The San Francisco call., 1908-12-26
PRAISE AND SONG
IN CITY CHURCHES.
Impressive Music a Feature CT
the Christmas Day
Obseryances
Father Caraher Feelingly Re-
calls Celebration of Mass
Where Christ Was Born

and in nearly all of the converts and
colleges of the city at midnight serv-
ices We're held continuing throughout |
the day to the vesper service. Christ /
mas decorations were lavished with |
generous hand and the music of the
churches was of most elaborate char |
acter.
At ST. Mary's cathedral Archbishop p |
W. Riordan occupied his throne during
the celebration of pontifical high mass
at IL O'Clock. A special papal benedic- |
ton, for which the archbishop had re-
ceived full faculties from Plus X, was
conferred by his grace TO the congrega-
tion.
Bishop da Silva celebrated the mass.
He was assisted by Rev. j. b. Hannigan
as deacon and Rev. j. NJ. Byrne as sub
deacon. Rev Charles A Ramm and
Rev. William P. Sullivan acted as dea-
cons of honor for Archbishop Riordan
on the throne Rev. John Cantwell was
Prendergast. vicar of the diocese. was
archpriest.
MUSIC is ELABORATE
The music was of a most elaborate
character. Haydn's Fourth Mass in B
fat was sung r. ]. Harrison presided
at the organ and directed the music.
string orchestra and a chorus supple
mented the soloists. During the Offer
tory magnificent effects were produced
by placing a choir of young voices in
the rear of the organ so that their
voices came to the congregation as in
whisper 1t was the ''Adeste Fideles,
the hymn which tells of the coming of
the Christ to earth, and their chanting
sounded like the celestial message of
the angels.
Miss Rottanzi sang the opening
verses of the "Adeste" and David Man
lloyd rendered, with artistic effect, the
Noel"
Rev. Jerome B. Hannigan preached
the sermon He said that the feast
commemorated the beginning of a new
life for mankind, the realization of
great hope. the condescension of a god
to the level Of a preacher and the up
lifting of a preacher even to union with
the godhead.
FATHER CARAHER breaches
Father Caraher, one of the few Eng
! lish speaking priests TO have celebrated
mass on Christmas day at the church
erected on the very spot where Christ
was born, recalled the event in his SER
mon yesterday at the church of St.
/ Francis and spoke of the feeling of
awe and reverence which came over
| him on the memorable occasion.
Father Caraher chose his text from
the gospel of St Luke, eleventh chap
ter:
For behold 1 bring you good tidings
of great joy that shall be to all the
people: for this day is born to you in
the city of David a Savior who is Christ
the Lord"
The priest said that it was believed
1t was the Angel Gabriel who an
nounced the tidings of great Joy to
the shepherds. The lonely and humble
shepherds were watching their f1ocks
on the plains, where the patriarch
Jacob had pitched his tent after the
birth of his son Benjamin and where
Ruth had CLEANED the ears of corn
after the reapers. Father Caraher
went over the ground and explained to
his hearers the nature of the country
where the shepherds followed the di-
rection of the angel and proceeded to
Bethlehem and found the infant lying
in the manger The priest told of his
sensations on seeing the very manger
and of walking over the ground and
finally of the divine inspiration which
filled him IA years ago when he said
mass on the very place where the
Savior was born.
REMEMBERS WITH AWE
IT look back on that memorable
morning with feelings of supreme de-
light" said Father Caraher, and dur
ing the ceremony was animated with
the most profound feelings OF piety
awe and reverence. 1t was q privilegs
granted few priests
Father Caraher said that the birtf
of the child in the manger taught the
lesson of humility, for the Lord could
have been born in palace had he
, chosen and been clad in purple ane
fine linen. but that he would then have
taught a love of riches, which he came
into the world to oppose.
} The priest then recalled the patror
saint of the church, st. Francis o.
! Assist, who was inflamed with love
for the Divine Infant and journeyed t.
Bethlehem and bedewed the floor of tn.
lowly stable with his tears. 1t was h,
; who conceived the idea. of erecting
managers in churches at Christmas.
: Father Caraher urged those VIII,
. cherished love for the Infant to re
lceive the holy eucharist. He wa.
born in Bethlehem" said the priest
I of bread and he was the living breac
that came down from heaven
At the o'clock mass the junio
choir rendered appropriate hymns an.
t Miss Irene Theil sang Adams Noel
with great effect. At the 10 oclocl
i, mass Miss Annie Gill sang the sam
solo with excellent Interpretation. Mis-
Maria T. Ryan offciated as organist
9 REJOICE WITH SONG
A soprano solo and quartet choru
a presenting Noel was the feature O
the morning musical program at tn
s First Presbyterian church. A cantata
| '.The Holy Night" sung by the choir
a proved the feature of the evening
musical program.
s An excellent musical program unde
the direction of Wray Taylor marke
( the Christmas services at st. Paul
Protestant Episcopal church. .er
e Deum" in C major (Dressler) was sun
: by the choir.
At Trinity church a barytone. sol
: and quartet, s'The Angel Gabriel" wa
a feature of the program.
The Christmas program at ST. JAIME
q Protestant Episcopal church, Richmon,
included a presentation of Reads set
ting of "Adeste Fidelis."
e Rev Dr. Edwards. rector, preache
the Christmas sermon at st. Luke
4. Protestant Episcopal church. svrh
/ First Noel sung by the choir. was in
! cluded in the program.