Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-22

Christmas services will be held In most
of the churches tomorrow. Some Will hoio
services on Christmas day, as the roman
Catholic and Protestant Episcopal spe-
cial music, appropriate to the season ana
suggestive of the greatest festival Of the
church year, will be sung The SUNDAY
Star will contain programs of the music IN
the various churches, both for tomorrow
and on Christmas day.
Sunday schools will receive the usual
visits from Santa Claus during the coming
week. and the children will be gladdened
by candies and other gifts from their Of
fcers and teachers.
The regular monthly meeting of the
mems club of the First Methodist Protest
ant Church was held Tuesday evening, De-
cember Is. An entertaining program was
rendered, including solos by John Catheli,
address by Rev. Dr. f. T. Little, president
of Methodist Protestant conference; recita-
tons by NJ. S. Rose, solos by John ). Rlsler,
accompanied by VIM. S. Cambell reclta-
tions by Herman Welch. After the program
refreshments were served. Four new names
were added to the members roll
practice has obtained in the Roman
Catholic Church since the middle ages of
solemnizing the first mass on Christmas
day Immediately after its dawn. or five
minutes past II o'clock on the night of the
oath of December. 1t has been observed
here before at number of churches, being
Largely confined to edifices in the outlying
sections of the District of Columbia. An
nouncement has been made that the Gus
tom will be again observed here.
Ever since the institution of the Francis
can monastery at Brookland, Mount st.
Sepulchre, a midnight mass has been sung
at the dawn of Christmas, the most memo
rable day in the Christian calendar. An
nouncement has been made that the custom
will again obtain there this ReRiQ-
ming at IL 10 O'Clock the night of the oath
of December, the divine Office will be sung
bv the friars at the monastery. This will
consume G little over three-quarterS OF an
hour after which d solemn high mass will
be sung. Immediately after this mass there
will be a procession to the grotto, where
two low masses will be said in succession,
while from to clock in the morning
low masses will be celebrated every half
hour. The monastery at Brookland is looked
upon as a particularly picturesque shrine,
where the great drama of the Saviors life
is depicted with great fidelity through plas-
tic and other monumental embellishments.
1t seems only in the nature of things
that the Church of the Nativity at Bright
wood should begin the days solemnities
with a midnight mass, which will be sung
by the pastor Rev. C. o. Rosensteel. He
will also preach the sermon Miss Lucy
Byrne, organist, and the choir of the church
Will render program especially prepared
Tor Christmas. 1t is stated that arrange
ments have been made for street railway
service to the city Immediately after the
mass.
Historic ST. Johns Roman Catholic
Church, Forest Glen, Md, the cradle of the
Catholic Church in this country, of which
church Father Rosensteel is also the pas
tor, will be the scene of another midnight
service. The celebrant will be Rev. Father
Daniel of the Dominican House of Studies
At Brookland, who will also preach the SER
mon and officiate at masses later in the
day. Mrs. Kate Lamb Clark will preside at
the organ. and the choir will render appro-
pirate music Electric car service has beer
arranged for following the ceremony. and it
Is SAID that large number of Catholics
nave arranged to thus early assist at the
divine sacrifice on Christmas day.
ST. AIMS Roman Catholic Church in Ten
leytown, of which Rev Father Mallon is
pastor. will be the scene of a midnight
mass, and 1t is stated that in this instance
also arrangements have been made for
street car service following the mass
In the city proper masses shortly after
the midnight hour will be sung at ST Mar
I'm Church. on North Capitol street Rev
Eugene A. Hannah. pastor; at the Shrine
or the Sacred Heart 18th and whitney
avenue Rev. Joseph F. MCGEE. pastor.