The San Francisco call., 1899-12-26
&o>xtlea the
Savlo>~'s $ Name

Christmas sermon. TO his congregation
yesterday morning. The subject of his
discourse was The Choir of Heaven in
the. Fields OF Bethlehem" In part he
said:
Swing open the gatesi Come in, o Christ
mas day. fragrant with a thousand memoir
les. and tell US again of Him who forsook
throne to be Graded in a manger. This
day is the birthday OF Prince Jesus. Shall
II be celebrated by cannon's roar and the
ringing of bells as when an earthly prince
Is born? Nay; rather let the bells OF low
Ing hearts ring out peals OF gladness and
Joyous songs salute the newborn King.
Ihis day Is monumental. All history Is
balanced on the solitary pivot OF the natiy-
ly. The world then discontinued its old
Teckonings and began anew with its Ammo
CoIninl Every page Of Scripture points TO
II Tor II Is not only the central point OF
history. but all the truths OF Christianity
Let US. then. leave for little every care.
that we may see this thing that has come
70 pass. Let us hasten the fields OF
Bethiehen and listen to that angelic choir.
Behold! The whole concave OF heaven is
I%aT<aIng with celestial light. Hark!
colces are ringing in our ears: "Glory TO
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good
VIII toward men,
Tonight the Central NJ. e. Sunday
SScnool. Mission street, between Sixth and
SEVENTH VIII celebrate its Christmas an
nlVersary. j. w. Erwin, president of the
California Camera Club, will deliver a
lecture on "Childhoods Realm" and will
niustrate nte II by a large number of fine
Christmas exercises will be included in
the programme.
The children in the San Francisco Meth
S9iSt Orphanage, located at 1854 Twenty
uIth Hth street Will be visited by Santa Claus
tnls evening. An interesting programme
Oh exercises Will commence at O'Clock
unaer the direction of Mrs. Courneen. the
matron, and Mrs. l. Il. Truman the chair
man of. the ladies' committee A Christ
mas tree, loaded with presents for the
SSIiIluren' I'm VIII be a feature OF the even
ing, ana everything will be done 10 make
glad the hearts of the little ones. The
pubic are cordially invited Admission
will be free
ST. Mary's Cathedral had It's usual large
atIehuance yesterday. At the IL o'clock
solemn high mass the magnificent edifice
was the scene OF a brilliant spectacle
Solemn high mass was celebrated at that
nQur with all the pomp and ceremony
MnlCh marks that important event. Choice
music was rendered by the choir, assisted
Dy an orchestra. Acolytes to the number
OF Oh dorty, attired in their robes. occupied
brilliantly lighted with scores of waxen
candles and red incandescent lamps. Sur
rounding 1t were potted plants and flow
erS appropriate to the season of the year.
ReV. j. j: Prendergast, V. G., was the
celebrant OF the mass. He had for his as
Slstants Rev. j. b. Hannigan, deacon;
B; 6eX; E; F, Dempsey, sub-deacon. and Rev.
fnllp q Ryan, master of ceremonies
Rev. Charles A. Ramm preached the
sermon on the day and it's significance.
II was as short as 1t was beautiful He
told the story of the nativity and dwelt
on the spirit Of the child. He regretted
that its spirit did not pervade the world
and that those in 1t would not forget the
spirit OF enmity and selfishness.
THE circumstances of the central event
or the nativity are so very simple" he
said. that il seems evidently Gods wish
that we should approach them in the
spirit Of prayer and meditation"
The musical programme included a num-
Der OF beautiful selections, which were sung
with splendid effect by the choir under
the direction of Professor r. J. Harrison.
who presided at the organ. The soloists
were: Miss Katherine Black and Mrs.
Alfred kelleher. sopranos; Miss Julia Sui
Ivan and Mrs. Steffani, altos; David Man
lloyd, tenor; S. J. Sandy and Robert
Burns, bassos. The choir was augmented
by a large chorus and orchestra, which
assisted in rendering the following pro-
gramme: Hummel's mass in + nat:
Adams Noel; offertory. Novello's S
ven's "Hallelujah Chorus"