Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-12-18
WITH JOYOUS SONG.
How The Richmond Churches Will
Celebrate Christmas.
THEIR MUSICAL PROGRAMMES
Bssatifui and Classical Selections 60 he
Rcndsred-Lists OF the Chcirs-Reii-
gious Entertainments Ahead.
Ne,, SUNDAY will be Chris,mas !

Next Sunday will be Christmas
Its advent is being hailed with ecstasy
and ecldt by oil classes.
The little, the big. the old. the young,
the white, and The colored are beginning
10 feel the enthusiasm of the approaching
festival creeping into their bones, and the
tendency 20 GET out upon the streets and
see the great busy world is becoming more
and more predominant as each day passes
by.
An the buildings and vehicles and tho
rouphfares seem 70 be imbued with the
sentiment, Christmas is coming; merry
time 20 you ALL" and an AIR OF testiNly
prevails everywhere.
The commemoratlon every year OF the
birth of the Saviour of mankind Is no new
thing in this country. For more than Sow
enfeen centuries this natal day has been
celebrated in forms varying from the sim
ple church services TO the most hilarious
and worldly entertainments. In latter
wears custom has prevailed In thousanus
of families to spend the day around the
home fireside by the regulation DOW Oh
eec-noeg. Church-going people sun cilng
10 their old and true idea that tne nouse
Of Cod IL the proper place for them on
Christmas morning. Others take 70 the
felds and with gun and dog make havoc
among the feathery tribes.
HOW RICHMOND OBSERVES CHRISTMAS.
In Richmond the celebrants OF Christ
mas possess no remarkable mdlVluuaIity
DIFFERING from those of other cities. lhe
dav here IL consecrated by the good peo;
nle 10 praise and song. and b. the Dad
people II is desecrated by ,woridiiness anu
lce. Each anniversary, however, OF the
b,rth of our Lord finds that preparations
for its observance by the moral and intel
Iectual have been more elaborate IN
dicatipg that the real slgnlhcance OF tne
occasion is becoming more ana more aP-
preciated. , ,.h
beautiful and pleasing musical pro-
grammes are quite the order. Ihese are
supplemented by the usual Sunday-schooi
entertainments, Christmas-trees, &c, ana
on the whole this phase OF observance is
growing greatly IN popularity mere; me
selections sung at the hichhouu IOuseS
Of worship on Christmas are usually OF
ornate and classical character. Inc
various cholrs, which compose the very
hest local talent give great deal or time
ard applicauon TO the practice OF appro-
priate pieces for the occasion. and by ther
zeal and earnestness make their pro-
grammes attractive and beautiful
SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES.
Since last Christmas a great many
changes have occurred IN the church
cboirs here. and many organlsts have
sb;fted their soats from one house of
vcorshtp to another. Colonel W. hlrk Ma
,bews who manipulated the ivorles and
di,ected the choir at the First Baptist,
now PLAYS at All-SaInts' church. MIR. Pnlhp
s, Powers. formerly of Monumental
church. now fills the place made vacant
bv Colonel Mathews at the FRS Baptist,
While Professor ]. Emory Shaw, who
was organist at Park-Place, now occu-
mes that position at the Monumental.
Mir Reolnald Walker has become organlst
at Park Place. and Miss Maggie 4. kerse
hos succeeded Miss Libby Kirk at Sacred
Heart.
AMONG THE SINGERS.
Among the principal choir singers Of the
city great many changes have taken
place. -,
cent ACQUISITION TO the choir at the First
Baptist She is q charming soprano singer,
pnssessss a clear, rich voice, which, aside
from her other attractions, has won TO her
many friends and admirers here. She
j. considered one OF the best sopranos
IN the State. Two very notable changes
in the FIRST Baptist choir during the year
were the retirement OF Captain Frank W..
Cunningham end Mr.. ii. Ihurston Car
dozs. whose splendid voices have thrilled
and pleased 20 many Richmond audiences,
and whose places have been supphed re-
spectively 10y the well-known chorlsters.
Messrs. William Hennlng ana Charles W.
Hunter. go,
Miss Anime Hammer. brilliant young
soprano. Is filing the place formerly occu-
ped bv Miss Emma Staude at Grace
church.
Nrs, W. P. Knowles has succeeded Miss
Annie Louise GnsWold at Centenary and
Mrs. W. Scott McRae fills the vacancy
caused by the retirement OF Miss Nena
HAROLD from the ~. James choir.
Miss Ella boswell. who was one Of the
leading sopranos at ST. Paurs, has gone 70
WASHINGTON. ID. c., to study with that ac-
tnirsble teacher Mrs. Alice Swain Hunter.
Mrs. jessie Harvey Magruder, tie well
known coAtralto. has removed TO Wash
lngton. D. G.: =: !
suoh excellent work at the First Presby-
terrain. ia still confined TO her room, having
never recovered from the burns she re
Gently sustained by the fire at her home.
Miss Mary b. Thurston. another soprano
has accepted position at the head OF TIE
vocal department az the southern temal'
College, al MurtreesbOrO', n. c., and Miss
Annie Louise Griswold has position al
Shorter College for Women. at Rome. Ga
Mss Lowe A. Bhck, most delighttn
soprano church singer, OF Norfolk, has be
come resident of Richmond and viii b'
heard during the HOLIDAYS 81 some or the
churches or Church Hill.
Miss May Greener. who possesses an alto
voice of rare sweetness and culture, is tn,
alto at Grace church. MIR. Charles &
Crump. who was the basso last year at st
James, hes goue to Leigh-Street Baptls
church.
SPECIAL SERVICES IN ALL CHURCHES.
Next Sunday there will be appropriate
Christmas services In every church II
Richmond. The larger and more lnhuen
tial edlfices Will fairly shake with the de
lghtful strains of music that will an
nouuce to the Christian world the arriya
of the greatest of all festivals. while thu
smaller ones will sing specially arranged
selections pToclaiming the j0yfulness ant
gratitude of humanity. All those per
sons who would he themselves 4
the forests 10 hunt will be restrained unit
Monday because of Christmas falling upoI
the Sabbath. and they will probably attenC
for the first time IN many years the re
hgious part of this grand celebration
Every church offers an attractive pro
gramme for the regular morning service
and many charming Christmas entertain
ments, both church and Sunday school
are TO take place daring the holiday week
The Catholic Churches.
ct. PETER's CATHEDRAL.
Pontifcal high mass Will be celebrated
1T the Cathedral at 1880 A. Nj. by RICH
hey. Bishop Van de Vyver. The service
viii be very elaborate aud the music su
per0. The alreadY-splendid choir will b
assisted IA the rendition OF the mass an
oGeriory 10y Professor John Baseler's OF
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