The New York herald., 1869-12-29
CHRISTMAS SCHOOL FESTIVALS.

The Children Of the schools Of St. John's
Chapel Receive Their Christmns Yester-
day-Large Attendance and Numerous
Giits--The Services.
Yesterday afternoon nearly 5000 children filed tire
body of st. Johns church. on Varck street, as well
the south and west galleries while the north gal
lery was also crowded win members OF the congre-
cation. Just IN front Of the chance was erected the
very giant Of \ Christmas tree, every branch
and twIg Of which bent under the weight
OF some handsome toy. cornucopa or other
present. This tree standing In the full glare
Of calcium light, shedding Its bright beams
upon 1t from above, near the ceilng, presented
quite charming appearance. ana. probably, this
was the first time that Christmas tree was luml-
mated with a calcium light. On numerous tables IN
nont OF the tree were arranged, by classes and
schools, the numerous gifts, near 5000 IN number,
which were distributed among the children. These
gifts graded according sex, age and merit, were
procured by the congregation at an expense OF over
$1,000. The religious exercises consisted OF the
ante-communon service Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, read by Rev. " Bruce; a number OF Christ
mas carols were sung by the children. ana Rev. $.
II. Weston, DID,, gave the young wards OF the
church the benefit Of his learning ana
was assisted by Rev. ". IL. Cook and Rev.
Alvah Wswall. The choir was In charge Of Mrs.
III.
A beautiful silk Danner Was presented 10 the schools
by Mrs. McFadden. II has on It's obverse a medal
lion painting representing the saviour as Il child on
the shore ol lake, with ruuCer In His hand, aud
the following Inscription, IL am the light or the
world-the divine Pilot' $50 lie bringeth
them unto the maven where they would pei Al the
conclusion Miss Ceha A. Butler was presented Dy
Rev. DE- Weston on behalf Of the ccrg, OF ~.
John's chapel ana The teachers of the industrial
school. some forty In number, with complimentary
resolutions most artlstically engrossed IA royal
auarto volume, bonnd IN morocco anu handsomely
embelllshed.
1hs chapel now maintains one coored sunday
school, one coored inouslrlal school, one Gttinan
Sunday school and q general industrial schooi al
under the general superintendent OF Miss {. =.
Butler. No distinction Of creed is maze, as was
SHOWN yesterday, over eight hundred Catholic
children participating in the festival. The atiend-
ance is increasing from week 10 week. All the
families, especially the poor. are visited III turn some
OF the poorest children were here taught to cut and
sew dresses. and thus earn an honest living by
The time they are old enough 10 be dismissed the
school. This IL worthy undertaking, and IL Is
CRAFTY ing that 1t Is 50 generously supported.
Chnpe! Of Free Graee-Eour Hundred an d
Fifty Children NIndc Happy and Con,-
Portable.
Four hundred and fifty children, bright-eyed and
tastciuly dressed, gathered last evening In the
Chapel OF Free Grace Of the mission schools OF
the 81 George Protestant Episcopal church, located
on East Nineteenth street. near Third avenue to
mnglc their sweet voices IN Christmas carols, listen
10 appropriate addresses and become the recipients
OF carefully selected presents, articles comprising
the whole range OF toydom, the art Of the conec-
toner and the skin OF the tailor and dress
maker. The chapel was elegantly decorated
with evergrecns, every window and column
being entwined, and every gas burner, which Jets
are placed In pretty and novel positions above the
pcws, becoming interace iswIh II, so that standing
IN the rear OF the room, the whole effect was picur-
esque and varied IN the eNtreme. In the centre Of
the main aisle In front ol toe pulpit, hinge tree
was placed, upon every limb Of which hung the gifts
designed to be given 10 the happy bows and glrls
VINO had, with many OF their parents wended tneir
way tnither through the rain 10 receive them and
experience the great happiness OF such fesllve 0c.
casiOn. Behind the pulpit the letters OF which were
also formed by evergreens were tex Il typical Of the
birth Of Christ, all worked In such manner
to produce exquisite harmony suggestive OF
Line gigantic tree, tables laden with the luXuries
that children love, could also be by them.
which renewed the sparkle in their eyes after least
ing upon the dolls wagons carts, cradles and more
substantial articles 1t contained. After singing in
quite good tune and melody. "Chr!stmas Halle
luIan," and other equally delightful carols. ana ad-
dresses by the Rev. Dr. Tying and Rev. Mir. AleXan-
der, who were peculiarly happy in their remarks
the Distribution OF gifts was commenced, occupying
fully an hour; and when the work was finished
every heart blxger than before and every little
hand and cTs tat took the present 70 their humble
dOmlciiS foit indeed weary when their owners re-
tired 10 beds made Sweeter by the fOrethOught and
kindly affsction OF Christian men and women.