New-York tribune., 1911-12-26
CHRISTMAS IN CHURCHES
Large Congregations Attend
Services in Places of Worship.
PEACE THEME OF SERMONS
Bishop Greer Talks at Cathedral
of st. John - Monsignor
Cusack at st. Patrick's.

Peace on earth and good will 10 men
is the sentiment of Christmas, and 1t was
I'm one form or another the inspiration OF
the services in all the churches i'm the city
yesterday. In many It wss made the dl-
rect theme Of the sermons. and this was
the case at the Cathedral OF st. John the
Divine where Bishop Greer preached ON
international peace and good will.
Christmas and Easter are the two days
on which tho largest congregations are ia
he found I'm the churches OF all deromina-
tions. Yesterday was no exception TO the
rule. on tine contrary. tho bright and
beautiful weather brought many to the ro-
ligious services who might have been com
PEELED 10 stay al home if tho day had been
bad. 1t was, thus, an especially grateful
Christmas TO many of tho older residents
Of the city. who felt that they might not
he able 90 attend another Christmas SER
vice, and from the crowds who hocked
the streets az the churches opened their
doors at the end Of the morning services
il seemed that the younger members oI
the city's population found the SIM tenn
pered air a 10 loss cordial invitation to
religious devotion.
Tho service Yesterday was the FIRST
Christmas service that has been held IN
the Cathedral Of St John the Divine, and
as though II We're q preliminary 10 the
sermon and 2 second dedication Of the
building 70 its purposes Of peace and good
will dove that had entered through an
opening i'm tho southwest corner few over
the heads Of the congregation as the pro
cessionsl was pealing from the organ and
after circIing around the church found q
perch on p pillar in the north choir and
remained there until the end Of the ser
vice.
Beainninn Of Better World.
christmas vas the beginning Of better
human world and Christmas will hc th'
end" Bishop Greer said in his sermon
"Not vet has It reached II. but I'm manS
and various WAYS It IL working toward il
through human laws and statutes and or
dnances and rules and International trca
ties, through enlargiDg human experience
and expanding human relations. bringing
men together in closer touch and union
thus giving larger scope Of human SYM
pathy tc them and putting "a deeper sous'
Of obligation on them.
"lS II question Of how 70 win and find
a deeper personal peace. a wider socia
peace, a permanent world reace? Then il
is more than a question of circumstantia
adjustment or social or industrial or ar
mament adjustment. Put thysolt into thy
gcabbard. II is the Christmas message L
us statesman and politician, Senate anC
people. nation and individual. With al
thy faint misgivincs, with all Thy fals'
timiditles. thv personal prides and pas
eions. thy personal justifications, thy per
yOnal Qualifications. put thyself into th'
scabhard and with all the old srude"s an,
rivalrics and hates making discord I'm th'
church and lighting among the nations
wiped out. and with the blessed Christina
psalm ringing and singing in thy soul go
old diving year, and depart in peace"
The sermon at ST. Patrick Cathedra
was rreach,d by the Rcv. DR.. Edmond r
Sharahan. of the Catholic University o
America Ills subject VAS Bethlehem an,
tho Social Future OF Men," and he ap
preached the problem If universal peac
by way OF the necessity OF combating tn
ifdiffereutists in religion. In the ahsenc
OF Cardinal Farley. mass Wa celebrate
l,, the Right Rev Thomas L. Cusdck. a
sisted bv Monsgnor Iavellc. The Rev
John Quinn was deacon ana the Rev Jsmc
Cassidy sub-deacon The masters Of ccre
monies were the Rcv. Joseph Donohuc an
tho Rev. John j. Byrne.
At All tho masses in tnc Cathedral
cable dispatch received by Monsignor Ia
yoIIe from Cardinal FARLEY was read; IN
Cardinal expressed the hope that al "
faithful members OF his congregation Woul
have A happy Christmas and prosperou
new wear. The collection taken up az IN
Cathedral, as well as those at al IN
churches In the diocese or New hoIk' wa
for the benefit OF Catholic schools an
Catholic education.