Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-25
PEACE ON EARTH,
GOOD WILL TO MEN
Christmas Mes age to All
the Pc pie.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
IN MANY OF THE LOCAL
CHURCHES TODAY.
Solemn High Mass Celebrated in Fran
ciscan Monastery at Brookland-
Early Morning Exercises.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
IN MANY OF THE LOCA
CHURCHES TODAY.

churches of the city yesterday were the
features of the services held this morning
In all of the Roman Catholic churches and
many Of those Of the Protestant Episcopal
denomination Unlike most of the Protest
ant congregations. whose idea is to leave
Christmas day entirely for a home cele-
bration, the Roman Catholics celebrate 1t
as one OF the greatest religious festivals
of the year, and this Idea is carried out
TO a great extent by the Episcopal denom-
nation. Solemn high mass. sung by we'll
trained choirs. and Christmas sermons
marked the observance Of the day in the
Catholic churches Of the District Holy
communion, special Christmas &c and
sermons were the features of the services
held this morning in the Episcopal
churches.
The impressive midnight services of
number OF the Catholic churches ushered
in the day. At the Franciscan Monastery.
Brookland. d. c., the usual solemn high
mass was celebrated at this hour. the
monks, lay brothers and others participant
ing choir of men chanted the mass
This service was attended by large NUM-
Der of the residents of Brookland ana
many persons from the city. the pest
attended service In the Catholic churches
was that held generally at O'CLOCK this
morning
An early morning service was held at
many OF the Episcopal churches and holy
communion was celebrated at IL am.
These services were all largely attended
and there was impressive choir ana con-
gregatiOnal singing.
denominations will have their annual sun
day school entertainments this evening
when Santa Claus will appear and dis
tribute gifts to the little ones from gayly
decorated Christmas trees. The old folks
are always present in force on lheSe &c
casions to enjoy the fun with the young
sters and help to give them a good Time
In Catholic Churches.
The chant OF the priest and hozannas OF
the laymen proclaimed the dawn of an
other Christmas at and 80 o'clock IN all
OF the Catholic churches in Washington
this morning All of them were on scales
OF magnffence and splendor, according TO
the respective tastes and financial limita-
tons for Christmas is notable day In the
ecclesiastical calendar.
The grand old chimes in the tower of st.
Aloysius Church brought the faithful OF
that congregation to the altar in large
numbers at the early service. At this
church important ceremonies are always
carried out on an especially notable scale
Of magHificence of devotional form and Inu-
steal and decorative display. Irumpelers
sounded the Adeste Fidelis from the tower
Rheinberger's mass in G was sung, and the
n,arnbers of the choir showed themselves TO
be in fine voice. Prof. kubel was at the
organ and also directed the orchestra
In the sanctuary was seated Mgr do
rua-le Falcon!o the papal delegate to Amer
lea attended by priests of the household:
including Edward y. Fink, the pastor OF
the church as assistant priest 20 the dele
gate and Rev. Francis 7. Mccarthy ana
Rev p j. Dooley, first and second deacons
Of honor respectively. Mr.. F. A. Byrne, 3
=, was the master of ceremonies. ASSESSED
by Mir Frederick Devereux Rev. Albert
Brown ) J.. of Woodstock College preach
ed a vigorous sermon on the sign iicance or
the day
St. Patrick's Church, the scene of many
large celebrations was possibly never be
fore so crowded as this morning at the D
o'clock mass, when large number were
turned away on account Of lack of seating
accommodations The ceremonies of the
morning were on a most pretentious scale
Dr. ID. J. Stafford, the pastor preached an
eloquent sermon. and the music for the
mass was possibly never better rendered by
the fine quartet and choir under the direc-
tion Of Prof. Gumprecht. The altar decora-
tons were particularly effective, and the
lighted tapers and eleCtr. cal effects gave
10 the scene a brilliant setting.
There were a large number OF low masses
between this and the other solemn high
mass at II O'Clock when another large con-
gregatiOn turned out. DR.. Stafford also
preached at this mass. and the orchestra
and principal choir again occupied the or
gan loft. BenedictiOn closed the services
OF the day at this church.
The mass Christmas morning at St Cath
crimes 10l North Carolina avenue. was
lain of the hnstitution. The chapel was
tastcfuIly decorated In holly and Christ
mas greens, the altar being a bower OF
crimson carnations and smilax. while here
and there burned bright waxen tapers. The
music for the occasion. which was of
very excellent character, was rendered by
he sisters choir. assisted by d number or
the guests OF st. GATHERINGS.
The sisters IN charge of this institution
are engaged in q noble work. providing a
well-equipped household for young women
seeking a livelihood. These young women
find at St. Catherine'e not only the envi-
rOnments OF a refined society, but the pro-
lection OF the Sisters of Mercy.
Midnight Masses.
One of the most solemn and impressive
OF the Christmas services In the Catholic
churches were the midnight masses. These
were very largely attended The Christmas
day at the Franciscan Monastery opened
most auspiciously. Last night at IL o'clock
solemn mathis were chanted, followed by
solemn high mass at midnight After high
mass there was a procession to the Grotto
OF Bethlehem. where the ceremony of plac-
ing the child IN the manger was performed.
The railroad company provided ample IA
ciiities for carrying the worshipers to and
from the monastery.
Ever since the congregation of the Shrine
of the Sacred Heart was organized Christ
mas day has found midnight mass being
observed last night with much display and
the attendance was larger than ever be-
fore. Rev. Joseph Moran was the celebrant
OF the mass. and Rev. Father Pfeger and
Mr.. Haen. a semlnariAn. were deacon and
subdeacon, respectively. Mr.. Geo. Barry
vas master of ceremonies. Rev. Joseph F.
MCGEE, the pastor of the church, preached
the sermon.
At St. Martins Catholic Church. on North
Capitol street. the first midnight mass in
the history of this congregation was cele-
brated last night. Rev. Eugene A. Hannah,
the pastor of the church. was the celebraut
at high mass. and the music was pro-
vded by the choir of Hoy Cross College,
BrOokl4nd
The first service for Christmas day at
the Church OF the Nativity, Brightwood oc-
CURED at midnight last night The pas
tor Rev Father Resented carried out a
picturesque scheme Of decoration.
Holy Trinity Church.
At Holy Trinity Church. Georgetown, the
hrst mass was celebrated at $50 am,
when Rev Timothy Barrett. 8. j.. professor
OF moral theology at Woodstock College,
preached the sermon. The altar decorations
were tasteful and appropriate Bieder-
mann's mass in ID. with the Adeste FfdeiIs
at the ofertory. was rendered by the boy
choir. under the direction of George Her
bert Wells. There were numerous other