The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26
CELEBRATION OF
 CHR|ST'S BIRTH Unique Servce Is Held In Chapel h Washington FOREIGNERS ARE PRESENT Diplomats and Other Foreign Members of Diplomatic Service Attend in
 Numbers to Observe the
 Solemn Ceremony.

Washington December 25.--tSpecial) The diplomatic stranger within the gates of the national capital furnished picturesquesness and originality to the celebration of Christmas. 1909. Thls was especially true of the observance held by the Catholic diplomat, and ! curiously enough the non-Christian representatives of nations beyond the i seas. The east, which refused the Child of Bethlehem whose birthday the round world celebrates on this Christ mas, recognizes the holiday and the embassies and legations of the Pagan nations are bright with Christmas trees and gay with the universal spirit of Christmas good, although their heads bow down to other masters of men than Him of Bethlehem
 To begin Christmas day many of the most prominent members of the diplo- | matic corps attended at midnight of l Christmas eve one of the most unique religious services in the worid--a ser vice that Is wrought in the strange smithy of time and chance and Is link in the chain of 1900 years that binds Washington to the first Christmas in Bethlehem. For this service of last night was an exact replica of the ser vice that was held at practically the same hour in the holy chapel Of the Nativity in Bethlehem which tradition says Is erected on the spot where the manager stood where Christ was DOTH.
 The midnight service in the Fran cescan chapel of the Holy Land at Got T,txr No ht n r n D. C., every Christmas eve Is the only place in the world where these Beth leham services are duplicated exactly. Even the chapel is the same in exter- nal appearance and the SerVice IS unique and fascinating.
 AS the visitors from the diplomatic corps in their big touring cars, pulled up the snow-clad Brookland hills last night one might have thought 1t merry making party. In the assemhage were the Austrian ambassador and Baroness Hengelmulier, the French ambassador and Madame Jusserand, the Greek minister. attaches of many of the leading embassies and legations and a substantial deieEa- ton from South American republics. Just as the monastery in the outskirts or Broolsland was reached the sonorous notes of a German folk song were heard. It was the brothers of the monastery singing In Christmas day At il 80 service was ready from St Leon's on the nativity and as the last prayer was said the hands of the clock pointed to midnight and the monastery bells chmed out their Christ mas greeting.
 After the Christmas mass was begun candles were brought in and distributed to the worshippers and a pilgramage was made into the grotto chapel. where Is re- produced the chapel of the grotto or Bethlehem as it appears today.
 At the bottom of the steep steps was the rock-hewn manager and opposite II the altar of the magi. Before this altar the ceiebrant, holding waxen image Of the child Christ, repeated the gospel or the first mass at Christmas-the one to be said at midnight and at the words "and she brought forth her first born son." the waxen infant was laid on the silver star and as the deacon continued. '.and wrapped him in swaddlins ciotnes' the image was taken up again.
 At the words and laid him in man ger.p the image was finally placed in the manager.
 The only difference in this service In Washineton and the one held in Bethle- hem last night was word. In Bethle- hem at the actual place of the nativity the words of the gospel are changed, thev read and here she brought forth son" and 'here laid him in a manager.