Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-25
Churchgoers Attend Services
on Savior's Natal Day.
"GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN,
Catholic Congregations Participate
in Midnight Masses.
JOYOUS CAROL-SOLEMN CHANT
Episcopal and Other Congregations
Observe the Occasion-Audito-
RUINS Made Attractive.

Observe the Occasion-Audito-
RUINS Made Attractive.
In the churches of this, city the ami
versary OF the natal day of the Man of
Sorrows. who brought to the world the
divine message of Peace on earth, good
will toward men, was fittingly cele-
brated. In the Catholic and Protestant
Episcopal churches the observance was
general. Most of the other Protestant
congregations decided on last Sunday or
next Sunday for their Christmas serv-
ices. but few had early morning ex-
ercises today. and others will hold them
this evening, just after shutdown.
Midnight masses in many Of the Cath
Ole churches attracted large throngs of
worshipers. Joyous carols and solemn
chants ushered in the notable day. In
the Episcopal churches many services
were held at. daybreak. In both these
denominations there were services
throughout the day.
At. st. Aloysius Church.
At st. Aloysius Catholic Church Rev.
Eugene de L. Mcdonnell, the rector, was
the celebrant Of the midnight mass. The
doors were closed to all but pewholders
up to the hour Of II o'clock, and when
they were opened there was no room for
the large throng waiting in front of the
church. The ceremonies were most i'm
pressive. beginning with a professional to
the crib in the basement, with the choir
listers rendering the "Adeste Fidelis.'' In
GLIDING the c.ergy and sanctuary boys.
there were nearly 200 in line. The large
church auditorium was handsomely
draped for the occasion with garlands of
greenery and flowers that swept the
church from sanctuary arch to the choir
loft. 1t was nearly o'clock when the
ceremonies were concluded.
The same program was repeated at IL
o'clock this morning, when Mgr. Diomede
Falconio, papal delegate, In cope and
mitre, presided. The scene in the sane
tuary was picturesque, and the music
ltgious song. Rev. William F. Cannon.
S. j., was the celebrant Of a solemn high
mass. Fathers O'Reilly and Morning
were the deacons. Rev. Father Melon
Renaud and Roche the deacons of honor
to Archbishop Falconio. Mr.. Frederick
Devereaux was the master of ceremonies.
Rev. Aloysius Brosnan. S. j.. Of George
town University preached the Sermon
and following the mass benedict!on was
church for the day.
Bishop O'Connell Celebrant.
Bishop Denis ]. O'Connell. rector Of
the Catholic University, was the celebrant
OF solemn high pontifcal mass at St.
Patrick's Church at II o'clock today. A
full orchestra and the entire musical or
ganization of the church sang Gounod's
mass Of st. Cecilia. Armand Gumprecht
,@%f d., n<~1,> .kr ~
the assistant priest: Rev. George Savage
Csc. deacon, and Father Ryan, sub
deacon. The masters of ceremonies were
Rev. William Carroll and Mr.. Charles
Fisher.
Rev. William r. Russell. the pastor Of
the church. delivered the sermon.
Glory to God in the highest, peace on
earth. good will to men,. This was
the first sermon the first Christmas
morn." he said. from heaven to earth
after thousands Of years: this was the
first joyful greeting-the first message Of
peace from angel hosts to fallen man.
Repeated from heart unto heart. caught
up by nation from nation, the heavenly
message has resounded from century to
century, till once more, at she dawn of
this Christmas day, upon a semi-barbaric
isle I'm the faroff Pacific, some lone mis-
sionary, surrounded by his rude flock,
again awakened the echoes of that song,
Glory to God in the highest
ut is meet that the world should re-
joice, for today we commemorate the birth
of our Redeemer TO us is born Sa-
vior, who is Christ the Lord
Do the Will of Him.
my meat. He tells us. is to do the
will of Him that sent Me- This is the
keynote of that life which has been found
to harmonic so sympathetically with oil
the chords of the upright human heart.
wilt 10 NJ
that character in touch with earth. yet
reaching to highest heaven. To do the
will Of MY Father-ths is the reason of
His coming. Wherefore. when He COM
eth into the world, He saith: sacrifice
and oblation thou wouldst not. but a
body thou hast fitted to me: holocausts
for sin did not please thee. then said l,
behold, ] come. in the head Of the book
1t is written of me, that 1 should do Thy
will. o God
bringing peace to men of good Widths
Is the explanation of Bethlehem. Glory
to God, peace to me-in the design Of our
Emmanuel, the two are inseparable.
ITO give glory to God by bringing back
the prodigal son to his Heavenly Father,
bv reconciIing the rebellious creature to
his outraged Creator. by teaching man
kind that duty begins with God, and thus
to restore order upon earth, and peace,
which is the fruit of order, Is the pur-
pose OIL tne SOIl VI Nou uiouC man.
First Fruits Of Order.
peace Is the first fruits of order. and
order takes root in rational freedom.
Man is free. He has the power to choose.
II he chooses nationally he must prefer
whatever is good. He chooses the good
when he adjusts his motives. his actions,
his life, to the conditions of his existence
and the obligations which his existence
creates. Now, man is Gods creature.
He is Gods because God made him. He
Is Gods because God redeemed him. He
is Gods because in God alone will be
satisfied the otherwise Unsuitable longings
of his heart. Whenever. therefore. man
uses his freedom as rational being by
acknowledging these relations to his
God, and satisfying the obligations
which they create, there is order; and
where there Is order there is peace.
Peace is the Christians birthright. 1t
is ours in consequence of our sonship.
We are the heirs of God and the co-heirs
of Christ. Now, God is our Father SO
long as we do His will. We have the
right to say Our Father who art In
heaven when with sincere heart we can
add Thy will be done on earth as 1t is
in heaven Peace, then, is ours if We be
of good WILL and we are of good will
when, as children of our Father above.
We recognize our heavenly relationship In