Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-21
MUSIC AND MASSES.
Unusual Preparations in the Churches
for Christmas Services.
GREAT BEAUTY OF DECORATION.
Fair Hands BusiIy Engaged in Trimming
the Sanctuaries.
EXCELLENT MUSIC TO BE RENDERED

Christmas Day will receive its old-time
hearty welcome in Pitteburg.
All the churches, especially the Episco-
palisu and Catholic, are busy decorating
their houses OF worship with evergreens
and preparing programmes for the due cele-
bration of the coming festival. In the
Cathedral churches armies of lady
decorators are already at work
planning and distributing the masses
Eanctuaries are fled. One of the fair artists
gave a general outline of the plan of ar
rangement, and if the decorations are only
half as charmingly placed as she described,
they will be the handsomest seen in Pitts
burg .or many years.
The Cathedral looks its best after the re-
cent renovation, aud certainly the ever
greens will add to its beauty
in a marked degree. Rev Father
Molyneaux was interviewed with reference
to the services on Christmas Day. He said:
I'VE will have no midnight mass this year.
Ponti6cal high mass, however, will be sung
at ) A NJ. Bishop Phelan will ponti6cate,
the deacon and sub-deacon being probably
Very Rev. DeWall and one of the Cathedral
priests. An ordinary high mass will be
sung at noon, and between the two several
masses will be said.
THE CATHEDRAL'S BEAUTY.
eyes. the Cathedral will look very hand
some when properly adorned or Christmas.
The green leaves and red berries viii act as
a contrast to the pious gloom of the church.
Early Christmas morning the Cathedral
Band, under Director Bart Weiss. will per-
form as usual in the Cathedral, during the
morning mass This is an old custom in St
Paul's, and one that is not likely to drop
out of usage. A choir of so voices will
attend"
In the Trinity Episcopal Church, the
feast of Christmas will he celebrated with
equal ceremony. Old Trinity will be fes-
tooned with evergreens, and very choice
programme of music has been arranged for
the 1880 =. NJ. service, by Organist Doyle.
The $50 P. n. service also promises to be
peculiarly interesting one. a choir OF 40
men and boys will sing, under the direction
OF Mrs. Julia NJ. B. Huntingdon.
st. Peters Cathedral, Allegheny, will
prove a center of musical attraction this
Christmas. High mass will be sung at 5
a. N. and again at 10 A. NJ During the
be rendered by the choir and chorus OF 80
trained voices under Organist E. c. Beatty
This church will also be charmingly deco
rated.
At st. Marks Episcopalian Church,
Pittshurg, the walls will on Christmas
morning be perfectly hidden with decora-
tions. Early service will begin at 1920 A.
NJ. and Holy Communion with carols at
A. NJ
At Emanuel Episcopal Church, ALLIE
ghenv, the same will be the case. A white
robed choir of II men and II boys will sing
both morning and evening.
QUANTITY ORIGINAL DECORATIONS.
Quite quaint and original in its decora-
tIoas is ST. Leo's German Catholic Church,
Eleventh ward, Allegheny. The Christ
child is represented in his manger cradle,
with the Virgin and the shepherds kneeling
before him. In the distance the legendary
Magi, represented by statues, are placed,
while the whole is grouped beneath arbor
of ivy aud green branches the other with
straw. This ancient Christmas custom may
also be noticed in many of the English
Catholic churches this Christmas Rev.
Father Woeliel Will officiate, and the choir,
under Organist Wilma Schuck, will sing
Borderes' Mass in + and the Adeste
Fideles.
In numerous other churches attractive
services and sermons will be heard on tine
25,h. Meanwhile, deft feminine fingers are
planning and wreathing decorations in the
dim religious Light of aisles and tran
septs. Organists are working gallantly
with their choristers for the great display.
The belfry chimes are being newly oiled
and made ready to ring out welcome to
the dawn OF Christmas morning.
So the grand old festival will lack none
Of its ancient splendor IN the churches of
PiItsburg and Allegheny.