The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1895-12-31

UT music at IL O'Clock
tonight. In many OF
the, churches the usual matchmaking ser
vice held on the last night OF the Old
year will be of q most elaborate descrip-
ton and supplemented by program oil
chimes.
The Methodists are pioneers of the watch
meeting CEREMONY. As q consequence II is
observed more universally among them than
in any other denomination. Every Meth
otiist church In the city will hold divine ser
vice tonight.
The Metropolitan with its glorious bells,
is naturally the center of attraction. The
program contains five addresses from elO-
quent and wen-known ministers. The
pastor, Rev, Dr.. johnson. aud his assist
ant, Rev. Mr.. Mccarthy, will be the first
speakers. DR.. Boiler, vice chancellor of
the American University, win deliver an
appropriate sermon. Drs. Reid and Page
Milburn are the last speakers.
The musical part Of the program has re-
ceived careful attention. Prof. Davis will
preside at the organ. and the choir, with
Miss Pearce as soloist, Will render hymns
At IL O'Clock the chimes, under Prof. Glib
sons mastery direction, will make the
midnight air rich with melody. Ring Out,
Wild Bells" and program OF other equally
beautiful music has been selected. This
concert OF the bells at the Metropolitan
tonight will be one OF the noted features OF
the local watch services.
PRAYERS AND HYMNS.
The Dumbartop n. Z. Church services be-
gin at 10, and will include the usual pra yers
and hymns and sermon from Rev. j b.
Stitt. The Ry.and. Iamline, Foundry and
Wesley Churches are also preparing lengthy
details for this evening.
AZ Waugh Chapel on Capitol Hill Rev.
Luther b. Wilson. presiding elder of the
district, viii deliver one OF his weIl-known
earnest talks on the closing year. Trinity
NJ E. Church Will have a solemn memorial
service for the dead members OF the con-
gregatiop. At Grace, the Mount Vernon
Place and Douglas NJ. L. Churches the con-
gregations viii gather at 8 O'Clock to hear
words suggested by the occasion.
Tue Presbyterians are beginning TO fall
into line regarding New Year S Eve services.
Rev. DR.. Radcliffe pastor of the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church, has arranged
a vigil servicc,''-to begin about 1890.
The most elaborate musical program has
been selected by Prof n. Du Shane Glow
ard. He has chorus OF forty carefully
trained voices. with himself and Mrs. F. A.
Gardner as soloists. The first hymn will be
''All Praise to Cod Wagner. This is TO be
followed by the sermon by DR.. Radcliffe.
The chorus will next render Beyond the
Smiling" and Gounod's magnificent music
OF wild Bells" "One Sweetiy Solemn
Thought is the last number and will be
sung by the choir. with Mrs. Gardner as
solOist.
Two of the Catholic churches hold Ser
vices tonight. st. AlGSsius and st. Pat
rick's. The Catholic Services are styled
Thanksgiving ceremonies" and make the
third name for the rcllg ious obscrvances of
this evening -thc Methodist watch meetings
and the Presbyterian vigil service
All interest in Catholic circles will be TO-
cussed at st. Patrick's for two reasons
Cardinal Satolli will preside and DR.. Stat
ford will preach. The noble guard, Marquis
Sacripanti, will also be present, in all the
glory of the papal uniform. As i'll the cere
monies of Christmas day, ne will stand In
the sanctuary on guard during the entire
service.
The main musical feature is the beauti-
full new "Te Deurn,' composed for the
occasion by Mr.. Rufus Garland, son Of
General Garland. number
of prominent clergymen have been invited
TO attend these ceremonies. including some
Of the professors OF the Catholic univer-
sity. Mgr. sbaretti, and DR.. Rocker
Father Gloyd and Father McGee will con-
duct the service.
A SOCIAL OCCASION.
The Baptist churches are observing New
Years eve in an especial manner, but with
them the occasion is as much a social as
religious affair. Many of the church So
rieties, such as the Baptist Young Peoples
Union and the Christian Endeavor, will hold
reunions.
AT the Calvary Baptist Church a pretty
reception will occur. given by the Christian
Endeavor Society to the pastor, DIR. Greene,
and their friends. A program has been
prepared and will include a review of the |
years work, and short papers pertain |
ng to this will be read by the members. |
Miss c. Pauline Wise will preside, taking |
or her theme:
Looking backward through the year,
Along the way my feet have pressed,
see sweet places everywhere,
Sweet places where my soul had rest !
But one Lutheran church has services |
oDght, the Keller Memorial. Rev. DR.. |
Butler will preach. and hymns and appro-
,riate prayers will be the order OF pro-
,eedngs.
The custom OF celebrating the eve OF the
Few Year by some religious observance,
s one of the greatest antiquity. II seems
% have prevailed among all sects and in
Ill nationalities. Jews. Egyptians, Chinese,
Indians and Romans differing though they
lid as to the time that they coinmemorated
he dawn of a New Year, always regarded
I as time Of especial interest.
In Rome the year ancientfy began when
he sun entered the first sign OF the zodiac,
bout March 81. Afterwards the date was
hanged to January and was dedicated to
Janus Bifrons. Both the eve of the feast
md the feast itself was observed with great
'clat.
Public games took place both an unusu-
lily large number of pra yers and sacrifices
we're Offered in the temple, and the people
ent each other greetings and gifts.
With the advent of Christianity, the
sage of solemn Inauguration OF the
lew Year was duly observed. A great
ariety of dates. however, prevailed in re
ard to the celebration. Christmas. An
nciation, March 5, and Easter have all
ivided honors with January 1 for the
of beginning the New Year. 1t
vas only late in the sixteenth century that
he present day was universally adopted or
LII /