The age-herald., 1901-04-08
MemoIi's Mass SpIendidIy Per-
 formed at St. Paul's
FULL CHOIRAN ORCHESTRA
Vast Congregations and Beautiful Scene In the Sanctuary-Aitar Choir Makes Its Appearance and Ac-
 quits Itself With Credit.

church were full of interest and were attended by unusual crowds. The congre- gation at the early mass was as large as the congregation which, as a rule, at tends high mass every Sunday, that Is to say, it filled the pews whilst the attend ance at high mass taxed the seating and standing capacity of the great cathedral like building to it's utmost. Hundreds of chairs were placed in the aisles. These were all filled and hundreds of men stood in the spaces near the door. Three hun dred or more crowded into the organ gallery with the musicians, and hundreds were turned away from the door, unable to find standing room. It is estimated that those who heard mass at St. Paufs yesterday numbered between twenty-six and twenty-seven hundred souls.
 The Rev. Father Downs was the cele- brant at both masses, and preached thoughtful and eloquent sermon at the first service when between two and three hundred knelt at the sanctuary rail and received holy communion.
 Cosmopolitan Congregations.
 A glance over the congregations re- vealed the cosmopolitan character of Birmingham as well as the catholicity of the church, for in addition to promi- nent Irish American families and old Alabama families representative of the high social life of the community there were present many German Americans Italians and at least half hundred Syrians from Mount Lebanon, familiar xxyifh ha Rite of the Roman apostolic church.
 The time for high mass was 10:30 o'clock, but as early as 10 throng was pouring into the nave and several ushers were kept busy seating strangers. The high altar and the side altars were taste fully dressed with flowers and the sanct- uary never perhaps looked more beau- tiful.
 Many non-Catholics were attracted doubtless by the musical programme and they certainly were not disappointed. for the choir was exceptionally strong and Memolrs new mass was all that had been claimed for it.
 The musical numbers were as follows: Processional hymn, Hail. the Holy Day of Days" sung by twenty-four choris- ters; Kyrie Eleison and Gloria tMemoli's mass in D); veni Creator Ga Hache), sung by Mrs Satterfield, MT. Arrico and MT. Herbert; Credo (Memolis mass in D; offertory, violin solo, Prayer played by Oliver Chalifoux; Sanctus and Agnus Del (Memoli's mass in D). The altar choir sang all the responses in the mass and made an excellent impression They had been carefully trained by one of the nuns and had almost to perfection the churchly rhythm of the noble old Gre gorian music. Seminarians could scarcely have responded to the Preface with more ecclesiastical grace or dignity.
 Twenty-six Voices.
 The music of the mass, directed by the composer, was rendered by thirty-seven voices and an orchestra of fifteen pieces.
 The Kyrie began with fugue-like pre- Jude for strings. The vocal work opened with the altos and the full choir soon took up the penitential strains and poured forth volume of sweet sound.
 The Gloria started with a burst of praise. stirring and beautiful. After the introduction of this part came short bass solo, "Domine Fill" sung by MT.
 
 tained notes and then came a duet, "Qui Tollis," by MT Courtney and MT. Coth- ran. The finale, "Quoniam tu Solus," was one of the grandest climaxes in the mass.
 The Credo was the largest. and artis- tically considered, the most highly in- spired of the entire~work The first solo, 'Deum de Deo," was sung by Mir. Court ney, and the "Genitum non Factum" was given to all the tenors. The "Et Incar- natus Est'' was divine song by Miss Lottie Coffin, who was in fine voice and who sang with the repose and style of an artist The harp and flute played an obligato and this solo was one of the rarest gems, the rarest, perhaps, of all.
 The Crucifixus was a singulariy effec- tive piece of york; but the most difficult and one of the best performed numbers was ''Et in Spiritum' a splendid fugetta of twenty bars.
 The sanctus opened with the basses and then after short tutti passage MT. Houp- pert sang rich tenor solo, "Hosanna in ,Excelsis'' being sung by the chorus as a sweeping finale.
 In the Agnus Dei Miss Coffin had another lovely solo, which she delivered with tender feeling and perfect phrasing, and the composer sustained his effort ad- mirably in his treatment of the conclud- ing number, the "Dona Nobis." Here was revealed some of his most masterful part writing and the congregation must have been lifted heavenward as the singers and the orchestra delivered the final strains of this magnificent mass
 Father O'ReiIIy.
 The Rev. Father O'Reilly preached the -l-- !,