New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-27
Christmas Jubilee at Ames Methodist
Church.

| Church.
/ This church, with its Sabbath school, hat
a most joyous time on Monday night.
was the occasion of their Christmas jubilee
uhere was large audience present, com
| posed of the Sunday AchOol, members OF tn,
| regular congregation and visiting friends
We noticed quite number Of our leading
citizens, who seemed to mingle with deligh
in the varied exercises
| The committee on decorating the churcl
did their duty well. under the lead of Colo
mel j. H. Henry as chairman. A wreath o
| evergreen exterded around the gallery
| over the holdings above the windows
doors, and in the rear of the pulpit. Be
| tween the windows large evergreen crosses
hung, decked with bouquets of flowers
High above the pulpit was an immense star
made of evergreens, in the centre of which
shone out a smaller star revealing the
national cOlOrs. In the centre of raised
platform in front of the pulpit stood a
large pine tree, laden with presents for the
children of the school and congregation.
After prayer by the Rev. j. c. Hartzell
pastor of the church, the evenings enter.
tainment began with literary exercises
which lasted for an hour. This part was in
charge of Miss S. NJ. Warner, assisted by
Miss r. A. Colt, and others. Mr.. N. F.
Kendall presided at the organ, and was
aided, with the music of the evening, by
Mr.. A. T.. Pratt. After the Lords Prayer
was chanted by the school, Emily j. Loeser
recited Merry Christmas" This was fol
lowed by "Christmas Hymn" after which
Ida Mccullough recited What Shall the
Children Do Next" James Williams spoke
on Beware Of Wine" Lydia Mertehns re-
cited Ruth" The school sang II will
Sing for Jesus" and the audience Joined
heartily in the chorus. Master Walter
Pratt spoke twice during the evening-firsr,
an extract from Patrick Henry's we'll
known speech in the House of Delegates
and then Patient joe Matte Cole re-
cited touching piece, entitled "Jesus
Seat after which the school sang Jesus,
l Love Thee" Albert Dwyer spoke on
Green Apples" and Sarah Page followed
with Ceramics Trust" The school then
sang CANCEL Guardians The most in
structiye and interesting exercise was a
dialogue in which six boys AMI six girls
took part. 1t gave from the Bible run
ming history of the prophecies concerning
the birth of Christ After the dialogue.
the school joined with the twe've in singing
Gloria Patria.'' The "Od Fashioned
Choir was well recited r. Miss Mary
Mccullough. After more good singing by
the school, the pastor announced thirty
minutes tor refreshments
The school then marched by classes into
the session room, where Ollowed a delight
full scene. Here Mr. G. ". Kendall, Major
J. G.. Badenhausen, Mrs. General Bussey.
Mrs. l. C. Jones. Mrs. \. II. McLamOre, and
others whose names we did not learn. had
prepared feast of good things, sufficiently
attractive to tempt Cne to eat even if not
hungry. While the children were feasting
the audience spent he time in social inter
course.
Supper for the school over. now came the
most interesting scene. The Christmas tree,
brilliantly lighed with wax candles,
sparkled forth its good cheer. Soon
" Santa Claus" was announced, and
was conducted by Mrs. Hartzell up the
main isle to the platform, where he
made his speech. He carried an immense
carpet-bag, contrary to his usual custom
He did this however. so as to conform
the habits If the people he came to see Je
stated tha all the scholars Of the sclDOl
were to get presents, and that those ShO
held tiveblue tickets or had brought two
new sch,lars to the school during tit past
three mnths, were to get a prize.
Ther came the distribution IN the
platform we noticed Mr. Hartzel General
Busse, Judge II. C. Dibble ard others,
busiF engaged in taking tit presents
from the tree and arranging them for
Sara Claus to distribute. After the
t-e had been stripped of its precious load,
Santa Claus read a lettr from some
lsrents whose boy had beer very naughty,
md who did not think bm entitled to
resent. The boy was c,lled in and inter
iewed by Santa Clau, and given some
ood advice. With a hearty good night
rom all Santa Claus (W. Z. Rogers) de-
arted.
The presents numbered over two hun
red, and were of al excellent class, judg-
X from the few we saw. They were pur-
nased and arranged. for distribution by
[rs j. G. Hart.ell, assisted by Mrs. H. G.
'ibble, Mrs T. G. Tracy, Mrs. Boothby and
[iss Maria Kigrove.
After this delightful scene the '.grown
eople" wers invited into the session room
i'd treated to good supper.
Seldom have We attended similar
altering where everybody appeared to
so Lappy. ,