Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-01
How Washington People Welcomed
the Twentieth Century.
SIGNIFICANT RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE
Services at All the Churches Were
Attended by Crowds.
MIDNIG II T FEE A T q r E s

|
new year is invariably noticeable for the
wide-awakefulness of very large proper
ton of the population, which is usually
blissfully somnoent at such a time other
| nights in the year The arrival of this
| New Year, however. meant something ire
| mendous in the measurement of the cycles
| which make up time, and there were but
| few lids closed over eyes in consequence
| when it reached here.
| Never before in local history was there
| such a significant religious greeting extend
| ed to the latest candidate for the plunge
| into eternity. There were services held in
numerous churches, and all were attend
ed by throngs that fully tested the capacity
| of the edifices
| In Catholic Edifces.
| Pope Leo had directed that the closing Of
the old and opening of the new century
should be observed with solemn high mass
in all the Catholic churches of the world,
| and in many of these the services were
notable for magnifcence and elaborate ac-
compartment. This was particularly SO at
| st. Patrick's. where the papal representa-
tive, Archbishop Martinelli celebrated pom
tifical high mass. Admission was by ticket
only, as was the case at the other Catholic
| churches, and the largest congregation in
st. Patrick's history present. The al
tar was effectively decorated with palms,
among which We're strung tiny electric
! lights, and above a pyramid of tall white
candles was suspended crystal star. The
| celebrant was assisted by Fathers Dolan
and Maloney. as deacon and subdeacon;
Father Lichen and Mr.. Monteran, deacons
of honor; Rev. Father Dougherty, Rev. DR..
Stafford and Mr.. William Shreve masters
| of ceremonies. Rev. Dr. Rocker of the
| apostolic delegation, as the arch-priest of
the mass, preached the sermon, which was
on The Mutable and Permanent Elements
/ ha inc TNn,,t,,
The full CT r, assisted by string or
chestra and cted by Mr.. Almond Gum
precht ren~ed Gounod's 'Messe Solo
nellie" Solos were sung by Mr.. Melville
| Rogers, soprano: Miss Mamie Grant, con-
tralto. and Mr.. Gottschild, basso.
Right Rev. Mgr. Conaty rector Of the
Catholic University of America, preached
ali impressive sermon at the midnight mass
at st. PauFs Church on "Christ-The Sal
walton of the New Century,
| special musical services were a feature
| at Trinity Church, Georgetown, where Rev.
| Father John Conway, formerly of George
| town University, preached the sermon
| The Dominicans at st. Domnics Church.
white robed, knelt in prayer all night long
| The high mass at that church was followed
| By special low masses at 6. Z and 0 am.
| Two masses were conducted at ST. Alloy
| siEs Church at midnight. Rev. Father
Fink, 5; j., celebrated in the upper church,
where Father Pardow, S. j., preached Tue
anniversary sermon. In the lower church
a service was conducted for the younger
| residents of the parish, and the music was
rendered by the children's choir. An elab-
crate Christmas crib in the basement was
| Inspected by nearly every one who at
tended the masses
The choir of the Immaculate Conception
| Church was augmented by an orchestra.
| Haydn,s Imperial mass was sung, and as
midnight bells rang Miss Mabel Latimer
rendered Bassani's 20 Salutaris'
Rev. Father OBrien was the celebrant at
1 st. Peters Church assisted nv Fail ar
| Sullivan, deacon, and Rev. Father Nc
CURE, subdeacon. The musical program
was notable Mozart's Twelfth Mass being
sung.
The midnight masses at the other Catho-
| lie churches of the District were attended
by large crowds and marked by beautiful
music.
| At Georgetown University, the various
colleges at the Catholic University and the
institutions, educational and charitable of
the church midnight masses were celebrated
| in the chap elS.
Especially solemn and impressive was
that celebrated at Mount ST. Sepulcher,
| the Franciscan monastery, features Of
which were the procession of the monks to
| the choir at the commencement of Tine
| kyrie" and the pilgrimage to the grotto or
| Bethlehem in the crypt at the conclusion
| of the mass.
The Lesson of Presidents.
There were unique services at the West
minister Presbyterian Church, where the
boys, composing the debating society,
| known as the Senate Of the Republic, dis
| cussed a number of proposed measures in
Guiding one for the abolition Of the CT
garette, and Rev. Dr. Bittinger delivered a
| most interesting address presidents
| Have Known" He pointed out to the
young men before him their opportunities
| for reaching places of eminence by referring
to the humble beginnings Of our Presidents
Jackson, he said an apprentice to a
saddler William Henry Harrison was born
of humble parentaSe in a log cabin; Tyler
was a plowman and remained upon his
fathers farm until twenty-four years of
| age; Fillmore was a dyer Lincoln was a
rail splitter, johnson was tailor and Grant
| was tanner. He admonished the young
men that their future character and condi-
ton lay in their own hands. To succeed it
! is necessary to improve every passing mo-
ment, and with the blessing of GOD there
| is no honor to which young man may not
| aspire.
OF the Presidents DR.. Bittnger said that
he had known and shaken hands with eight
cen of the twenty-four, and yet he had
voted for none. He had seen all the Presi-
dents from Jackson to Mckinley.
United to Await 1901.
Nine congregations Joined in watch night
services at the Luther Memorial Church,
being those of the North Presbyterian,
Vermont Avenue Christian, Gunton Tenn
pie. Twelfth Street Methodist Protestant
Zion's, st. Paurs and First BAPTIST
|
Rev DR.. ]. G.. Butler opened the services
and each of the pastors present made short
addresses of a patriotic and religious trend
At midnight the congregation joined the
choir in singing Gloria in Excelsis."
| Union services were also held by the L
Street Baptist, Assemblys, Central and Firs
Presbyterian, and Wesley M. E. Chapel, ir
the latter edifce, and the congregation OF
McKendree joined with that Of the Mt
Vernon NJ. E. Church South.
Century closing services, with holy com
, munion, were held at St. Marks Pro-Ca
thedral, ST. Johns, 10th and H streets an(
Christ Church, Georgetown, and vigils wer,
held i'll Grace. st. Luke's, St. Paurs ant
| st. Johns, Georgetown. At the Epiphan,
Rev. DIR. r. H. McKim delivered an adj
dress. Services at st. Margarets began a
IL o'clock and lasted until midnight TIL,
vested choir was in attendance, and a ser
mon was preached by Rev. Herbert Scot
Smith.
AT the New York Avenue Presbyteria,
Church, Rev. Wallace Radcliffe DID, con
tinued his custom Of midnight "vigils'' OF
the last day Of the year. Responsive read
ings from the Bible appropriate to the ser
vice, music especially prepared by the quar-
1 tet. choir and an auxiliary chorus togethe
l with brief talk by the pastor, made vi
the program. The church was crowded.
At ST. Andrews P. E. Church the veste,
| choir, assisted by Miss Beatrice Seymou