, 1862-12-27
CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY.
The Dinner to Phillips Battery.
How the Churches and Mission,
Schools Enjoyed Chr1stin.ss. j.

lzed. the CHRISTMAS geese were devOuren
with = relish, the Christmas gifts were gener-
cnsly distributed and the evening DEVOTED to |
Sunday school celebrations, parties, balls,
routs, social gatherings and amusements, It
was In reality 9 ..nner1y Christmas; merry with
gifts, Kind wishes, congratulations, the song
and the dance. The dark oyer-shadoving
clouds Of var cast little gloom upon the gene
eral mirth, although just two years ago, the
first gun was fred st Sumter; the first signal
Of long, bloody and terrible strife, which
then We deemed a mere speck upon our ma
tional horizon. The wretched, muddy, mug
gy, foggy weather had little effect The places
Of amusements were thronged and all vent
t'merrE as marriage be11''
IN THE CHURCHES. ~.
The usual divine services were held in the
Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches, and
also in che or two Of the Methodist churches.
In each there was a full attendance, and much
interest was manifested. The decorations in
this year as has been formerly noticeable, but
Tc observed close regard to neatness, and
style which is far more attractive and church
like than the heavy trimming in vogue here
tofore. We append brief notices Of the ser
vices in several Of the churches from which
He hare heard.
st. JAMES.
Of whom appeared to join heartily in the wor-
ship. Christmas anthems were sung, and the
usual services set forth for the day we're read.
The Rev: Mr. Van Dyne, assistant minister,
preached the sermon. His topic was stThc
Humanity Of Christ" which was ably and
| fully discussed After the sermon the holy
communion was administered, and collection
! taken up for the benefit Of the poor amount
| ing to over $125-
SURPRISE,
In This connection, it Is not improper to no.
| tice the grateful appreciation EhoWu blythe
congregation Of st. James for the Iabors Of
] their faithful and beloved rector, the Rev. Dr.
Clarkson. On Wednesday morning, at an
early hour, the Christmas gifts began toarriye
at the rectory, and continued during that and
the Succeeding day The ralue Of these pres
ents will fully reach the handsome s1lm Of
81 ,00o-
81. JOINS.
The decorations at st, Jo1n>s Church are
simply but admirably designed, aud produce,
in their arrangement, a fine effect Tie morn
ing service was attended by full copgrega-
ton: The sermon WAS preached by the rec
tor, Rev Il. n. Bishop, D. D., and was IN
eloquent and clear exposition of the Sayior's
mission upon earth Tie Lords Supper Was
celebrated ut the close Of the sermon, and 8
collection for the Chicago Bible Society was
taken up.
In the evening, the annual gathering of
the Sunday School children, teachers and
friends, occurred Notwithstanding the rain,
aud nlnd, the church was filed to oVerdowi1,g,
andt he occasion was one Which will be long
remembered By the participants.
Brief addresses we're made by the Rector
Dr.. Bishop, Rev. C. E. Cheney Of Christ's
Church, Rev. ". a. Cooper Of the Church Of
the Ascension, Rev. Dr. Clarkson Of st.
James, and Rev. r. y. Hager Of the Holy
ing photographs Of the entire school, teachers,
! officers and scholars, was presented by the
school through Mr. A. Hesler, 9uperintend-
| ent, to the Rector; another album Containing
the same keepsakcs was presented to Mr.. s.
johnson, teacher Of the bible class and q hand
some gold pen to j. s. Smale the librarian.
The reward Of merit a fine silver limiting
watch, costing as, was won by master Theo,
| dore Mead, and the prize in the infant class, q
beautiful silver cup, By little girl Leila
Maus. Alargc number Of gifts were then dis,
tributed, each child receiving something.
/ THE 'HoLE CoMMGSIoN.n
/. On Christmas Eve, the Sunday School at
tached to the Church of the Holy Communion
had their anniversary. Gifts Of various kinds
were distributed to The scholars, and q merry
time, generally, followed.
On Christmas morning the attendance was
unusually large The sermon was by Rev. E
His subject was ssGod Manifest Ia lie Flesh. !
The ladies' Of the congregation sent Mr.
Hager Christmas gift, consisting Of Q purs,
! containing $50, in t'grecn-backs and, in ad
dltlon, divers other articles, ornamental an5
nseful.
