The age-herald., 1901-12-26
CHURCH SERVICES
 WERE IMPRESSIVE
Eloquent Sermons and Brilliant
 and Joyous Music
NEW MASS AT ST. PAUL'S
A MasterfuI Work Finely Rendered By Large Choir With Orchestral Ac- companlment-Beautlful Solos
 and Stirring Cllmaxes.

The Episcopal Church of the Advent and St. Paurs Catholic church were at- tended by large congregations yesterday and brilliant Christmas music was well rendered
 At the Advent, the Rev. John G. Mur- ray, the rector. preached an inspiring sermon appropriate to the festival of the nativity and the following musical pro- gramme was rendered under the direc- tion of Mr. E. G. Powell, the choirmas- ter:
 Processional-"It Came Upon the Mid night Clear"
 e-Blumenschein.
 Te Deum-Music adapted from Farmers 8 Mass in B fiat.
 Benedictus:
 offertory-"The People That Walked in Darkness"-Rogers.
 Recessional-'Angels from the Realms 's of GIory.'sss-. sss ss. -,'--- The soioists were Miss Roland. Miss Miller. MT. Miller and MT. Powell. MT. Grambs played the organ.
 At St. PauI's. F There were three masses at St. Paurs, and three masses at the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows. At St. Pauls MT. Guckenberger directed the music at the first service, which was held at o'clock, and at the late service at 10:SO. The nuns supplied the choir for the second mass at 10:30 o'clock.
 The most imposing ceremonies and the . most brilliant music were reserved for the last service. There was a solemn high mass with the Rev. Father Sweeny as celebrant, the Rev. Father O'Reilly as deacon, the Rev. Father Mennis as sub deacon and Benjamin Raffo of St. Der nards College as master of the cere- monies The clergy wore rich vestments of cloth of gold.
 | Tho Rev. Father OReilly was the preacher. He delivered fervid and in- strcctive discourse on Christmas.
 He said in Russia, Prussia, Lapland. Labrador. China, Japan and all other lands the church was established, and everywhere this joyous festival was fit tigiy celebrated.
 The priest dwelt not only upon the birth of Christ but upon the fulhllment of the prophecies and upon certain events in the life of the Redeemer-the circumcision, the crucifixion. the resurrection and the ascension. lie Q1ScuSSeu aiSO the human nature of Christ and the divine nature. showing how the divine triumphed with great power over the human.
 The Music. The choir was large and we'll balanced and was supported by carefully-selected orchestra While the acoiytes were lighting the candles on the altar the choir sang the first two verses of the grand old hymn, Adeste Fideles and after the mass the last two verses of the same hymn. The music of the mass was by La Jael- Mass No. 6. It had never been heard in Birmingham before. It is a great work. with ingenius contrapuntal writing and splendid climaxes for the chorus. The Gloria and the Credo were perhaps the finest numbers. but every part was churchly and exhibited musicianship of the highest order.
 The Benedictus was full of the spirit and style of Palestrina, while the Dona Nobis was noble and singularly dramatic In singing the Dona Nobis the choir seemed inspired.
 The attack of the chorus was even and vigorous. and with one or two exceptions in the. Credo the mass was rendered fin Q manner that would compare favorably with the best festival performances. The soloists were: Mrs. Satterfield soprano Mrs. Putnam. soprano; Mrs. Guckenber- ger. alto; Mir. Houppert, tenor, and MT Herbert baritone. All of them were in excellent voice. As an offertory piece Mrs. Guckenberger sang Luzzis beautiful Ave Maria.