The decorations of homes and public evergreens and flowers, real or art in recognised as indispensable to the full joyment and res of the festive season, and th honoured custom has well observed our model Settlements, Churel private resid hongs, and ships how draped with seasonable beauty, and present an effective contrast to what we were accustomed to see in familiar places a few days More particularly is this the ease in the churches, which have all bei decorated by their respective congregations ina manner which speaks ils own commendation for the taste, ps and Inbour bestowed by those who have had the work in hand, The Cathedral looks ext more 80 perhaps than on occa There is no profusion, simplicity of the adornment makes the effect more pleasing. On raised structure immediately behind the altar cross of evergreensand flowers: work to correspond, and suspended from the chancel arch la another similar cross, ith the word "Al at the foot, bold white letters inn border of 8 Around the chancel arch, and the other arches on with pulpit, and the baptismal font, are all artistically adorned and have very pretty appearance, particularly the font, which lias around it the scriptural Lord, one faith, one baptism,"
tal froatwork characters, and looks really "beautiful.—The decorations were completed on Saturdi vices on Sunday were ye tended, especially that i the conclusion of which following carols:—'The Firat Nowell," "When Christ was born of Mary Froe," See amid the Winter's Snow," and "The Manger Throne." Th ation at the morning, and the singing was exceedingly good.
'At St, Saviour', Hongkew, not only were the. chancel, the pulpit, and the font tastefully decorated, but there was profusion of evergreens on the walls, and numerous f ed from the roof, Besides, over chancel arch and windo scriptural texts, all prettily executes altogether the church has a very beauti and seasonable appearance. churches, offshoots from St. Saviour Kongwan and Santing Kor, which are both in charge of converts, are also decorated, the natives, by whom the work was solely Dr. Nelson gave school ch children a tea resi on Christmas Day, and provided revolving Christmas Tree their subsequent gratification. The rt were similarly entertained the achoolroom at the rear of the church.
As usual, there were crowded congregations at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church to witness the Christmas celebrations. The high altar and side altars wore each made more beautiful by a splendid display of flowers and illumination by greater number of candles than usual. de the sanctuary, in front of the high altar was the Bambino, brilliantly lighted an surroundered with may be said, were th used in the decorations. night se was low mass, the celebrant being Father Pittar, who' was attended by two acolytesand eight torch-bearers, the later wg arod head dress, white aura plices, and gorgeous red gowns with a blae waistband and silver tassels, There was large number of both foreign and nati canto, and it was noticeable among the congregation that there were fewer ladies present than ast year, but more tlemen than on any jous occasion since the opening of the church.
At the Tung-ka-doo Cathedral the decora-ices were similar to those at St. Joseph's. Father Chauvion was the celebrant at the Christmas Eve service, and the church was crowded solely women not being admitted.
ging of the natives was' moat creditable, and' the peculiar aweotness of the tones of the bamboo organ
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.