Omaha daily bee., 1908-12-26
MEANING OF DAY EXPLAINED
Churches in Festal Services Celebrate
Birth Of Saviour.
MANY MASSES SAID IN MORNING
Episcopal and Roman Catholic Par
Ishes Foremost I'm Formal observe
ance of COminE Again of
Christmas Day.

The Christmas message OF peace on
earth, good will to men" was vouchsafedI
in the various Catholic and Episcopal
churches Of Omaha Christmas. services be-
ing held in the houses Of worship of these
two denominations at intervals throughout
the morning. Most Of the Protestant
churches were closed for the day, though
in some trees were laden with presents for
the little folk.
In thirteen Catholic churches both high
and low masses were celebrated, the first
mass being at 8 o'clock, others at s. 10 and
II o'clock. The first and last were invari-
ably high masses. After celebration the
several pastors spoke briefly to their con-
gregatlons. The general trend OF all the
sermons was that the coming Of Christ was
the fuifllment of prophecy and in His com
Ing the words OF the Father that He would
send His only begotten son had been full
filled.
REV. J.. c. McKeogh. S. J., preached the
sermon at Ct Johns Roman Catholic
church at II O'Clock, following the celebra-
lion Of solemn high mass. In the celebra-
ton OF the mass Rev. FIR. Dooley was cele-
brant, Rev. FIR. Rigge' deacon and Prof.
Knitscheer subdeacon. Rev. NJ. NJ. Broons-
geest was celebrant at the 5 o'clock high
mass, Rev. FIR. Whalen was deacon and
Prof. Pieraey subdeacon.
Chrdren's mass was celebrated at st.
Peters by Rev. p. A. McGovern at 10
o'clock and at other of the Catholic
churches special masses were said for the
children during the late morning hours.
Midnight Communion Celebrated.
At st. Andrews Episcopal. st. Johns
Episcopal and st, Paul's Episcopal churches
there were midnight celebrations of the
eucharist. the beginning Of Christmas day.
Then at d, z, 8 and IL o'clock other COM
munlon services were held in these ana
other Episcopal churches. At All Saints
church Rev. T.. ]. Mackay spoke without
a text 10 his congregation, giving a message
of good will and OF the Christ love. Short
sermons also were given to the congrega-
tions by the rectors of the other churches.
RI. Rev. Arthur L.. Williams, bishop Of
the diocese OF Nebraska, delivered the SER
mon at the IL o'clock service at Trinity
cathedral. Rev. George A. Beecher, dean
officiating at the other services in the ca.
thedral during the morning. The bishoT
preached on the meaning and purpose OF
the incarnation of Jesus Christ. showing
that It was necessary for God to become
incarnate in order that mortal man might
partake OF the nature of God. The festival
IVA ~. hV S0NhSNAol "oS DS0ubf
full and impressive.
Christmas night services for the children
were held in Trinity Cathedral at Al
Saints Episcopal and the Church Of st
Philip, the Deacon (colored). At All Saints
a short service was first held In church
the Christmas tree and attendant exercise,
being In the parish house adjoining. A
the church OF st. Philip the Deacon, Rev
John Albert Williams broke briefly to tn,
children before the tree, which was place.
in the church, had been stripped of it
presents.
says Church Place for Exercises.
In his sermon Sunday evening Deal
Beecher of the Cathedral told his congre
cation that he believed that the churcl
was the place for Christmas exercises. ia
moro appropriate than the fireside, an
that the children would have a better in
sight into the Chrlst-love by celebrating
His nativity in the houses built for divin
worship.
Services for the children were held o.
Christmas night In the Kountze Memoria
Lutheran church, the services centerin
around a Christmas tree. Rev. j. Z. Hum
mon, pastor of the church, spoke brief
TO the little folks. A sacred concert wa
given in the First Baptist church Sunda
evening.