Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-27
THE CHURCHES.
1T. Ma:y's Catholic.

NC SsCTSlCCS lI ISC. NlstEy > CuuICH VII
Christmas morning always have peculiar
and special interest, rs we'll from the OK
celjcnt character of the music Us from the
so!emi,ity OF the services which is material
" enhanced by the early hour ut which
they take place, recalling to the mind OF
the devUut WorShipcr and to tha: of the
spectator that searly in tho morning
Christ was born" People irrespective OF
creed think nothing of leaving their warm
cosy beds hours before their customary time
of rising upon this occasion for the purpose
Of attending the early mass ut st. Mary's,
and in the great throng that between the
hours of four and five on Christmas morn
in. crowded into the church, there was u
pretty general mixture Of Catholic and
Protestant of all conditions and degree, to
whom the sweet and inspiring strains OF
the % Ailcstc," calling the faithful to wor-
ship OF the new born King, have through
Ion. custom become as part and parcel o!
Christmas day itself.
The church was gay in its holiday attire :;
myriads of candles burned upon the altars,
which were also profusely adorned with
flowers. Promptly ut five o'clock the scr
vices began with the strangely sweet
prelude of tic L" Adcstc Fi,leles,' played
by Miss Lizzie StrObcl upon the great
organ, and 4 few moments later, the clear
soprano voice OF Miss Della Doyle rOlle,;
out the opening solo. Of the hymn, which
in every part was rendered in ad-
mirablc style. the voices OF
the we'll. trained choir blending har-
moniously not less liz the ducts and tros
than in the full chorus where special
power is called for. Father Hickey was
the cclebrant of the mass, and Gcncrali' S
fine composition, upon which the choir
had for long time been in con stant prac-
ticc, was given under the direction of Mr..
Wm Il. Altick, choir leader, in the most
thorough style. 1t is useless and perhaps
impracticabic to particularizc the
many fine parts in which this mass
abounls. Suffice it to say they were
rendered in uniformly excellent style, the
solo parts being sung respectively by
Misses Della Doyle and Della Harberger
(soprano), Edith Johnston (contraltO),
Mr.. VIM. Il. Altick (tenor), and Messrs.
lIoughcy and Joseph Alticls (bass). To
these ladies' and gentlemen was due in
large measure the successful execution Of
the mass, the recent addition OF the c,n-
traliO and bass voices having materially
improved this really excellent choir.
The choruscs were I'LL full, round and
harmonious. A feature Of the
music also was the rendition Of
Lambillottc's Christmas hymn, in which
the voices Of Misses !larberger aid John
stOn and of Mr.. VIM. u. Aitick were
heard to advantage, and Mr.. F'rd Webcr's
cornet Accomplishments gave added effect.
The organ accOmpaniments Of Miss Stro
bel were, as they always are, thoroughly
artistic. After the mass Il very large
>,,tT.
communion.
High mass was again celebrated at 1880,
Rev. Pater Ignatius of st. .JOscpl's hospi
tai being the cclebrant and the music
being the same as ut the earlier service.
with the addition of the bcncdction per-
formed ut the conclusion Of the mass.
The congregation was large.
ST. AnIhOnys
The church is very prettily decorated.
Above the sanctuary, in letters sofcversreen,
are suspended the words, ''Gloria in Ex-
celsis Deo,' and above the tabernacle was
the word "Jcsus," surmountcd by y
cross and heart, composed of gas-jcts.
Tho walls and window frames are also
handsomely decked with evergreen. On
Christmas morning masses were said at .,
6, z, 8, 0 and 10 o'clock, Fathers Kaul and
NuIlSI OlNCIsltIuS. NCSpClS hC - y. Ill. VII
Sunday hhere we're the usual Christmas
services.
st. JOsephs Hospital.
The Christmas services 1T St. Joseph'i
hospital were Of an unusual character, a
midnight mass being celebrated just as
Christmas came in. The hospital chapel
was very handsomely decorated, festoons
of evergreen adjoining the altar and bou-
guets and wreaths of flowers below The
front OF the main altar was draped in
tapestry. and the altar itself, rs wei! as the
side altars, were ablaZe with candles.
Pater Igratius was celebraDt Of the mass,
assisted by 4 number Of other priests.
The service throughout WAS very impress
i've.
First Reformed.
Tho usual six o'clock morning service.
was held in this church, where congre-
CATION asscmbled.that crowded the floor
and galleries. The decorations were very
handsome, being similar to those of last
year, and including the usual heavy fes-
ICONS from the centre of the ceiling to the
corners Of the galleries, the latter also
being hung with ropes of evergreen. The
pulpit and reading desk were set off with
flowers and greens the side pillars and
arch were twined with greens from the
centre of the arch depended a large star
there was no inscription, but the ornamer.-