St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-26
SERVICES AT THE CATHEDRAL.
Nothing More beautiful Has Been
Celebrated There.

Nothing More Beautiful Has Been
Celebrated There.
1t is doubtful if ever within the
walls of the weather-stained, smoke
begrimed cathedral has been celebrat-
ed a more beautiful Christmas service
than was sung there yesterday fore
noon, when Beethoven's Twelfth Mass
was rendered in full by a. large chorus
choir with pipe organ and full
orchestra accompaniment. The church
was filed long before the time of the
service, when the long line Of priests
and acolytes, followed by the arch
bishop, entered in the professional. A
splendid congregation filling every part
of the house Joined them in the beauti-
full service, the rendition of which oc-
cupied more than two hours. Arch
bishop ireland celebrated mass, and the
responses were sung by the large choir,
under the direction of John Gehan.
The twelfth mass is one of beauty and
grandeur, and in it's rendition the choir
did great credit to itself, and sang
the mass with an ease and finish that
is surprising when it is realized that
they are not continuously singing mas
ses of such a classic stamp as is this
one. The solo parts were sung by
Misses MeaIey and Collins, soprano and
alto, and Mr.. Quesnel, tenor, and were
done with admirable finish. While the
mass and service throughout are rich
and beautiful, some parts are more
so than others, and this is particularly
true of the "Adeste Fideles" and the
trio. The music will be repeated at
the 1890 mass on Sunday morning and
will be rendered in full, but without
the orchestral accompaniment
Following the first part of the service
the Rev. DR.. Moynihan, of st. Paurs
seminary, delivered an appropriate
and eloquent sermon on the "Llfe of
Christ" In introducing the character
whose advent all Christendom joined in
celebrating Dr.. Moynihan touched brief
ly upon the era of Roman civiliza ton
at the birth of Christ, which was that
Of the great Augustus, the "Augustan
Age the most splendid of all Roman
history, renowned for it's commercial
supremacy as well for it's intellectual
brilliancy, an age which left to pos
terity the masterpieces of Roman
literature, art, and architecture. Rome
was at this time the center Of civiliZa-
ton, its rational life was far-reachins
and it's wealth was vast, and at this
period in the worlds history there was
born, away among the Judean hills,
a Child whose character, both divine
and human, was destined to exert a
greater influence than all earthly en-
perors, and was to be the hope and
salvation of all succeeding ages. This
child, the speaker said, was to live the
ideal life, to be the only example of a
perfect man in all history, a man
whose human side made it possible to
understand every need and want of the
human soul and to sympathfze with
every feeling of the human heart. The
sermon closed with a splendid appeal
for a fuller and wider comprehension ol
this great character and a more de-
voted and loyal service on behalf of His
followers.
At the early mass the church was
crowded and fine musical program
was rendered which included numbers
from Mozart and Gounod. DR.. Hef
from, the pastor, preached a splendid
sermon appropriate to the Christmas
morning.