Rev. Mr. White....I hope this is of some value to someone on list. MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL [MEMPHIS, TN], December 25, 1860, p. 3, c. 3 Church Decorations.--We were kindly admitted yesterday, by the Rev. Mr. White, to a sight of the Christmas decorations of Cavalry church, and were not a little struck with its appropriateness and beauty. Along the side wall evergreens are disposed in double lines of festoons, the intersections of which form a space bounded with graceful curves; within the alternate spaces appears a neat cross. From the four corners wreaths hang in festoons like the drooping of a canopy of foliage. The altar and its furniture appear to great advantage. High above the chancel window is a circle of evergreens, inclosing the motto: "When they saw the star they rejoiced." Beneath this is a large star, among the foliage of which are skillfully placed jets, and when the gas is lighted at night, the effect will be extremely beautiful. Below the star is a large cross, covered with evergreens and ornamented with white roses. We acknowledge that we like to see this cross, which heathen despised and spat upon, displayed with honor in the house of God; it looks as if the worshipers were not "ashamed of Jesus." On the sides of the altar the stones containing the epitaphs of the Rev. Mr. Wright, the first, and of the Rev. Mr. Slater, the second rector of the church, are neatly decorated, as is also the whole of the noble chancel window. On the two walls flanking the window appear the two mottoes: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel," and "For he hath visited and redeemed his people." The font, of white marble, is twisted round with a thick wreathe of ivy, plentifully intermixed with white roses, the latter an emblem of purity, well suited to the baptistry. The reading desk and rostrum are similarly decorated. Over the organ appears the motto: "Hark, the heavenly angels sing," and in front of the gallery: "Glory to God in the highest." The whole is in good taste and very pleasing; it was the work of Mr. J. P. Lallemand, to whose skill it dos very great credit. The decorations of the Roman Catholic church are less ornate, in harmony with the style of the interior. The pillars have wreaths twisted from top to bottom. The front of the gallery is very pleasingly ornamented, and in the center appears a large drawing of an angel; with the motto: "Gloria in Excelsis. The altar will excite the most attention, but as it was necessarily late before the decorations were commenced here, we are not able to give the full description we would wish. The altar itself has evergreens and roses, with candles at intervals, very tastefully arranged. On one side is an angel with one hand pointing to a brilliant star above and beyond; on the other, a second, with a trumpet, bearing the motto: "Tidings of great joy." We understood a third would most likely be added, with the motto: "Hallelujah," and probably, also, figures of the three kings of the East. To the labors of Mrs. Gilmore and the ladies of the Society of the Altar is due the handsome decorations of the church. http://www.uttyl.edu/vbetts/memphis_appeal_memphis.htm