New-York tribune., 1908-12-26
GAIN In COMMUNICATES
At ST. JOHNS.
Congregations Hear Last Christmas
SerTlce IN Old Chapel.

outvardly all was Christmas JOY and festivity AT
St johns Chapel in Varick street. yesterday The
loving hands with tranpinEs o. evergreen end
holly. The stately Ccrnthian columns in the
ond century OF their age. seemed born anew
they proudly upheld the roof beneath which
had worshipped for 1o1 years. Through the
window. on the right Of the chancel, streamed the
familiar pencil of sunshine. lighting UP dramati-
cally the mural paintings of the apse. Larger
gregstions than have been known there since the
days when the church bell called forth fashionable
toik 10 service sang with a new enthusiasm the
old hymn. Unto Us Child Is Born while she
organ rolled ics accompaniment. The altar.
with fine linen for the Eucharist biazed with the
silver vessels and boches of poinsettia as
the intontng voice of the priest invited people
TO the Lords Supper the last St. Johns on a
Christmas Day
But the joy only outward: and the gayety was
forced. because deep down their hearts the vor-
shippers 20; the gloom preceding the death Of
beloved friend They could not look upon tie
"a aces of tteir fellow church members realizing
that another Christmas would see them separated
kneelins in their accustomed places. and
not feel pang- To them the breaking up of their
church ties seems like the destruction of a home.
No more Christmas services in St. Johns? It
seemed impossible
There were tour services in the chapel as usual
on Christmas Day. Nfnety-sx commandments at
tended the O'Clock Eucharist At Z o'clock thee
we're % more. and ~ o'clock there were 81. The
high celebration held 1880 o'clock and there
persons
The total number Of communicates yesterday was
22e. as compared with eos last Christmas
The Rev Charles Z. CornDh minister IN
charge Of St Johns and St Luke's Mission. man
whom the people love a brother who. they
say, Trinity Church has treated like a dog
preached his last Christmas service in St John
His text For Unto Us Child Is Born from
the propnet Isaiah. ana his words were spoken 70
proclaim the Christmas Joy. Yet even a casual OBJ
server could discover that all THIS ak about Christ
mas happiness little than = brave mock
cry ST Johns people. They could forget
that first day Of February. 1899. when the chapel
IS TO close.
Christmas is always grea- day a. St Johns
All who manage leave their babies at home
and get sore one 10 cook the Christmas dinner ar
range 10 attend least Of the four services
They come from all parts OF the cicF, and even
from New jersey. 10 be there on Christmas
was the first Christmas in the history Of St
Jshn's that the old bell was not rung for services
The story Is told that the bell cracked while the
Trinity. ana St Johns stanch friend in his life
time, neing laid away six months ago Since
that day the voice Of s. Johns bell has
hushed.
After the words Of the last hymn and the white
vested choir boys piping voices had died away, the
concre "a ton fingered for long time
There are many old things in the chapel besides
organ. pulpit. lectern bapttsnal font. fine
piece Georgian sculpture the fate OF
which the people are making Conjsc1ures Among
them is a marble tablet to Bishop Wainwright
The inscription is: