Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-25
p r A | S e S TO G Cd
With Services and Music in Decorated
Churches.
Large Congregations Gather In the
Churches Today to Observe the
Great Christmas Festival.

Long before daybreak this morning
Christmas was ushered in by the chime Of
bells in the church towers, and streams OF
people could be seen hurrying along through
the darkness to early mass In the Catholic
churches. There were also persons Of any
faith or no faith who We're drawn out to
hear the elaborate music
Christmas services were held in a number
OF churches yesterday. and so their doors
were closed today. But the Catholics and
Episcopalians and some Lutherans. IN honor
OF the greatest festival Of the year, had their
sanctuaries and church interiors beautifully
decorated today with flowers, and festooon-
ed with holly and other greens, while from
their organ lofts music burst forth, filling
the churches and pleasing the audiences.
All the churches were crowded to overflow
ing with happy, merry faces, in keeping
with the spirit Of the day. The solemn high
mass at St. Peters Catholic Church, corner
of I'd and streets southeast, was held at 5
O'Clock this morning before large gather
ing from all over Capitol Hill. Solemn high
masses were also celebrated at the same
hour at st. Aloysious' Catholic Church, st.
Mary's Catholic Church and St. Matthews
Catholic Church. Monsignor Satoln cee-
brated the second high mass at IL o'clock at
st. Aloysius Church. while Bishop Keane
OF the Catholic University preached the
morning sermon at ST. Patrick's Church.
Representative Storer and his family were
present at this church to hear him.
The altar Of Epiphany Protestant Epis-
copal Church was draped with holly. and
the interior was filed to the very doors.
Justice Field and many other well known
persons were present. St. Johns Episcopal
crowded with a fashionable audience. The
music was exceptionally fine.
Afternoon Services.
In the afternoon vespers will be sung in
many of the Catholic and Episcopal church.
es. while in the evening some of the Pro-
testant churches will have a special praise
and song service. A fine selection of classic
and well-known airs was played on the
bells of the Metropolitan NJ. E. Church this
morning, and shortly afterwald the doors
were open to gather together and distribute
the collections of clothing, food and other
things for the poor. This was the case In
the other churches also, and the relief COM
mltteeS everywhere were taking an account
of their stock and distributing articles of
all sorts to the neady I'm the city. In front
of many of the church doors stood the lame
the halt and the blind, with their hands
and hats stretched out for aims.
The attendance in all the churches
throughout the city today, called out by the
pleasant morning and the interesting serv-
ices was large, and everybody seemed
happy.
High mass was celebrated at sidnight at
st. Anthonys Chapel, at Brookland and the
attendance was very large. Rev. Father
DeWulf was the celebrant, and in a brief
sermon he wished the congregation a mer-
ry Christmas. and spoke of the prosperity
that had been enjoyed by that parish dur
ing the year. He urged that all should not
forget the poor during this glad holiday
season. and then drew some practical les
sons Of Christian piety from the gospel of
the day. The altar was beautifully decor
ated with flowers and everyreens and re-
Elected credit upon the industry and taste OF
the ladies of the sanctuary. The music by
the choir was well sung