Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-27
BABE OF BETHLEHEM.
The Story o. ChriStS Birth Told in
S.TmOn and Song.
uptcuT CHRISTMAS CAROLS.
Tho Music i'm the Richmond
churches OF Hirh ordcr-pinncrs
md Family Rcunious-Many Acct
dents and Frequent Alarms.
BRIGHT 'hRisthNs 'A""'s

Tho celebration OF Christmas PECAN on
.he evening Of the vigil.
With blaring Of horns. the boom OF
cannon and hrecracker, and the cachin-
Mating hilarity OF immense crowds Of
PEOPLE who thronged every street night
eas turned into day, and though the
.rowds dispersed shortly after midnight.
sl through the small hours. and until
The devout began TO make their appears
srce. hurrying TO the early masses and
HE sunrise prayer meetings-which form
ID a conspicuous part OF the days OBJ
,ervance-the streets were never de-
serted. and the explosion Of fireworks,
which might have been heard al frequent
intervals all through the night, an
r.nrced that the festival was AT hand.
md chat there were those ~ho wished
81, celebrate as much of il as was posi-
Ole.
The day itself broke clear and bright.
4. was more like spring morning than
..e mdwinter festival. and 70 was pro-
..a'y due 10 the absence Of the tradition
a.. SHOWS that the crowds on the streets
esre larger than ever before.
AT THE CATHEDRAL
me services in our churches on Christ
r .-Day were particularly bright and at
-lNc. There is something in the
r.r-nm OF the Christmas hymns that
hes a responsive chord In the heart.
Dr.. c.evates even as 10 inspires
Che Catholic churches the first
-.ts were said at O'Clock a. y. These
ra followed 10y the low masses as Non
90. a.rrFf f|sn Al
Ola. mass was celebrated at the Catle-
l-I no which the Bishop ofiiciated. as
s-..t by Rev. Fathers Cutler ~. g..
...-r. John CO.. :. I'D. Herman. and
..s The sermon was preached hy
Father Cutler. who voiced the true sig-
rce OK The day. and pointed out the
lessons which t inculcatcs-
The choir VII ch was made up OF
tusriy-eight trained vocalists. many of
Dem being prominent figures in musical
CIRCLES here ana elsewhere. was accom-
panied br fun orchestra Of fifteen
rf.es. Nazareth" lGoun0dl was sung
d. Tie luroit. by Mr.. Andre Burthe.
r.a Nyrie and Gloria We're from Mo
..-.s Twelfth Mass, the Credo. Sanctus.
T.r.aictus and Acnus De- were from
C.-r0l's Mcsse SOl0nelle and among the
c.rtr numbers were Norel.o's arrange
r.-t OF the Adeste Fi6elas. Neni Sancte
s-.t.s Dietscn and Die.mans Christ
ras Hymn.
The church was crowded 10 its Utmost
c.nacty. and this beautiful programme.
sing with So much taste. precision and
feeling formed a brilliant adjunct 10
ne Impressive ceremonial Of the pontii-
cii mass
The high masses in the other Catholic
churches hard been held at o'clock, and
- IS reported that never before have the
s--tfces been attended by such immense
.-rwds. The musical features in each
case were bright and elaborate. and ad-
r rably rendered. The sermons dealt
1-h the old. old story in It's numerous
ilases.
N THE OTHER CHURCHES.
rhe Episcopal churches were also
crowded al the special services and late
rre-s found it difficult TO find standing
r.om
AT 81. Paurs. Holy Trinity. St James
Grace. Monumental. and St Jonn 1he
MUSIC which was 81 a very n-Eh otleI
proved 90 De a most attractive feature
and was sung with much care and dell
Gov Of feeling by the regular choirs
which had been rehearslns loE sumo
weeks. -
n.v. pr. r. r. Kerr delivered an IN
..-.ire and eloquent lecture on ne
.r- Into vevrt the Land o. the Pha-
.s" al The church Of the Covenant.
r.- MAS the only Presbyt churcn I'D
r-..r services were held, and the con-
creation was large.
rr accordance with the agreement Oh
t Method So ministers services were
.r Christina s-Day ~ Park-Piace'
o. ,-s-reet. and demonstration churches
All sermons were delivered oy Rev.
Vs. o. starr. Rev. W. Y. TUDOR
r u and Rev 81. B. Beauchamp. re-
.-..-.raiv a sermon appropriate 10 tne
-rars-ry was pr ached AZ Denny
-r..- Methodist church a. y O'Clock ON
Christmas morning by Rcv Mr. VIE
l-- ard services were ield 81 'eA-
-.--r at g A. 81 and s p. "
..1fly numh-r OF ople asscmpled az
seventh street Christian church on
D-..r.- morning 10 unite in pralsirg
e ..--hirulne Him whose birth inc
rlamoratcs Rev. j. a. spencer,
- ~ the Manchester Christian
r... preached "a most appropriate r.
r. tm the text, GLORY 70 Goa ID
ahtsl. and on earth peace goo'-
.uari men," 10 argued that this.
The DAYS in the year. was the
vhcn the glory Of tn Saviour
be- shown in the lives Of men.
-t. frar that license should be- given
ra Ee7ness The music was especial
o. GOOD tv the choir. composed Of Mrs.
J. <0al Mrs W ". Wright. firs.
y 81 Anderson. Mrs. L. G. Daniel.
So r. J. Mccarthy and Mr.. ID. W.
r,tt
~a. Christian Endeavor Society conduct
sunrise prayer-meeting at Z
O'clock in the Grace-Street Presby-
t-r church. and in all the mission
rr the good work was carried on
f.a GOSPEL story was repeated, and the
r.sa-e was delivered.
rhout the day men. women, and
r-r au over the citv Joined in
f- universal rejoicing. and might have
fr.n seen on porch 8nd sidewalks. con-
t-frrnr 10 The general babel Of sounds
u.ft pvrofeohrv or with blatant horns.
CHRISTMAS DINNERS.
certain king in an Arabian legend
l some ointment. by which be
enabled having arointed his eyes,
... through Che walls o. dwellings.
Dad ONE possessed such sorcerous salve
OH Christina Day be would have been
wi'h many ana many a brilliant and
..rr scene The Christmas dinner o.
rsriufor which rrows % b. more
r. more h0r0rcd each year. In prv0te
i..so in public restaurant and hos
'r elaborate preparations were made
f.r occasion. and the sounds Of
renry might 90 heard on every side.
Nrs were brilliantly Illuminated at
fr.t and many private and social
f...Uors which had been looked for
ward 20 FOR some time. rassed IN plea
srfr Many persons awaited themselyes
90 fte special Chrlstrlas dinner arranged
tF srs. Alnslie x Webster az the JEFF
f0rlu
Ne.srs TAYLOR & Boiling gave dinner
f1 their emu'0yees IN the third section
tae dinine-room Of the famous