was blazing
cross and the pillars each side of the main altar
had also cross OF fire, underneath which We're en-
twined bunch Of roses the only floral display in
the building. The pillars surrounding the statues
of the apostles which situated back OF the main
altar, entwined with evergreens. and from the
top of the representation of the crucxion depended
a canopy of cardinal and gold cloth. On the main
and two side affairs myriads OF tapers and gas
Jets III the shape or arches WredtnS ncarts anu
stars, which flooded the sanctuary with light: at
hafpast ten O'Clock the procession entered the sane
tuary, headed by censors cross bearer and acoytes
Then the Rev. Father Kearney, master OF cere-
MONIES with fourteen altar boys in red cassocks and
the archiepiscopal cross bearer followed by deacons
of honor Next i'll order was the Rev. William Quinn,
vicar general Of the diocese, celebrant OF the
the Rev. Mr.. Cunon. deacon, and the Rev. Mr.; Hugh
McCloskey the full robes of his Office. supported
either side by Rev. Fathers Farley and Kane, with
Rev Father Mort and eight altar boys in purple
III
knelt for few moments at the foot OF the
altar in silent prayer and then proceeded to his
throne ut the right of the sanctuary, where he
NAMED until the offertory, when he again knet before
the main altar. AT that part of the mass where tho
priest turns and blesses the people Father Quinn
turned toward the Cardinal, and the latter gave the
priests in the sanctuary and the congregation his
tfcal blessing The Vicar General, at the close of
the mass announced to the congregation that the
Holy See had granted to His Eminence, the Cardinal
present who had worhily approached the sacraments
of penance and holy communion on Christmas Day;
and, after Father Farley had chanted the Confteor,
The sermon of the day was delivered by the Rev.
Father Hapin. $. j.. Of Fordham College. who read
from the gospel of the day. taken from st. Luke H.,
1-A-"And it came to pass that in those days there
went out Q decree from Cesar Augustus that the
whole world should be enrolled" The music. under
the direction Mr. John White, exceentin every
particular. There q chorus Of forty voices and
double quartet. The choir consists OF Miss Won
Heimburg, soprano; Nine. Unger contralto; Mr. II.
Bersn. tenor; Mr.. +. G. Urchs. basso. and Mr. John
White, organist and director.
At the Church of st. Agnes. on East Forty-thrd
street, of which Father Macdonald pastor the
vices very interesting. The celebrant at high
mass Rev. Joseph Bigley, who ordained last
week. A sermon the Nativity was preached by
Rev. Father Charles, of the Passionist Order Mateo
salvi's grand mass was performed b. the regular
choir increased largely for the OCCASION under the
direction of Signor Eduardo Mario organist of the
church. The solosts Miss Lottic Simpson,
Miss Sayers, Miss Brophy Mr. Riedel. DR.. Leon and
Mr.. Dolan. The "Credo" IS worthy of special men
ton being very impressive and the execution
at the end Of the Gloria. was highly crcditable.
Signor Marcos Jesu Redemption sung during
the OHertory by Miss Simpson, Dr. Leon and chorus.
ST. THOMAS CHURCH.
Viewed from one Of the many little side galleries
Thomas Church was of impressive beauty.
full chorus and choir consisting OF Mrs L. L. Dan
tralto; Mr.. Fred. W. jameson, solo tenor and Dr.
L. +. Danforth. solo basso, with organ. harp and
order Many had evidently been attracted by the fine
programme of music for quite number left i'm
D. d. the rector. preached q short sermon from tho
words found in Galatians God sent forth his son to
redeem them that were under the law"
BANNER BLESSING.
The Germans of the East side of the city centred
at the Roman Catholic Church of the Redeemer, in
Third street between and b, to witness
blessing of the banner of the st. Aloysius Young
Mems Benevolent Society. At three p. NJ. the
church was beseiged by an immense crowd and q
few minutes later the societies represented in tho
ceremonies filed in and were given seats on either
side Of the centre aisle. The banner, which was
blessed by Rev. Father Anwander, rector Rev. Father
Frisehbier. deacon, and Rev. Father Gessen, sub
deacon. was of white silk with picture of St. Alloy
tassels and drapery. Among the benevolent societies
attached to the church which participated in the
ceremonies were the st. James, St. Jacobs aud st.
Johns.
CHRISTMAS cASTArA.
A somewhat new and novel style Of entertainment
for this city introduced last evening by the chill
dren oil St. Demands Sunday School, Fourteenth
street. between Eighth and Ninth 1t is said
be the only cantaa OF the kind in the country and
illustrates q simple but impressive manner, the
story of the birth of the Redeemer and His alteration
by the shepherds and the wise men the East. The
characters artsticaly rendered under the direc
ton OF Father Healy, pastor of st. Bernards, the
singing by the children of the school being much
appauded. There eight different
tablcaux each being personated by characters in ap
proprate costume. After the Christmas Bells the
Annunciation, with the carol Holy Night sung.
Then came the Blessed Virgin Mary's Visit to Her
Cousin, st. Elizabeth. with the hymn. Holy God.
Lord as Announced to the Shepherds. with
the carol. Christ is Born. was very pref
Msgi to King Herod the visit to the crib in which
the new born Saviour lay. Herods order to murder
the innocents entrance Of the Holy Innocens. with
a carol and hymns, and the finale tabeau, with
carols and rotations, Adeste Fidclcs. These enter
tainments will be continued every evening until
January q next except New Years evening" They
afford innocent and instructive OF amuse-
mcnt to all who feel interest in the events of the
life OF the lsedeener.
IN BROOKLYN.
In Brooklyn services were held in the various
churches. Missionary fund subscriptions and dona-
tons to tho orphans received and the spirit of
bcnetcence and charity was everywhere made mani
fest. The convicts, to the number Of about eight
hundred treated to extra provender at the Pen
tertiary, and the inmates of the Raymond Street
Jail also partook of something better than the ord-
nary fare provided for them. At the Newsboys
Home in Poplar street; the Home for Aged and Indi
gent Females, the Industrial School, the Orphan asy-
lums and other institutions poultry, pudding and
matinee and evening performances ut the Brooklyn
Theatre, the Academy OF Music and other places Of
amusement, all OF which were well patronizcd.
There brilliant assemblagc in the Sands Street
Methodist Episcopal Church in the forenoon, the
cason being the anniversary of the Juvenile Mission
airy Society Of that church. which established
about hundred years ago. The edifce taste
fully decorated with evergrecns, and the galleries and
clanccl adorned with appropriate Scrptural
lnnttnes. Roy. Henry Ward Bcecher was intrnaluced