The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-05-11

aeolytes, are met at the entraee of the chancel on the side opening into the sa- cristy by the thurfer and the crucifer. This little procession moves to the cen- ter of the altar, and the mass begins.
 The celebrant wears chasuble and the deacon and sub-deacon are clad in dal- maties, or long silk cloaks that come to the knee. All wear red or white cassocks and white albs, sometimes of lace but in the ritualistic churches more frequent ly of fine linen.
 The sub-deacon reads the Epistle and the deacon marching to the gospel side Of the altar with the thuTifer and the crucifer and the master of ceremonies, if this functionary Is serving, reads the gospel from a book which the sub-dea- con rests on his head. sometimes the al- tar procession, as 1t is called, may include more than the deacon, sub-deacon, thuri- fer, crucifer and celebrant. There may be acolytos and candle-bearers in any number that may tend to increase the ef- fectiveness or beauty of the procession.
 In one of the Roman Catholic churches In this city there are always fifty acolytes at the service of yespers and the benedic- tion of the sacrament on Sundays. They move through very intricate maneuvers under the direction of the master of cere- monies. None of the ritualistie churches has ever had so many acofytes.
 The deacon, of course, incenses the book of the Gospel before he reads and kisses it. If there Is to be a sermon from the celebrant of the mass. the two assist him to remove his chasuble and hang the Vestment on the gospel side of the altar. The chasuble Is removed only for the eel ebration of the mass and is not worn for a sermon.
 The deacon and sub-deacon serve the celebrant during the solemn mass, just as the acolytes do in the other mass. They bring the water and the napkin for the ablutions and they perform all the other duties of the aeolytes. It Is they who help to put the chasuble again over the head of the celebrant after he has fin- ished the sermon.
 They sometimes but not always make communion with the priest at the sol- emn mass. It Is they who retire with the eelebrant to the gospel side of the altar for the reading of the gospel for Christ mas, or the first gospel, as it Is called, which Is read in silence in the ritualistic churches. But the congregations in these churches are all familiar with the gospel and at the words, And the Word was made flesh congregation and clergy gem ufiect. This gospel is read at every mass In the ritualstic churches only.
 After the solemn mass, the clergy and the choir retire as they entered. through the nave of the church, while the cele- brant and the acolytes leave the church
 ~ectly from the sanctuary.
 On feast days In the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, the ordinary musical forces of the parish are increased by large orchestra of players from the Phil harmonic. The masses of Haydn and Mozart as well other music of the best religious composers are sung In addition to the boy choir, there is mix ed choir of trained voices.
 The Yesper services at this church are nearly as elaborate. At the solemn ves- per service on feast days the priests wear heavy silk embroidered copes and during the incensing of the altar while the 'Magnifcat' is being sung, the cope is held back by the priests assisting in the service.