The times., 1897-12-26
CHRISTMAS In SANCTUARIES
Beautiful Decorations in Catholic
and Episcopal Churches.
Pastors Retell the Story IF the
Birth of the Christ and Ch1irs
Sing Fitting Music.

The city rang with the sounds of Christ
mas yesterday.
Sacred bells uskered in the day and called
pious people to their prayers; songs OF praise
welIcd from silyer-throated choirs, anu
reverent words came from the lips anu
hearts of ministers and priests. T he mas
sage, '.Peace on earth, good viii to men,
was delivered from scores of pulpits that
were garnished wit evergreen in symbolism
of the eternal power and undyfng fresh
ness OF the message which the Sa Iior
brought.
The churches Were verdant in winter
greens. Affairs we're garlanded with boushs
and wreaths of holly, twinklng with red
berries. Festuons OF familiar crow 's-foot
were twii,ed around the pillars of the
sacred piles and looped from the truSseS
and arches of the roofs. branches of the
mistletoe swung here and there Pine, boH
and cedar were planted in the sanctuaries,
with now and then a waving palm, sugSes-
tive OF some southern cline
Before the sun beamed from behind she
Bennine hills crowds of festive people
surged along the streets. They were gay
voiced and Sunday clad and carried prayer
books and tin horns. They We're vending
their way To church, for all the Catholic
churches celebrated mass at O'Clock,
and all devuut Catholics and many wto
during tie year had strdyed from the
mother fold were on tlieir road TO duty
and devotion. Nearly all the Episcopal
churches held early services, also, but
as u rule il was the Catholics who beat
the sun in getting up.
At st Aloysius's Church portions of
GuiIlmunts :, Haydn'S, Guunods and Kali
woda's masses were sung, the solo parts
being sustained by Mrs. Kitty-ThompSon
Berry ard Mr.. James Nolan. the IN lSical
nortiuns OF the services Were accompanied
by full orchestra and the great organ
Instrumental solos were rendered by Mr.
Ernest Lent, cello; Mr.. II. Jaeger, flute;
Mr.. Sol Minst CT, violin, md Mr.. l.. Tflleux,
French torn.
At st. Pauick's Haydns imperial mass
was srhg hy the choir under the direction
of Signor Mariana Maino- Rev. Father
Stafford delivered the customary Chf,st-
mas sermon, and declared that the human
heart could rot steel itself against The
generous impressions made by Christians
At st. Mary's solemn high mass was 2eie-
brated at O'Clock and again alto. D lring
these services several German Christmas
carols were sung by the children Of the
parochial school.
At ST. Matthew solos were sung by Mrs.
Pennybs cker, Mrs. Goddard, Miss Carrie
Cotterill. Miss Blanche Wood, Miss Mamie
McGee. Mrs Hersey, Miss Davis, Miss yler.
Miss Lackey. and Messrs. Golden, Fitzg'r-
aid Goodchild and Meem.
The initial mass at st. Peters Church was
celebrated by Rev. Father Dennis Nc
Cormick. and solos were sung by Miss
Ritchie Miss Annie Grant, Mr.. Moore, Miss
Coleman, Miss Regina Baptista, MI Fox,
Mr. Randolph and Mr.. Ora ham.
Holy Trinity, st. Stephens, st. Jo-
seph's, Immaculate Conception, st. T he
Name, st. Paul's Catholic and the other
Catholic Churches celebrated Christmas
along the same general lines.
At Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown,
masses were celebrated at and 10 a. m,
the solo parts being sustained by Mrs. Es-
ther G,unprecht, Miss Edith Mccoy, Mr..
II. L. Murduck, Mr.. Michael Scanlon and
Mr.. Noel A. Adam.
IL
the benedction of the blessed sacrament
were celebrated,
At st. Stephens solemn masses and holy
Communion we're observed. Rev. Father
W. S. Caughy preached.
At ST. Joseph's Church masses were
sung at and 1890 o'clock, the solo
roles being taken by Mr.. George ii. V.
Connor and Miss Barton. Bencdiction fol
lowed the celebration Of the second mass.
At the ChuI ch of the Immaculate Con
ception high masses were celebrated at
$50 and 1880, and low masses at Z, S
and O'Clock. The feast mass was sung
by the recentIy-organized st. Cecilia S Choir
and solos were sung by Miss Pearl Evans,
Mr.. Cassius Howard and Mr.. Walter
Williams. Rev Father Williams preached
the sermon of the day.
At. st. Theresa's Church Marcos first
mass was sung, and Mr.. j Taylor Branson
played 4 violin solo.
At st. Augustine's Church solemn high
mass was celebrated at O'Clock and
solemn pontifical mass at IL o clock by
Rt. Rev. Bishop Curtis The sermon was
delivered by Rev. Father Edmund Burke,
s. j. The Knights Of st. Augustine, No.
2, acted as an escort to the bishop.
The Church of the Holy Name cele
brated the day with masses and sermon.
AT st. Faul's Church, Rev. DR.. Kerby.
Of the ca tholic University, was the cele
brant, with Rev. Joseph A. Foley as
deacon and Rev. E. A. Harmon as sub
deacon.
The decoration OF the Catholic
churches was rivalled by that of
the Episcopal churches. Services were
held early and holy communion
was iduring the for enoon. Trinity
Church was decked with wealth of grsen.
Great ropes Of crows foot str etched
across the cl urch above the sanctuary,