Shanghai, Doe. 27.
Receptions, "parties, and other festivities of a Yuletide nature, both formal "and informal, started Shanghai on Christmas Eve, and were succeeded by others on Christmas Day and yesterday. The first. snowfall of the year, on Wednesday, gave hopes of an appropriate white Christ mas, but the blue skies and bright sun of Friday morning dispetied all such expectations, Nevertheless, "Christ mas was celebrated with all its tradltonal style, and turkeys, - plum-pudding, ham, and crackers ruled all tables, "with" holly. and " mistletoe adding the finishing touches to the Nowell was ushered in with midnight celebrations in most of "the churches in Shanghai, including the Holy Trinity Cathedral and" the various Cutholic churches in the city. The Cathedral also hold special ser-viees at 7 a.m, 8 am. and following. matting at 1030 am, with a communion service at 7, 8 and 9 oan, in the "Bubbling Well Chapel. The Cathedral's annual toy: service will bbe held at 3 ofelock this afternoon, when the children of the congregation will be asked to bring a toy with them; these will be collected, and will be sent up-country to less fortunate children. Evensong tonight will take the form of a special service of congregational musie, when nine carols will be sung bY the congregation, led by the choir. Members of the Cathedral's. Junior Fellowship have often expressed a swish for more congregational singing at the annual carol services, and this: will therefore be their opportunity. Dean Trivett has asked them to cooperate in making it a hearty and inspiring service by attending large numbers, For certain reasons, it has been thought advisable to postpone the repeat of te Cathedral's special service of Christmas musie until Evensong on January 3. The Rev. 'Michael Bruce will preach a special sermon at to-night' service, Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day in St Joseph's Church in. Rue Montauban at 6, 7, 830 and 1030 amg the latter was a-Solemn High Mass. "AMI the Catholic church were specially decorated for the occasion with flowers and a manger display, depleting the Infant Jesus lying in his crib surrounded by saints, shepherds and animals of the field, sneer the altar,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.