The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-25
I'M THE CHURCHES.

4 CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTMAS FEs-
| TIyAL IN THE EPISCOPAL AND CATHOLIC
| CHURCTEs-THE DECORATIONS, MUSIC
&c.-JoINT SERVICE AT CENTENARY
METHODIST CHURCH, &C, &c.
F This blessed festival Of the Christian
! Church, commemorating the incarnation OF
| the Son CT God, hallowed By observance
| for. over 1900 years and associated with ting
Itendercst recoIlections Of adults and the
fondest hopes of the young, will be ceie-
brated in the Episcopal and Catholic
churches OF this city with more than ordl.
nary spirit. The ladies-row as in the time
OF Christ on earth-foremost in good works,
have spent considerable labor upon the deco
rations, and while none of these are very
(; snowy and few costly, all are handsome, and
will be effective in presenting to the eyes OF
Iworshippers reminders Of the happy occa-
sion. The lessons for the day refer to oh.
| legations as Christians, and incuicate that
! charity and Eindiiness which found its sub.
FINEST exponent in the Prince OF Peace.
Nearly all of the choirs have been enlarged
for the day, and the music, vocal and In.
strumentGl, will proclaim in sweetest
strains, g Peace on earth and good ,oiu to.
acards men,"
ST. JAMES CHURCH.
This church southwest corner Of Fifth
and Marshall streets), under the skilful su.
perintendence OF Mr.. Marion Dimmock,
was during the summer remodelled as to
the front and renovated and greatly i'm.
proved as 10 the interior. It's now one OF
the most elegant and comfortable church
ediliees in the city. Everything about it Is
new and neat.
The decorations provided are subdued in
character and not extensive. RuDning-cedar
has been twined about the chancel, chancel.
railing. lecturn, baptismal-font, &C., and
about the columns supporting the gallery,
also about the gas. fixtures. On the front OF
the choir-gallery the word Aileluiah " ap.
pears in large illuminated letters.
There will be in attendance a chorus
choir of about twenty voices. In this church
much attention is paid to congregational
singing, and the selections for the day are
such as will admit of the people generally
joining in and swelling the glad anthems
MONUMENTAL CHURCH..
And now we come to the venerable Monu
mental; and as one enters her portals ano
sazes upon decorations at once so tastefu
and artistic in design, so perfect in eXecu
ton, can but pause and eXclaim, "H How
beautiful how appropriate! !" for truly here
both taste and skill have combined to beau
tifv the place of His sanctuary. AS ha:
been the custom for some years past in thl:
church, the decorations are confined to thu
cbancel. Commencing with the rear por
ton, q handsome white panel is first no
ticed. barmonizing with the frcscoing OF
the walls, and placed for the timcbelna
over the Commandments, and on which wa
mounted. in large, beautiful gold letters
the inscription, Iory to God in the high
HIGHEST. and on earth peace and good
:. will towards men," Betwcen.the two lare
pillars, which themselves are GRACEFUL.
and heavily wreathed wEh evergreens, i
erected an arch of symmetrical proportion
which is covered with green velvet paper
! on which, in gold letters, are the words
"The Bright and Morning Star" A beau
, ful cross OF green and gold surmounts tn
:. arch, and above it hangs pendant the COLDER
star. The pulpit is especially beautlfu
witl>its covering OF pure white, its wreath
of running cedar and pine fringe, inter
spcrsed with scarlet berries, while Oh it
front is most tastefully arranged bunches
the noted white "Pampas grass" which
r. comes TO us from distant California. Bu
we are forbidden 4 more detailed notice II
which to tell of the beauty of the lecturl
and chancel-rail. OF cross and font; how
ever, the beautiful and symbolic I. H. S
must be mentioned. 1t is made OF whit
immortelles, and placed SO appropriated.
high above, Gs it were, the very keyston
and crowning glory OF all, and because o
which this Christnas-day is celebrated
Services in this churc will commence at l
O'Clock.
GRACE CHURCH. .. ....
During the summer the interior Of Grac
church building was much improved, AM
it is now one OF the neatcst houses OF Wor
ship in the city. 1t has been very hand
somely decorated for this the grandest AM
ostjoyous festival of the Christian Church
l The greater part Of the work is about til
. chance. The chance-columns, railing, an
| arches, the pulpit, reading-desk, aud bar
tismal-font, have been trimmed with boil
4; and ceder, with here and there brigl
2 flower.
/ High over the chance-arches, and almos
/, touching the ceiling. Is q cross OF evel
: greens. Festoons of the same drop to tn
: walls of the church on the right and le
and extend along the rafters. Beneath tt
{ cross, and bordering the main arch, are,
/, large letters, worked on bunting, "Unto l
: a child is born: unto us son is given."
/, Over the vestry window Is the inscriptio
: "Good Will Towards Men," Immediate
l Hereunder I. H. S.. and to the right OF it'll
crown and cross; to the left the monogram
: Alpha and Omega, and beneath the viii
/; dow-Sill the simple yet potent word En-
= manuel.' On the wall back OF the bal
; tisnal font is q star. reminder OF fl
O blessed sign in the heavens which pointe
Y out the place where the child Jesus lay. A
!, together the decorations are appropria
e and pleasing.
|. The music will be in keeping with II
!, spirit of the joyous occasion, but will
&; given no undue prominence. Mr.. John
: Redford is the musical director, and Mi
e Kate Mera organist, and the following al
=: the selections and names OF composers:
4 Anthem, "There Were Shepherds" {
|, W. Warren; Yenite, Jacob Reinhard
/, Gloria Patr, Charles Polndexter; Glor
|, Patr. III. Stuart Turner; Gloria Patri, j
2 cob Reinhardt; TIE Deum, Charles Pol
/, dexter; Jubilate Dec, NJ. Stuart Turner
Hymn %, "Shout the Glad Tidings," {
w. Warren; Responses, After Comman,
, ments, Charles Gounod; Gloria TIbi, 1t
l, p. Wheat; Hymn 20, "Harkl VIII
:; Mean," &c., q. W. Warren.
8 Sermon-Rev. n. Melville Jackson.
. Ofertory, 'Christians, Awake!" u. y
g Warren.
e ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
:. The decorations at st. Paul's church ar
= as usual, simple and beautiful. The churt
IL is susceptible OF being very tastefully q
,. r,,, m RI mi n ayarrraanc md thp IoGioc ba "