Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-12-31
CHRIsTMAS SERVICES.

The feast of Christmas was duly celebrated
in the Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran
Ichurcnes of this city, and were in accordance
with the joyful feelings OF the day. AT Trinit!
Episcopal church. morning prayer was said.
and sermon preached by the Rector. Rev. W.
@. Hullieen. The sacred ediflce was beautiful
~ decorated, evergreens being entwined
around the pillars and tastefully suspended
from the centre of chancel arch, aroundsThich
was the sentence "Glory Be To God On High
Within the chancel rails, ane around the hand
some stained glass windows, reading-desk, pull
pit, and baptismal font was also profus1on OF
evergreens and banners hanging upon the
walls bore the mottos, "Alleluia' and "Hosan-
na" special feature of the service was the
: music, which was appropriation selection ano
Admirable in execution, as rendered by the
choir of the CHURCH. Prof F. r. Webb pr esd
ing at the organ, with the following members:
Mrs. w. L. Bumgardnsr, soprano; Miss Fannie
Tams. metso soprano; Miss NJ. B. Berkeley
alto; @. L, Cooke, tenor; and D. E. Euritt. basso
The music was principally the composition OF
Buck, and consisted of the following selec-
ktfons:-
koluntary-Grand Offertoire de st. Cecilia No
IN ..............Bat1sfe
IN that tellest..., ........................Bu Buck
~oAAA0 49,
...-Buck
stival Gloria In Excelsis in D.........a.. Buck
festival TIE Deum-in D.. ................... Buck.
ubilate o be Joyful. Mozart
Hark, the herald angels sing III Hy)-.. Wilson.
o come all ye faithfulNz2 Hy) Novello
cHertoire-NaZareth.-.. Go unOd-Buck.
Postlude-Halleujah Chorus ................ Handel
The day being bright and pleasant, a large
and attentive congregation assembled. Ye 10
cal, remarks in way of parenthesis, that there
are few choirs in this country equal to Trinity
church choir, which, under the leadership o
Mr.. c. L. Cooke, has reached a high state o
excellence. The solos and duettes were rem
dered on Christmas with special acceptability
at st. Francis Catholic church there weie as
mere always are, on the festival of Christmas
hree masses-a high mass at 5 O'Clock in the
morning, q low mass at six, and second high
mass at halfpast ten. The music consisted OF
selections from the works of the most celebra-
ted composers, and was rendered in admirable
style by the we'll trained choir. In keeping
with the joyous character of the festival, the
affairs were brilliant with flowers and with the
light of multitude Of wax candles The most
noticeable feature in the decoration of the
main altar. at the 5 O'Clock mass, was stai
composed of small gas jets. 1t was raised high
over the crucifix, and as ii stood out in relief
against the clouds in the frescoed ceiling, il
was beautifully suggestive of the star thai
stood over where the young child was" Tn
side affairs were also decorated with flowers
and upon the pure white altar cloths appeared
in letters of gold the sentences, Venite Adore
nsus and Gloria in Ercelsis Large congrega
tions assembled at each mass.
At the Lutheran church, the decorations,
whilst not elaborate. were tasty and appropri-
ate,-evergreens being entwined around the
chancel rails and pulpit. and large star beins
in rear of the pulpit. The music was in &C.
cordance with the joyous season. Rev. DR..
RepSss, the pastor. preached the sermon. AT
7o'clock Friday evening, the Sunday Schooi
held its annu al Ch1i--mae festival in the bod
of the church. a large Christmas tree, in from
I of the chsncel, reaching to the ceiling of the
church, was loaded with presents, which werf
distributed among the children. The entire
exercises were very interesting ana enjoyed
by all present.