New-York tribune., 1891-12-26
CROWDS IN THE CHURCHES.
FINE SPECIAL MUSICAL PROGRAMMES.
HANDSOME FLORAL DECORATIONS AND ELAB
oRATE SERVICES.

The churches which celebrated Christmas yesterday
with special musical services were crowded to the
doors All the churches were beautifully trimmed
with evergrecns and the affairs OF the Roman Catholic
and Episcopal houses Of worship were decorated with
a wealth OF flowers and evergreens. As Chnsthas
is one OF the three feasts which the commuhcahts
OF the latter churches enioined to commune at
one OF the celebrations OF the mass the early services
in these churches were well attended by communl-
cants.
The celebration OF the feast ut Trinity Church began
at Z 80 a. m, when low celebration OF the HOLY
Communion offered in English. AT :3o u. H.
there was a low celebration I'm German morning
prayer was read Mt 80 O'Clock and at III a. H. Dr
DIX, the rector offciated at the high oelebrauoh
The musical programme, which, as usual, was ah
elaborate one, has been published In full IN Ihe
Trihune II included Gounods third mass, an In
teresng work. which is entirely choral Bests spirited
anthem, Behold Bring You Good Tidings," ana
Gllclrist's "Chrstians, Awake, Salute the happy
Morn y sung at the ofertOry. The vested cnor Vi
men and bows was under the direction OF the organst
and choirmaster. DR.. A. II. Messiter Dr. DIX
preached. The sanctuary and altar were elaDorateS
decorated with flowers and evergreens
The first celebration at St. Thomas's Church was
at 80 A. m. Morning prayer and the second ceie-
braton were at IL O'Clock. The Rev. Dr. Browh tne
rector was the celebrant and preacher Inc musicai
programme included Smiths TIE Deum and Benedlctus
I'm B fiat G. W. Warrens "The Morning surs sang
Together" and G.. W. WarTen's o Holy Chhu vi
Bethlehem Mr.. Warren directed the music Inc
decorations OF flowers and evergreens were LAVISH ana
the large building was crowded.
DR. Greer the rector OF ST. Bartholomews Church'
was ceebrant and preacher mt the ii a. H. ser'ce'
The choir under the direction OF X. III. warren, ue
organst and cholrmaster, sang programme which
included Oliver Kings TIE Deum and Jubilate IN "
H. W. Parkers Il viii set His Dominion; Adams
Tba oh, and
with a profuson OF flowers and evergreens.
There were two celebrations Of the Holy Communion
at Grace Church; the first Mt a. m and the second
preceded by morning prayer, at III O'CLOCK Df' uhI
ington, the rector, celebrated and preached AZ inc
last eucharist The elaborate musical programme In
cuded in Handers Breap Forth into joy selbys lie
Deum and Benedictus In C; Bucks 20 Zion, That
Tellest Good Tidings." S. p. Warren, the orgsnist'
was the director of the music. Flowers and over
greens adorned the chancel and people were un-
able TO obtain seats.
This was the musical programme at the IL a. m
celebration at the Church of the Holy Trinity, Forty
second-st. and Madson-ave.: PTocessiohaI HYMN
II: King Halls TIE Deum and Jubllate In b nat
staner's 40 Zion, That Bnngest Good TldingS'; T;
Tours communion service in F; Gounods 40 sing
to Cod: recessonal Hymn "a. The vested choir
Of men and boys was under the direction Of H. W.
Parker organist and chOirmaster Dr. Warren the
rector celebrated and preached. The church. winch Is
still in the hands of the builders and decorators WAS
trimmed with evergreens and was crowded.
DIR. Newton, rector of All Souls Church. onciated
and preached at the IL a. M choral celeDratoh
large congregation was present and lstened 70 nas
cal programme, which included Guilmants communion
servics in F: "The Morning Stars Sang Together"
r. w WARREN ". C. Macfarlane the organist directed
the music.
The first celebration at Trinity Chapel was at D. m
and was fully choral. Morning prayer ana 'ne iish
celebration was at 10 80 o'clock The Kew Aloai
Richey priest in charge, celebrated and preaeheo AZ
the second eucharist. The music was eaDorale' anu
was directed by DIR. Gilbert the organist and choir
master. The church was crowded and was trimmer
with evergreens and flowers.
The high celebration at the Church OF ot. mary .ho
Virgin in West Forty -ffthst., was at III 40 fa'i1
Brown celebrated and preached The altar was auoeu
with a multitude of lighted candles and mowers Ipls
was the music sung by quartet and vested choif Oh
men and boys under the direction OF THOMAS frehuce
Professional Hymn 80; introlt, shout the uied iia
ingsn Ayison; Haydn's Imperial Mass, Saint saehss
yoeln. recesslopal Hymn SO. DIR. George Prentice
is the organist. - 49,
Dr Rainsford rector Of st. Georges Church, cee-
brated and preached at the 10 30 a. M Service iho
large vested choir, under the direction OF William >.
Chester organis and chormaster, sang good musicai
service There large congregation present. anu
tho chancel and nave were decorated With evergreens
There was a celebration at 80 n. m In the Church
of the Transformation another at 80 a. m aud the
last at 10 80 O'Clock. The rector, Dr. Houghtoh
lebtad at the first service and preached at the high
celebration The Rev. Dr. Howes celebrated at the last
eucharist The musical part Of the service was under
the direction of Mr. Dodd the organit and chormaSte
There was an interesting service at the Brick Presby
ter;,n Church at 10 a. III. A good musical programme
was sung under the direction of Walter e. Call organs
and cboir1naster. In place Of the sermon Ut. van
DYKE, the PASTOR read Christmas story called "Ihe
Other Wise Man, The church was well filled.
Tho Colleriate Churches consolidated as usual, and
the choirs sang elaborate musical service IN the
Forty eghthst church at IL under the direction
of Carl walter organist- The pastor, E. b. Coe was
the preacher.
There were also good musical services In many other
Protestant churches, and appropriate sermons were
preached by the pastors.
services were held the Episcopal churches Of Har
lem with special music. At the Church of the Holy
trinity there were morning prayer and holy communion
Al IL O'Clock. The Rev. DR.. Brdgman assisted At
II Andrews Church special music rendered, which
was led by Mallinson Randall. Forty men and boys
were in the choir Tesding service, without music,
was held at o'clock in the morning Al the III O'Clock
service the rector the Rev. George Il. Van de Water
preached a sermon. special programme was gwen
on ST. Andrews chimes.
Although Christmas Day is not considered as i'm
por1ant a religious festival In the Catholic Church as
Easter sunday, when Christ proved His Divinity, the
observance OF the day in the various churches OF that
denomination In this city is attended with more |
elaborate ceremony, more profuse decorations and
greater number OF wOrSMppers. Yesterday was no
execution TO this. In st. Patrick's Cathedral tho
scene at the different masses but especially at the
pontlfcal high mass, impressive. Within the |
sanctuary the decorations which were costly and pro
fuse were arranged with and taste. In tho |
vicinity of the tabernacle, the high altar where
the blessed sacrament is kept handsome vases hled
with sweet smelling roses abounded while the steps
leading to the altar potted plants, ferns, palms
and other eyergreens, arranged in an artistic way
The celebration Of mass began at halfpast III the
morning. and several masses were offered up simul |
taneousy each half hour thereafter until ii O'clock
The Rev. ". j. Layelle, the rector OF the CatredIaI
was the celebranf nj the first mass of the day, with