St. Stephen's Catholic Church: Christmas Services

Part of long article discussing the decoration and music planned for Christmas Day worship services across the city. “The music of the day affords an ample opportunity for choirs to exhibit their skill. Perhaps the most elaborate programme is that arranged for St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic church in Twenty-eighth street, where a choir of forty voices, an orchestra of twenty-seven performers, and Mr. G. W. Morgan on the organ, will perform, under the direction of the composer, a new mass by Carl Anschutz. Mr. Toulmin will play the harp accompaniment.”

“At St. Stephen’s church will be performed a new mass composed expressly for the occasion by Mr. Schuetz [sic].”

“The services at St. Stephen’s Church, Twenty-eighth-street, near Third-avenue, commenced at 4:30 A. M., at which Rev. Dr. Sweeney officiated. The mass, by Carl Anschutz, was sung on this occasion for the first time. The singing by the soloists, Mme. De Luson [sic], soprano; Mme. Anschutz, contralto, and Signor Colette, basso, with a select chorus, was very fine. At the offertory, the choir sang a new arrangement of ‘Adeste Fidelis’ by Professor Morgan, who presided at the organ, which, together with a full orchestra, formed the accompaniment, and greatly added to the completeness of the effect…”