The Washington times., 1902-03-31
Feast Day Celebrated With
Elaborate Pomp and
Ceremonial.
SOLEMN HIGH MASS SUNG
Rev. Father Dolan in Eloquent Sermon
breaches of the Resurrection and What
1t Teaches-Rev. Father Stafford Cele-
brant-FeIicitations of the Season.


The feast of the resurrection of the
Lord was celebrated yesterday at st.
Patrick's Church with pomp and beau
tiful ceremonial that seldom, il ever. has
been equaled in any church of this
city. No expense was spared to make the
OCCASION noteworthy from all points of
view. The music, the flowers. the sum
shine, the rich golden vestnents of the
clergy and acolytes. the lights, and the
presence of bright -colored spring cos
tunes and stylish Easter bonnets, all
contributed to make the scene one of
solemn beauty.
The white marble main altar. simmer
ing. in. the mellow light of hundreds of
candles, vas decorated with Easter lilies,
azaleas and white roses, while in the rear
rose up, in pyramidal design, almost to
the dome of the sanctuary. rows of palms
and huge .candelabra, bearing myriads of
glimmering candles. Sunbeams, temper
ed by the rich stained glass windows,
flooded the sanctuary and enhanced TIE
beauty of the scene. The attendance at
all the masses was SO large that standing
room was at a premium. There were
over one thousand communicates at the
earlier masses.
The late mass, however seemed to be
tie chief attraction to the worshippers
and fully an hour before the beginning of
the services every seat in the church was
occupied and the aisles were packed with
people. About five hundred had to be
turned away for the want of accommoda-
tion.
Falkenstein's Professional.
The services opened with the orchestra,
under the direction of Prof. Armand Gum
precht, playing Falkenstein's professional,
"Alleluja." To this professional the
clergy, preceded by the acolytes, filed into
the church from the sacristy. The Rev.
DR.. Stafford, the Rev. Father Doian, and
the Rev. Father Gaynor wore rich golden
vestments, while the acolytes were attired
in purple cassocks and white surplices.
Father Stafford sang solemn high mass.
being assisted by the Rev. Father Dolan
and the Rev. Father Gaynor as deacon and
respectively. Mr.. William
Shreve acted as master of ceremonies.
The Rev. Father Dolan preached the SER
mon, founded on the gospel of the
day as contained in ST. Matthew xvi:1-7,
and treating on the resurrection of the
Lord
In the course of his eloquent sermon
Father Dolan said there was no festival
in the entire calendar of the church which
the, church -oeiehra tad with mora majesty
and splendor than that which signifies the
resurrection of Christ and his triumph
over death. Father Dolan said the resur-
rection was the most stupendous fact.
greater than creation, and greater than
the reincarnation. He said that, notwith-
standing its stupendous nature. no event
stands upon firmer basis than the doc
trine of the resurrection, and that its
argument is so plain and simple and yet
and overpowering that all as
saults and criticisms which have been di-
rected against the doctrine have left the
latter intact and the more strengthened.
The Rev. Father Dolans sermon was elo-
luent and powerful. 1t was a master eff
fort, ard the impression he made on his
large congregation was self-evident.
Congregation Felicitated.
Before Father Dolan began his sermon
le offered the congregation the felicita-
ions OF the season, and announced that
IN next Sunday the twenty fifth anniver-
'ary of Leo's Pontificate would be cele-
)rated, accompanied with the same mu-
'ical programme as presented yesterday,
which was as follows:
Professional, 'Alleluia." Falkenstein:
;horus, "Vidi Aquam." Dielman; mass in
:. by Prince Poniatowski: at the graduate,
'Haec Dies Wiegand at the offertory,
Alma Virgo" Hummel; at the commun-
en-, Prayer for the Republic" Gounod;
,efore the sermon. ''Veni Creator" Vie
;and; postlude, hallelujah chorus from
he Messiah" by Handel.
Soprano solist. Mrs. Annie Grant Fu-
,itt: alto soloist. Miss Mamie Grant: ten
= soloist Mr.. Melville Hensey; bass SOLO |
81. Mr.. Charles Goodchild; organist. DR.. |
Anton Gloetzner; director, Mr.. \. Gum |
recht. |
Prince Poniatowski's mass in F, a pow |
rful tOnepiece of majestic movements and |
uhlime sentiment. was rendered by the |
hoir. under the direction of Prof. Cum |
recht, in a highly satisfactory and eff
ective manner. The difficult soprano solo |
arts. which were many and long we're |
arried throughout by Mrs. Annie Grant
,t-fff IA