The New York herald., 1879-12-25
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES.


A cHRIsrMAsTIDE FESTIVAL AT OLD TRINITY
''PEAcE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TO MEN,"
At Old Trinity the Sunday school scholars had
their Christmastide festival Nearly thousand
children and their teachers Joined in the SERVICE
which was conducted by Rev. H. r. Hitching. Rev.
George w. Douglass and Rev. b. Frlsbie DIR. Nor
gan Dix. the rector. unable TO attend The pro-
cessionathymn. "Once in Royal David's City" was
followed by the singing of tho csntsta, "While shep
herds Watched their Flooks." Then the procession
formed of all the scholars, headed by
the choir and q magnificent banner
Nothing could bo beautiful than the
marching Of the children up the aisle of the great
edihce. which was hung with evergreens. All the
glorious traditions of Trinity in her past were
brought to mind by the memorials and sway
ing banners of the little After evening prayer
had been read the children again formed in line and
marched around the grand Christmas tree which
stood in the porch. table near by was loaded
down with gifts, which were distributed among the
scholars At the close Of tho stree ceremony anoher
prayer read. The yaulted ceiling then began to
echo back the Christmas CAROL the chorus of which
was:-
Hirss ssss ssy ssS 81 care 1s,s9s sqS ..sS sadness
Angels sing with notes Of gladness.
.,p Ipeass a q on earth, ~. g99sd,wil to men"
"Christus natus hodle.'
Tho ''Christmas Tree" was next sung by all the
children in chorus. during which the immense doors
of the church were thrown open. revealing ths
Christmas tree in oil its glory. 1t twenty
feet high and fairly glittered with toys and orna-
ments This ended the festival.
Late at night tho work OF decorating the church
for to-day was begun by Mr.; Corr and . corps OF
cross OF flowers, which hung q white dove.
This was drapcd with curtain formed OF smilax
and rosebuds, and the whole surmounted by Cross
of palm. The front of the altar was festooned with
flowers and eyergreens. and the panels were filed
bloom. while on each side Of the altar stood
waving Australian palm tree. The posts ut the Ell.
trance to the chancel bore elegantly wrought tri-
angular designs of rare blossoms, from which hung
trailing vines studded with rosebuds. The entire
chancel rail was mass OF well set foliage.
and under each candelabra was q shield OF
flowers and terms four feet high. The lcctorn
was decorated with private contrbution.
star of Bethlehem, surrounded by rubber trees and
appropriate foliage. At midnight the church was
Transformed into, into magnificent garden Of fragrant
follows;-First communion at seven A. M. second
communion lin Germany at eight A. M. morning
Vice at haipass ten A. NJ The sermon viii be b
preached by Rev. DR.. Morgan Dix.
THE CATHEDRAL.
few lights cleaned last evening in st. Pagrick's
Cathedral. The magnificent features OF the archi.
revealed IN tho raslirht. ana crowd Of humble na;
itents attended. All the clergymen were prepsrng
OF the Catholic Church. The rehearsals OF the
"Messe Solennelle," by Gounod. took place in the
afternoon, under the direction OF Professor Wlism
r. Pecher. the organist. The severity Of the Gothic
style Of architecture precluded all attempt at dec.
oration, and accordingly the grand altar and nave
were left In tho beauty Of their own simplicity.
ST. MICHAELs CHURCH, WEST H0BOKEN, n. j.
Tho Church Of St. Michael. ut West Hoboken pre-
sented beautiful picture last night with its Ave
mosaic affairs gemmed with lights, decorated with
misetoe box and cedar boughs srtistically twined
about the carved pillars In angle formed by the
Virgins altar on the side and the altar Of
the sacred Heart the other " Q miniature
Bethlehem. with life size figures of the Mother
and St. Joseph kneeling in alteration beside tho
lowly manger, where the divine infant reposcs on
bed of straw. Adoring angels kneel at the head Of
the crib the and ass seen in the background,
angel with the scroll bearing the legend 'Glorta
in Excesis Deo' hovers the lowly stable, the
city Of Bethlehem appears In the distance in the fore
ground. and the astonished shepherds in various
attitudes listening the angelic choir, Lifo-
like representations of their hock add to the fidelity
Of the scone as described In Holy Writ; and
while the devout beholder wanders In imagination
through the plains OF Judea the voices of tho Pas
sionist Fathers break the solemn silence in the
chant of the compln. Mathis follow. and the
stroke OF the Monastery bell tells the hour Of mid
night the reverend rector and his attendant clergy
enter tho sanctuary. the Kyrie is intoned. and
the exultant melody OF the Gloria in Excelsis
sung by choir OF malo voices. fills the edhce and
the echoes die away in the joyful clamor of the
bells that usher in another Christmas morn.