Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-25
GRAND CHORUS
Of GREETING

Continued from First Page)
low masses. and the days celebration closed
with another solemn high mass at 1890
a m, al which Rev. u. '. Schmitt the pas
Fealy deacon and Father Malloy subdea-
con. Father Schmitt delivered appro-
pirate sermon. and the congregation was
dismissed with the benediction of the
All the services were well attended, and
the musical programs were carefully Sc
lected and we'll rendered by the choir.
Midnight Mass at Brookland.
Midnight mass was also celebrated at the
Franciscan monastery at Brookland, Father
Bede officiating. The services began at IL
O'Clock, when the solemn chanting of the
mathis and the TIE Deum was begun. Dur
ing the mass the cierics OK the monastery
sang the Gregorian chant. 1t was followed
by the march of the friars and the congre-
cation through the grotto of Bethlehem,
where the infant Savior was in a manager.
Mass was also celebrated at midnight at
the Church Of the Sacred Heart with Father
Magee the celeprant, and at ST. AIMS
Church, with Father Mallon the celebrant.
st. John 8 Roman Catholic Church, Forest
Glen, Md. Rev. c. o. Rosensteel, pastor.
Rev Father Daniel of the Dominican
celebrant OF the mass, and he also preached
the sermon.
There was large attendance at the
which Rev. c. o. Rosensteel is pastor. at
the midnight mass, which was sung in the
church last night. A musical program
especially prepared for the occasion was
rendered by the choir under the direction
Of Miss Lucy Byrne erganist.
Rev. Father Liable. c. S. c., an exiled
priest from France, was the celebrant of
a midnight mass at ST. Martins Roman
Catholic Church last night. Music was
rendered by a choir of seminarians of
Holy Cross College. Brookland. Rev:
Eugene A. Hannah, the pastor of the
church. preached the sermon. There was
large attendance.
Midnight mass was also said and sung
from a number of other shrines in WASH
ington, among them. the Church of the
Holy Comforter on East Capitol street,
Rev. Father Mcguire. pastor, where very
large congregation was in attendance; me
chapel of the Immaculate Conception Con-
vent at Sth and Q streets northwest and
other converts.
Traditions Of Christmas.
The traditions Of Christmas and the spirit
of the day which Is observed by all Christ
endom was the subject of special sermon
by Rev. c. Ernest Smith, pastor of st.
Thomas Episcopal Church, 18th street. near
Dupont circle. The services commenced at
II o'clock. His theme was the Anglers
Message" Prayer and holy communion pre-
coded the sermon. Special music, arranged
for the day. was sung by the choir OF
thirty-four voices. The selections included
the professional hymn, o Come, All Ye
Faithful, ]. Reading: Venite in A, Wood
ward; TIE Deum ION Gregorian thence In
c., Dudley Buck: Jubilate in D, Woodward:
introit anthem for tenor and bass solo and
chorus, Arise Shine. for Thy Light is
Come, +. c. Maker; kyrie in A, Mendels-
sohn: hymn, o Little Town of Bethlehem,
Redner; Offertory anthem for soprano solo
and chorus Sing. o Heavens, and Be JOY
f,l ri Gan1. SapctnS in A
'Stainer; communion hymn, Bread of the
World. Hodges; Gloria in Excelsis. old
chant; occasional hymn, Angels From the
Realms Of Glory, H. Smart. Rev w. ].
Cox, the assistant rector, following the
choir service, conducted the scriptural
reading and prayer service.
Holy communion services were held at
1880 o'clock this morning at Trinity Episco-
pal Church, Sd and streets, by Rev. E. H.
Brosius, assistant rector. At IL o'clock
Rev. Richard P. Williams the rector,
preached the sermon and held the regular
prayer service. The church was beautifully
decorated with evergreen, and large cleo
trio star was In position between two large
pillars directly in front of the altar.
The Christmas services at the Pro-Cath-
edral Church of the Ascension began at
1880 o'clock today. An elaborate musical
program was rendered, aftex-Qfssich Rev.
DR.. Clement Brown, the rector Y the par
ish, spoke upon the joys of the virgin
birth and the Christmas season. The mu-
steal program with the Pastoral Symphony
by Handel included professional, AIDES
te Fidelis, Venite. Gregorian tone; TIE
Deum, festival service in d. d. Davis; Ben
edictus, Gregorian tone; introit anthem.
How Sweet the Name, Stanley; kyrie
fold, Stainer; hymn, Shout the Glad
Tidlngs, Avison; offertory anthem, Hark!
lot; Sanctus. service in G. w. Reed; Gloria
in Excelsius, service in G, w. Re@i; re-
cessional, o, Little Town of Bethleh I'M, L.
H. Redner, and organ fortlude. Sullivan.
tGn 81 q
sermon said:
During this festival day 1 want to
leave note of the Christmas festival with
you. Christmas day Is not a Christian
festival-our forbears in the Teuton land
had kept today as festival Of Sun God
when the DAYS became short they set aside
for feasting and Joy this season. The very
glory Of the Christian church lies in her
as her own. The sun god festival has been
changed to that of the Son Of God.
Some may say we know not whether
Christ was born on this day. l believe 1t
can be proven. 1t matters not whether 1t
can or not. 1 take it as aR anniversary
of the greatest event in the history of the
world. For centuries man grasped after
the truth. After the fullness Of time God
came to speak face to face. That makes
man. The nativity brings a new power
that unchains man. 1t llumines the
dark places of our SOULS
Before large audience al the Cnurcn or
the Epiphany at Ii o'clock today, Rev. DR..
Randolph II. McKim preached a sermon
upon the joys of Christmastde
Good tidings of great joy he said.
This was the keynote of the message of
the angels to the shepherds on the night of
the nativity. This is the festival of good
WILL The grumbler must take back seat
today. At all seasons he is an unpleasant
guest but at Christmastide he is unbear-
able. At this time all should be cheerful.
If there is a family skeleton lock 1t up. This
season reminds us of the angel faces Of
those who are upon earth no more.
Put on a bright and cheerful face for
the sake of those about you. Yes, I say
this is the spirit and the significance of
this time. There is a spirit of optimism
abroad. This season is a protest against
the spirit of unbelief.
This most blessed function at this sea-
son braves the sport that SCOTS at human
ity. Thank God for the Christmas season
because 1t refutes this evil spirit. There is
something in the Christmas spirit that bids
men, forgive their enemies"
The musical program was as follows:
Professional hymn. Venite, in c. Trimmed;
Gloria, Trimmed and Holden;- TIE Deum, In
e fiat, Schneider; Benedictus. In A, Wood
ward introit anthem, Sing, o Heavens, A.
r. Gaul; Gloria Tfbi Stainer; hymn, o Lit
tie Town, Redner; offertory anthem, While
Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night,
Geo E. Martin; occasional hymn, Angels