The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN TIE CHURCHES.
The Programmes OF Music and the
Decorations

"
The Programmes Of Music and the
Decorations
The services to-day in the churches will
be Of the usual Christmas character. The
principal observances will of course, be in
the Roman Catholic. Episcopal and the
Lutheran churches. At st. Johns and
Christ churches the services will be more
than ordinarily interesting on account of
the music. Especial programmes viii also
be rendered 10 the Cathedral and st.
Patrick's. The decorations in the churches
this year are more extensive than usual.
Those at st. Johns are very elaborate, the
church being susceptible Of handsome work.
The decorations at Christ, st. Matthew's
and at the Evangelical Lutheran churches
are also striking and handsome.
In the Methodist, Presbyterian and
Baptist churches the services will be al
together in celebration OF the great Chris
tian festival which is observed throughout
Christendom, but they will not be Of shat
elaborate character of those in other
churches. The decree Of the Catholic church
requiring that all Of her faithful shall abb
stain from meat on every Friday Of the
year, releases them from that obligation
when Christmas day falls on Friday. So
the good Christmas dinner that is half the
delight of the Jolly feast still forms a part
OF the days celebration with the hundreds
OF Catholic families Ia Savannah. But the
vigil Of the day, Christmas eve, must be
kept with fasting, even by the soldiers and
sailors in the United states service, who
are exempt from the rule of abstinence at
nearly every other time Christmas day is
one Of the holidays Of obligation i'll the
church.
The decorations at the Cathedral are OF
the most elegant character, the affairs being
laden with a profusioD Of the choicest flow
ers set of by plants and cedars. The scene
will be O dazzling and brilliant one to-day
when the numerous candles are lighted.
The services OF the day will begin at
O'clock this morning with a solemn high
mass, the music being rendered by the
choir from "Lejaers Fourth Mass Other
masses will follow in rapid succession every
half hour until 1890 o'clock, when the
pontifcal high mass will be celebrated by
Bishop Becker. Mercadantes celebrated
3-voice mass, arranged for a quartette and
chorus from E. Biedermann will be rendered
by trained choir of twensy-sx voices
under the direction of Prof. Heubper, with
Prof. Mehrtens at the organ. The choir
will be Mrs. Gaudry, Mrs. Crohan, Mrs.
Silva, and Misses Nolan, Hunter. Black,
and Golden, sopranos; Misses Courtenay,
Gross, Black, O'Connor, Golden, and Gau-
Palmer, J. O'Connor. and E. O'Connor,
tenors; Prof. Smith and Messrs. Duggan,
Daniels, Black, D. OConnor, and II. Kehoe,
bassos.
The music will be the finest probably
ever rendered in the Cathedral IL will
be the first time that Mercadante's
mass has ever been rendered here
as 3voioe mass. The "Credon
will be sung by double Quartstte and
the solos will be Of an exceptional character.
Prof. Heubner has had the choir rehearsing
the music for two weeks, and is confident
that the congregation will be treated at the
pontifical mass to the best selected music it
ever listened to. Bishop Becker will prob
ably preach the sermon Of the day.
st. Patrick's church decorations are more
elaborate than has been the case for years.
The affairs contain an assortment of the
choicest flowers and plants that could be
secured. The masses will begin at 5 o'clock
and will continue, with half-hour intermis-
sions. until 10 o'clock, when a solemn high
mass will be celebrated. Leonard's mass will
be sung by the following choir under the
direction OF Mr.. H. A. Dumas. with Prof
Warth at the organ:
Sopranos-EIrs F. Barber. Misses Saverese,
A. Sayerese. d. Phillips and Il. Fernandez
Altoe-Mrs. w. 7. Bailey aud H. A. Dumas
Tenors-Jemes Deacy, James Gallager.
Bassos-M, s. Loughead and II. A. Dumas.
Violfnst-John Klein.
Novelties "Adeste Fidelis" by the full
choir at the offertory will be the feature of
the mass. Benediction will follow the mass
Kapps 20 Salutaris' will be sung by Mrs.
Barber, aud Lambillotte's "Tantum Ergo
will be sung as chorus by the full choir.
Leonard's mass is short. bright and a work
OF merit, sure TO please. It has been very
carefully rehearsed aud will undoubtedly be
we'll given. as st. Patrick's choir is now one
of the best In the city.
Sacred Heart church is not behind with
the decorations. The little church is
materially very attractive, aud with the
handsome arrangement Of flowers, plants
and wax candles on the main altar 1t will
to-day be doubly so. The first mass will be
celebrated at the Sacred Heart church at Z
o'clock, TO be followed with another at 8: 80
o'clock. At 10 o'clock high mass will be
celebrated by Father William. The music
will be from "Leouard's Fourth Mass" and
will be identical with st. Patrick's. except
of course, with a lesser number of voices.
Miss o. Brien will direct the music.
The services at Christ church will be at II
o'clock. The music, which is always OF a
high order, will be of a more than ordinar-
lily interesting character. The choir. under
the direction Of NJ. Stewart, organist and
director, has rehearsed full programme
which viii be sung at the morning service
by Mrs N. Ii. Finnie aud Miss Emma CO.
burn, sopranos; Mrs. w. P. Hunter, alto.
]. E. Berry, tenor; and Julian Walker, bass,
as follows:
Anthem--"o Zion. That Bringest Good
Ilolngs. .......'-....'............. Stainer
NeDto.s .s.'sss.ss.. s.'.....s........ Greg0rlan
Gloria. ......... Tours
EXCel6iS Mnvarf Ind IA
JuOlate- ..........................D Dudley Buck
Bethlehem Christmas song. .... H n Bartlett
Offertory-''N Nazareth" Gounod-Buck
Communion service ..............,,,, Tours
The sermon will he preached by the REQ
tor, Rev. Robb White. The decorations
are OF the usual Christmas character.
The usual Christmas services will be held