The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-31
When New Year is Born Hundreds
Will Kneel in Prayer.
Watch Meetings in
Many Churches.
Fire Alarm Will Strike, Also
Chimes of st. Lawrence.

Years ago, watch Night was quite
generally observed by the Methodist
churches, but for the past two decades
1t has been for the most part disregard
ed, and the Roman Catholic churches
also ceased their midnight masses which
at one time were notable religious
function OF the Christmas season. 10
night, however, the passing away of
the old year and the ushering In Of new
one, Of commanding interest in that It
marks the advent OF a new century as
we'll, will be celebrated by many Chris
tian denominations with appropriate
ceremonies. Throngs will gather to
kneel In a prayer of conservation rs the
stroke of the bell az midnight announces
the birth Of the 10th century of the
Christian era.
The programmes at the different
church viii be varied In detail, charac-
ter and sentiment. Following is a glance
at the features In 80 me of the most prom
inent.
CHESTNUT STREET METHODIST.
There will be watch meeting for
which committee has prepared an in
teresting order of exercises. There will
be social hour that Will be social in
deed. The members OF the official board,
with their wives, will welcome all COM
ers. The chapel and parlors viii be
thrown open and there will be good mu-
slc as well as cordial welcome
Later in The evening DIR. Smith Baker,
pastor of Williston church, Will preach.
The closing moments of the year will be
spent in such a manner as to make
the coming year better than any In the
past. BY the kindness of the street rail,
way company spsoial cars will be IN
waiting at the head of Chestnut street
at 12.15 a. m, to take the people to
either end of the CITY. The public is cor
daily invited to attend the service.
STATE STREET CONGREGATIONAL
Ths State Street church will be open
to the public for d religious service at
half past ten o clock. The exercises will
be participated in by olergymsn of the
CITY. Short addresses will be made upon
the following topics:
Marked improvement in social con-
ditioDs in the 18th century.
Great additions to human knowledge
in the century.
Contributions blythe United States to
the Civilization of the world in the GEN.
fury.
Marked manifestations of the Christian
spirit In the century.
Ths dead of the century.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
Throughout the Roman Catholic
world, the new century will be ushered
IN with the midnight mass. Prepare.
tlons are under way for the observance
OF this unusual ceremony in Portland. |
Regular pew holders will be entitled to |
their seats as on other occasions and |
for their benefit tickets ara being issued |
in order to reserve their seats. The |
general public will be admitted to the |
other seats.
The object of the celebration of the mid |
night mass is explained by the following |
letter addressed to the olergymen Of the
Maine diocese, by Rev. Father O'Brien |
Of Bangor. former Vicar General of |
Bishop Healy, and at pre- sent a1minis-
traitor of the Maine diocsse:
Bangor, December 90, 1900.
"Rev. Dear Sir-On November ID, |
1889, by order of the sovereign pontitf, |
Leo XIII, there was issued by the sacred |
OF rites decree (Urbis ct |
Orbisl by which 1t was permitted that,
not only at midnight, when the year
1900 began, but also at midnight when !
the twentieth century Is to tie ushered |
in, the adorable and most august sacra-
ment of the eucharist might be exposed |
for alteration in churches and chapels fo-
twelve hours, that one mass OF the cir
might be sail or sung before
IL, and that the faithful might receive
holy communion during or after the
mass
1.-The object which the holy father had
in view In granting these unusual favors