The record-union., 1893-12-27
SPECIAL SERVICES ON CHRISTMAS.
Those at the Cathedral and St, Paul's
Episcopal Church.
Impressive Ceremonies and Choice
Music-Entertainme at the
German Church.

According to custom the Catholic
Church observed Christmas Day with
very impressive services. Every pew in
the immense Cathedral was filed, and
many stood in the rear during the entire
mass, which lasted over two hours. A
large number of those present were OF
other denominations, being attracted by
the announcement that Pontifical mass
would be celebrated and that Clmarosa's
military Mass'' would be sung by the
choir.
The main altar was tastefully decorated
with wreaths, and dozens of small lighted
candles were arranged on either side.
forming two crosses and two anchors.
The entrance of the officiating clergymen,
Bishop Manogue and Fathers Grace and
Walsh, was heralde d by the rendering
of a solemn march by the organ and
stringed instruments. The clergymen
were preceded by twenty-five altar boys,
and as these marched slowly TO their po-
sitions and performed their different
functions the scene was a very impressive
one.
Father Grace delivered the sermon, and
it was most scholarly review OF the in
cidents relating TO the birth OF the Savior,
combined with an eloquent aud forclble
exhortabon to his hearers to love and
honor Jesus Christ.
The music rendered by the choir was
the grandest ever attempted in this city.
1t Is regarded as one of the most difficult
compositions published. Those who at
tended expecting to listen to grand music
were certainly gratified, for no choir has
probably ever been heard in Sacramento
to better advantage. The chorus was
even, strong and full, and the several
solos, duets and quartets were given in a
brilliant manner. The accompaniment
by the organ, hute and stringed instru-
mentS was excellent, ana was pleasing
feature OF the musical programme
The "Kyrie," duet by Mrs. Ritner
and Miss Leda Peltier, was eXcellently
song, and the "Agnus DEL" by Mesdames
Coppersmith and Howard, was very
pretty duet, given in exceeding good
taste.
The solo, I'm Solus .5anctus," by Mrs.
Ritner, was in an unusually high pitch
even for a soprano voice, but was given
in brilliant manner.
Walter Longbottom rendered two tenor
solos in excellent voice. and Messrs.
Blair and Cohn were equal to their tasks
in several short solos.
Messrs Genshlea, Beardslee and Phin-
ney rendered the bass, and it was
noticeably strong feature Of the choir's
singing,
Mrs Coppersmith's solo. SET Incar-
natus," was the most difficult one in the
mass, but was given in perfect and fin
ished manner and with rare sweetness.
c. A. Neale played the fiute obligato.
The singing, on the whole, was OF rare
excellence and in keeping with the i'm
pressiveness of the feast-day ceremonies.
AT ST PATTI'S
st. PauPs Church was largely attended.
The edifice was tastefully trimmed and
the music rendered by the choir was OF a
very high quality.
Mr.. OLtmann preached on the subject
of "The Second Man." taking his text
from l Corinthians Xv., AZ: 1.-The second
man is the Lord from Heaven. His SER
mon may be summarized as follows:
Ne lind two men prominent in the
Scriptures-Adam, the first man, and
second man who should come. Now, let
us trauSpose the text. 1t reads: The
Lord from Heaven is the second man."
The most prominent thing in the New
Testament is the idea that God has in
some way intermingled himself with
human destiny.
This idea occupies far more space than
many of the things seemingly very i'm
portant; for instance, Gods attributes, or
the nature of man, or the future state, or
even than morals.
The reason is, Christianity is not
mere system or code, but All eXtraor-
binary personality. 1t is difficult TO pre-
sent before the mind the complex nature
of our Lord.
Imagine, if you can, a man who, taken
at his word, becomes a boy, but retains a
mans disposition-his horrible suffering
That is, his incarnation being involQn-
tary, an adjustment Of the two natures
was not possible.
But Chrisps incarnation was voluntary.
God, with his lofty and indescribable
nature and powers, became man.
Think of the exalted place which this
Person holds in human estimation. Ma
poleon said II tell you, l know men, and
Jesus Christ was not man, He was
more-He was God" So too, J ohm Stuart
Mill, Renan and others. No popularity
of wisdom or character will account for
this.
When Socrates ande Marcus Aurelius
died, their influence began at once to de-
crease. But the influence of Jesus, on
the contrary, Is a steadily increasing
force.
Jesus referred this growth to the ac-
cess OF new and Divine Force.
The Christian belief-a very strange
one-is that at a disputed point in time,
we'll considered, there was developed a
human form in which the Eternal God
became incarnate. God and man coal
esced. The product became the first of
new order OF beings-the second man.
This new order of beings was not to re-
main a barren and isolated wonder, but
bound by the law ofliving things, i. e., to
increase and multiply, This is the most
imperious of all instincts.
But how is this to be accomplished?
BY natural transmission? family?
This is clearly impracticable. The geo.
metric increase by descent would involve
corresponding decrease in the divinity of
each descendant.
Here we touch the mysterious fact of
spiritual propagation. Except a man IS
born of water and the Spirit, he cannot
enter into the Kingdom OF God" "But as
many as received Him, to them gave He
power to become the sons of God.'
Being born again, not of corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible.
We admit the vagueness of such teach
ing, but the fact has been accomplished.
The spirit OF Christ has passed into multi
tudes. a new style OF humanity has
been developed, men who are in His
secrets-in sympathy with His teachings
and life.
We stand to-day with grateful rever-
ence at the cradle of our Almighty An
cestor
GERMAN LUTHERAN.
AT the German Lutheran Church on
Monday evening Rev. Mr.. 0ehler deliv-
cred discourse on 1.-THE Birth of the