Evening star., 1901-12-25
Commemoration Of the Saviour's
Birth in Bethlehem.
SERVICES IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES
Elaborate Programs of Music Feat
ures of the Exercises.
LESSON TAUGHT IN HOMES

|
| looked. In the early hours of Christmas
| morning the churches where midnight ser
| vices were held were filed with reverent
and devout congregations who saw with
| their mental vision the marvellous specta-
| Gle which was witnessed in Bethlehem so
| many centuries ago. This event so impor-
| tant in the history of the human race and
/ yet so simple in its surroundings, appealed
| to the artistic imagination of men as well
as to their hearts and intellect, and the
story of the birth of Christ has furnished
| the theme for the loftiest compositions of
the most gifted musicians. In the churches
! today where special services were held mu-
| sic both vocal and instrumental, under the
! skilled supervision of trained musicians
! voiced the joy and the gladness of the fes
! tai occasion. Large numbers attended the
! Catholic and Episcopal houses of worship,
| both at the early and later services, and
| the elaborate programs of music specially
| prepared for each, as already noted in The
| Star, were sung with the true devotional
| spirit which is characteristic of the best
/ church music.
| In the Lutheran churches the services of
! the day were marked by the rendition of
| the productions of noted composers. In
! such churches of other denominations
| which were not open today the services
last SUNDAY were. as rule, animated by
| the spirit of the anniversary.
| Apart from the religious observance, the
| celebration, as stated, was largely centered
| in the home, where the reunion of families
| took place. and where there was a pleas
! ant interchange of joyous greetings and
| seasonablee gifts In many respects it was
! a day for the children, beginning with the
| surprises of the Christmas stocking and
| the delights of the tree, followed by a day
| devoted to the receipt of gifts and an
| abundance of sweetmeatS.
| From the wealth of sentiment which
| comes from the reunion of family circles
he eff 0pt y biTh hos ;,
| large proportions of attempting to bring
| some measure Of Christmas cheer to those
/ without homes and to those homes where
| poverty and suffering are present. To the
/ latter were seut materials for a Christmas
! dinner and such help as was found to be
most needed. For those in institutions and
| the detae he'd individuals apparently with
! out any family ties, human sympathy found
| expression in such form as to bring to
| countless of the hungry, the desolate and
| forlorn, some realization of the warmth and
the cheer of the joyous Christmas season.
| The day was observed a. a holiday and
| business places We're closed, the employees
wearied by the extra work which comes
| with the rush Of Christmas shopping re-
| maining at home to enjoy the opportunity
| for rest ard recreation.
Features of Church Programs.
| Among the features of the Christmas day
| services in the churches were these
| An elaborate musical program was rem
! dered by the choir of st. Johns Church,
| and Miss Anita Cluss played several selec-
! tions on the harp.
| The pastoral symphony from Handels
Messiah was included in the musical
! program at st. Johns Church, Georgetown
| a choral celebration of the holy COM
| munion was a feature of the services at
| st. Luke's Church. The music was fur
| nished by an augmented choir.
| choir of twenty-four voices, with
| quartet gave an attractive program of
music at st. Thomas Episcopal Church.
A full chorus choir at Trinity Episcopal
Church rendered the special music which
| had been prepared for the occasion
| At St Michaefs and All Angels P E.
| Church the music included the Gloria in
| Excelsis, old chant, and Bachs offertory
| anthem, There Were Shepherds Abiding
| in the Field
chorus of thirty voices, with a quartet,
sang the music at Epiphany Episcopal
At st. Marks Pro-Cathedral the sermon
at the II o'clock service was delivered by
| the bishop.
There We're early morning services at the
Luther Place Memorial Church and at the
| Keller Memorial Lutheran Church
| There were services also today at the
following Lutheran churches: ST Pauls. II
| O'Clock; Memorial, { o'clock a m; Reforma-
| ton, IL am; Concordia, II am; Zion's
| tGerman), ii am; st. Johns (German) II
am West Washington, am; Church of
| the Redeemer, ) am; Grace IL am.LSt
| Marks, 10 am.
| An early morning prayer meeting was
| held at Wesley Chapel NJ E. Church. and
! at 10 o'clock the services were under the
| auspices of the Sunday school
! A service was held at the Church of the
| Covenant this morning, when the pastor
! Rev. Dr. Hamiin, delivered the sermon
| There were appropriate services also in
many other churches throughout the Dis
| trict.
! Among Catholic Churches.
BY special permission of the cardinal the
services at the Church of the Sacred Heart
| began with high mass at midnight, the con-
| sregation which assembled on the occasion
| being one of the largest in the brief history
of the parish. All the several features of
this unusual service were attractive the,
music being especially fine. particular
| interest centered on the mass, however
because of the display to the congregation
for the first time of number Of handsome
gifts made to the church during the past
month. These gifts included an ornate and
gorgeous set of vestments-chasuble del
matics and benediction veil-made of white
moire silk and lavishly embroidered in gold
with figures OF passion flowers. roses and
foliage, the offering Of Mr.. and Mrs. George
May. A throne for the blessed sacrament
was presented by an unnamed member of
the parish: stations Of the cross, in figure,
We're given by Mrs Shean; two parishionerS
presented statues of the Blessed Virgin and
ST. Joseph; Mrs. John F. Ellis contributed
sanctuary lamp Mrs. Anna Russell gave
a triple gong, and a baptismal font was
presented by Mrs. William Frank Thyson !
Prof. L. E. Cannon, director of the choir.
and Prof Erik Rather, the organist, were
assisted by orchestra and many mem
bers of the choir of st. Stephens Church.
The mass was Gounod's celebrated Mass
of the Sacred Heart, and was beautifully
rendered. Other musical numbers were in,
terpolated as follows: An old Portuguese
hymn performed as cornet solo; "Adeste
Fidelis, with an organ and orchestral ac-
compartment arranged by NovelIo; Webb $
anthem, GLORY to God;'' Holy Night
as a professional; Diabelli's "Gaudeamus ),
and a quartet number by Prof Cannon
called "Veni Creator" The solos were per-
formed by Mesdames Rosa Pennybacker
and E. Goldsboro Goddard, sopranos:
Misses Margaret O'Brien and Sara White,
more, altos; Messrs Ed J. McQuade tenor.
Arthur Giles and L. E. Cannon, bassos,
Much of this music was repeated at this
mornings service. Rev. Father MCGEE on
| ciated at all the masses.
The franciscan Monks
. With chants echoing solemnly through
the high arches of their chapel and SOL