CHURCH OF THE AscExs1oN.
/ The Rev. Mr. Cooper, by 1aborious effor
! and faithfnl pastoral exe1tion, has succeeded
! in Te.vlTlfymg this parish, and it is now in
healthy and prosperous condition. The scr
f vices on Christmas morning were Of an inter
| est1ng character. The rectors ssrniou va
I uEu1r ssio Personal Offices Of Christ-a touch
ing and appropriate subject for the day. Th
decorations, which arc tasty and quite artist
in arrangement, we're the admiration Of th'
Tie fecfor's good lady was the recipient O
a fine Sewing Machine, costing ST, purchased
! by members Of the Church.
CuR1sT's CHURCH.
The ladies Of Clrist's Church have exhibited
| q maturpd taste in the style Of ornamentink
their little edifcc, and deserve high praise TO
the untiring efforts they have SO patiently dis
played. Tic Rev. Charles E. Cheney preach
ed an impressive sermon, in which he elo
| qucntly portrayed the advantages and bles
sings derived By mankind from the appear
anee Of Christ upon earth and his subsequen
| suferings and death.
TRINITY CHURCH.
There was the usual Christmas Day service
at Trinity. The Rev. DR.. Pratt ot1iciated, an
the Holy Communion was participated in b.
, ! nearly 400 commandments.
r MISSION scnooI. CHRISTMAS.
i, Among the various noble charities whic
t made Christmas season Of joy to the poe
/ Of the city, Was dinner given to the childre
:. Of the Mission School, connected with th
c Ministry at Large, IN institution supported b
!. the Unitarian churches Of Chicago.
. About two hundred children gathered
y the hall occupied Us their Sunday School room
&c in Garrett Block, where an ample and real
e. eumptucus repast was served to them Shol
l. addresses were made BY Rev: NJ: Thomas an
Rev. Mr.. CoIlyer, and the children Joined
:. rating ia the good things SO kindly furnishe
- 10 the fullest possible extent, the iuvenl
+ company dispersed, wishing that b1esse
d Christmas would come every day. Gre
h | credit is due the Superintendent and his e
- 6cient corps Of teachers for their e1ors
L. better for them than legislation-the Sundt
IT School more certain protection Of the
70 morals than any police force
III DINNER TO PHILLIPS EATIERT-
- Camp Douglas now presents any thing b
NJ m attractive phase to any one, be he soldi
n or civilian. Nearly all the troops ha
~ left for various portions Of the country
- camp elsewhere, leaving their CID bafrac
O. looking dreaty and desolatc. The doors
ed some buildings so lately the centre Of life u
hustle, are swinging in the wind, the hing
as II were cseaking . mourning requiem o.
IT. ] their ieriner inmates. The late fall Of +,
.ae imrarts to the grounds more OF the appe
as w nnce Of large lake intcrspersed by sn,
st. | islands, than Of grand parade grounds. Chr1
,en | mas day was everywhere foggy, and mud
.e1 | but particularly so at Camp Douglas.
.a7 only portion Of this once populous andliy
en locality, that exhibited any signs Of life, '
Of The quarters Of Phillips Battery, at the nor
ag- wcst corner Of the enclosure,
10. The Cristn1as dinner, previously announ'
in the TRIBUNE, to he given by this. Bate
PC came of in good style. Being called up
atti. Dr.. Ha7iland, (icaica1 Inspector Of RecTu
lral invoked q blessing, when the party, numt
-. ing upwards Of goo tincluding some lac
au- among the invited guests manifested Il
For | appreciation of the feast before them,
eloth being removed, the President, {Orde
net Jas. Gralam) announced the following re
~ lar toasts:
j. The President Of the United States. =
ycd = The Union- Now and Forever.
4. The Army and the Navy
pu- Thesc, were appropriately responded to
Las officers Of the Battery, and guests: when
ick- following volunteer toasts were given:
NOS =. Capt. Phillips right or wrong
was This, like some of the regular toasts VII
+ba sponded 10 by three rousing cheers, and
sue eral s.tjgeFs.'' The Battery also sung C ]
med right good fellow &c Capt. Phil
list responded In few appropriate and wcll-ti
omc remarks. He would bare preferred that Il
who had done the hard fighting at HarI
'os'- Ferry be toasted. None who knew Of I
cred acts ut Aartinsburg and Harpes's Ferry Ct