Eastern times., 1855-12-27
Christmas.

O@~~ >-S~-~>>%~s
We are glad to.perceive growing inclina-
ton among our people to make Christmas the
occasion for reasonable festivity and JOY, par
ticularly to the young folks, by furnishing
amusements suited to their taste, the distribu-
ton of ofpresents, &c. On Monday, the shops
were thronged during the day by purchasers,
and an unusual quantity of holiday presents
disposed Of. N
Religious services were held on Monday
evening and Tuesday morning at the Episco-
pal Church, which was beautifully decorated
with evergreens, notices, &c.
A social party of the members and friends
of the New Jerusalem Church collected at an
early hour on Monday evening; at Columbian
Hall, where music, dancing, and mutual greet
ings and congratulations occupied the pleas
ant hours till 10 o'clock, when the company
broke up, and all went to their homes highly
delighted with their entertainment.
The Unitarian S. S. Festival was fully at
tended. We are informed that the scholars
enjoyed the evening in the highest degree
Presents were distributed from Christmas
tree to each scholar, after which table, boun-
iifully laden with choice edibles, was spread,
and both old and young partook. 1t was
really pleasant and proftably spent evening
Through the kindness of Rev. Mr.. Mason,
we are enabled TO give the following account
of the Sunday School Festival at Wesley
Church -
At an early hour the old church received
its scores of happy youth to partake of the joy
and receive the gifts which kind hearts of pa
rents, teachers and friends had provided. The
gifts, numbering not less than six hundred, all
labelled and marked for the recipient, were
tasteiully arranged upon two fine spruces,
placed on either side of the altar, in front Of
the pulpit. Fine volumes, in various styles of
binding, richly ornamented articles, curiously
wrought gold and silver, silks, laces, gloves,
caps, shoes, boots, comforters. and many other
articles, too numerous 10 mention, decorated
the branches.
In the centre of the pulpit hung splendid
gold watch, valued at $3.50, purchased by the
choir and the congregation, as token of re-
gard for their chorister, whose services have
been most cheerfully and faithfully rendered
to sustain and improve the singing in this
church.
The services Of the evening were commenced
with singing and prayer, by Rev. Mr.. Jaques,
the former pastor of this church, and addresses
were made by Rev. Messrs. Jaques, Springer,
Mason and Moore, interspersed with fine mu-
sic by the choir. The presents were then dis
tributed, and all returned, cheerful and happy,
to their homes.
Much credit and praise is due to the pastor
and his worthy companion for their interest
and untiring exertions TO make this one of the
happiest seasons the youth and children of this
Sabbath School ever experienced. Everything
passed pleasantly, each being we'll pleased
with themselves and everybody else. May
the blessings Of God continue upon this Sab
bath School, with its devoted band of teachers
On Tuesday evening, Sabbath School
Festival was held by those connected with The
Free Will Baptist Society, at their church OF
North Street. where two trees, also, loaded
with presents, were distributed. All present
seemed delighted with the evening" entertain.
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