Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-25
The Glorious Christmas Day Oels-
brated in the Churches.
TIE SERVICES HELD TODAY
Midnight Gatherings and Sunrise,
sPeaIs of Bells.
WHERE THEY WERE HELD

Solemn nlSn mass was celebrated with
the customary magnificent and appropriate
cere monies at a number of the Catholic
churches of the city. Long before the
starlight had begun to pale or the sign
OF the morning sun had begun to appear
the church bells had begun to ring. With
but few hi urs' sleep, and with the pros
pect of glad though firing day of excite
ment before them, the faithful responded.
The streets before o'clock, the hour for
the beginning of the church services, were
filled with. young and old. The air was
most frosty. but the churchgoers did not
hesitate to show by deed that they were
glad that the Prince of Peace had bean
born this day nearly 1900 years ago. The
matter of suffering little trifle in the way
of leaving warm beds and rising at sucn
an early hour was merely a trife. While
the bells rang out the tidings of great joy
to all men they trooped up the steps Of the
sacred edifces with reverent head and en-
tered the houses which had been conse-
Grated to His use and His presence. Christ
mas greetings were given and exchanged.
but 1t was done quietly and with no show
of worldiness. Up the aisles, with bowed
head and lowly mien they walked, as be-
fitting SO solemn an occasion. In some
cases eyes were wet with the memories Of
other Christmas days, some happy, perhaps,
some troubulOus While the organ inside
softly pealed in the solemn ceremonials the
Wind outside breathed a requiem for the
repose of old intolerance, sin and hatred.
Together both merged into a glad anthem.
whose meaning was clear. Unto Us
Child is Born, Unto Us King is Given
Inside the high affairs were ablaze with
lights, the censerS going to and fro, In the
space reserved for the Celebrant and his
a. slstants. Around the affairs were palms
and other greens, fifty concentrating the
day. The scenes were most impressive
In all the churches If for OllrpOSe Of
devotion, simply from spectacular stand
point, the early morning rising world have
been we'll repaid by this. But it is safe
to assert that those who gratfied their
senses at the expense of their souls in this
manner were few and far between. The
attitudes of devotion, which appeared sine
cere, were assumed by all who witnessed
the ceremonials in honor Of the nativity
OF the Savior.
Early Masses.
Early high mass was celebrated at the
following CHURCHES: St. Patrick's, St.
Peters, ST. fauiH, ST. Dominic's, ST. Tere-
sa's, Anacostda. Church of the Immac ulate
Conception, st. Augustine's, ST. Stephens,
Holy Trinity,
The congregation at St. Patrick's Church,
10Th and g streets northwest filled the
church to oYerhowiEg. The musical pro-
gram was remarkably fine one, prepared
directed a Selected orchestra Of fourteen
instruments at the o'clock mass. The sing
ing was such as to hold The large audience
with the closest attention, and the orches-
trel music was fitting accompaniment.
Rev. Father Gloyd was celebrant of the
mass. Rev. Father Stafford was deacon and
Rev. Father McGee subdeacon. Over the
altar, looking like brilliant jewel setting
for the glowing interior of the church IT.
self, was a. handsome five-pointed star
made of dazzling lights. Every eye was
turned to this as-the orbs Of the shepherds
were directed to the star which shone over
Bethlehem on the eventful day.
1t was cosmopolitan assemblage at st.
Patrick's, showing that His dominion ex-
tends over the lowly we'll as the ricn.
There were ladies attired in seal skins,
wearing costly Jewels. There were others
whose poverty was apparent from their ap-
Iarel They met on the same footing-in
some cases they occupied the same pews.
There was no class distinction there. In
the congregation were policemen, in uni
form, the gray of the letter carrier was
also evident. All occupations were repre-
sented. There were whites and blacks. All
listened with the utmost attention. 1t was
one of the most devotional congregations
probably that ever gathered together. 1t
seemed trained as one. When the solemn
intonations of the celebrant would reach
the different passages in the services every
knee would be bent. every head bowed
Again the congregation would rise on its
ingly the tidings Of great joy to all men.
The Sermon.
Father Gloyd did not preach a sermon.
that task being left to Father Stafford, who
delivered an eloquent discourse, later in
the day. The rector, however. made some
remarks, breathing a christmas spirit
throughout. While the day was one of joy
for all persons, he said. 1t was one es-
pecially joyful to Catholics, for they were
specially blessed. They were better fitted
to celebrate the occasion, than those Of any
other denomination, he declared.
The tidiugs which the angels brought to
the shepherds was the text of his dis
&C urse He defined the two kinds of Joy
which characterize Christmas day. and
adjured his hearers to let the spiritual
kind overtop the worldly. It was good for
people to enjoy themselves on this &C.
casion, he stated, by giving and receiving
presents, and in the various other ways,
but the true reason why the time is cele-
brated should not be forgotten. In con-
clusion, he asked for contributions from
everyone. as liberal as could be spared
The number of persons who remained at
the communion service was noticeably
large. Throughout the musical service,
the "Adeste Fidelis" strain was woven
as thread of gold, in pattern of silver
When the mass was finished, the i'm
mense congregation passed quickly out
each to his or her home, with greetings
to friends and relatives. The east had lust
begun to grow rosy, with the advent of
the Christmas day wien the worshipers
passed along the thoroughfares and dis
appear red in their houses.
st. Matthew'S
At st. Matthews Church this morning a
large congregation participated in the i'm
pressive ceremonY of colemn high mass.
Rev. Thomas Lee was the celebrant There
were no expensive decorations in the
church. "A few garlands of evergreens
about the altar and an expensive wreath of
holly. made ;mores effective by the large
bow Of red with which 1t was tied to the
pulpit, covered it9Rll. The choir was aug
mented by a1string orchestra. and rendered
the program printed yesterday in The Star
The soloists:tweres Mrs. Pennybaker. Mrs
Goddard. Missea Carrie Cotterill. Blanche
Wood, Mamie Msgee, Mrs. Hersey. Misses
Davis. Tylers3nd lLackey: Messrs. Golden.
Fitzgerald, Goodchiid and Meem Sopranos
Mrs. PennybakerJ Mrs. Goddard. Misses
Carrie Cottefill. blanche Wood, Mamie
Magee. Mrs. Hersay, Mrs. Wilmarth, Kath-
leeR Cooney, isabel Sinclair, Margaret and
Sohon. Altos, Misses Elise Davis Eliza
beth Tyler, katiesd1ackey Annie FLEMING