The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-12-31
Christmas s( Ceateryilie.

SIR EDIToR rs il is not often jila
YOU hear from Us, we wish 10 report t0 vol
the interest manifested By the members O
the Reformed Church oil CentcrEille ant
vicinity this year in the Christmas iesti
val held in their church Never before
had Christmas been celebrated here as j
was this year. About three months bc
fore Christmas, the pastor OF the Reformed
Church, proposed 10 the Sunday Schoo
Scholars, that il they would from tina
time on save their pennies FOR the orphans
then the officers and teachers OF the scho0
and members Of the church, would get "
a Christmas tree for them, and give then
4 treat The children with one voice con
senled the following conditions were
also agreed to. The scholar under eigh
years ofage that had the highest sum o
money for the orphans the one under ter
and over eight the one under fifteen anC
over twelve these four should have honor
able mention in the papers,.
/ When Christmas was near at hand
the young people went TO the woods
and brought in pine, laurel and moss
wrelths were made, letters were covered
arches and festoonings put up aud speech
cs committed by several Of the boys. On
/ Christmas evening the church looked
beautiful, the pulpit was nicely decorated
with strips of paper covered with laurel
leaves. around the chancel were put up q
number OF arches covered with spruce, and
from side 50 side beneath the arches were
notices cut OF pasteboard and covered with
tissue paper. with the light shining through
them, the motto GLORY be to God, -
first confronted you rs You enter
ed the church and seemed to be cut out of
golden letters Other notices Of different
colored paper and some covered with ever
greens helped to beautiiy the beautiful
little church. TO the lett OF the cEancel
was spruce tree tasteiGlly trimmed
with various ornaments and gifts for the
children. The tree Was set in the center
ota circular yard; this yard WAS surround
ed by an elegant fence; there were many
things here 10 interest and instruct, Z fount-
ain with number Of fish sporting around
in ii, the town of Bethlehem, the virgin
with the child in her arms, the sheep and
the shepherds with angels lowering around
them, the jewish house Illuminated, these
and many other things were 20 be seen in
the yard.
The services OF the evening were in
teresting and appropriate. The following
is the order OF the exercises Hymn, 81
lent night, Holy night, referring 20 the
night on which the Saviour was born
A suitable passage of scripture was then
read, followed by prayer, the school join
ing in the repetition Of the Lords Prayer
and the Apostles Creed; Hymn, "fark
what mean those holy voices. Then an
address by one of the scholars, Elmer Z.
Weller, subject THE true wav Of celcbra-
ting Christmas " Song, Merry Bells, "
an address by Jacab Miller explaining the
festival; Song, Christmas Carol, then
the roll was called and the children
brought their offerings in sealed envelopes;
next an orphans speech by Milton Phil
lippi The boys did very well, every one
praised them, The church WAS then dar-
kened. Directly in the arch of one of the
east windows was seen beautiful large
star around which hung number OF
smaller stars, the motto surrounding it
was, Star in the East" This star was
made by Josiah Philippi and was consider
ed one oi the most beautiful things of the
evening. While the church was yet dark,
the school sang hymn referring 10 the
star ot the East; the tree was then lighted
up and the children came forward and
sang gather around the Christmas tree,
its fruits are spread for you and me.
An opportunity was then given for all TO
come forward and look at the tree. y col
lection was then taken up, by the boys
who had made, the speeches, for the
benefit OF Tie Orphans. While the cOllcc-
tion was being taken up the choir sang
Gloria in Excelcis. - The children were
called forward and received their gifts.
The larger ones afterwards received some
gifts, among them opr worthy pastor, Rev
A L. TruXal. whOWas not forgotten. He
could not help but smile, when purse with
ten dollars in silver pieces, presented by
the ladies, with other presents were handed
him.
We wish 20 say word Of Josiah Philip
pi In corner hc had little tree with
hornets nest on il. The tree was trimmed
very nicely. 1t was beauty His squirrel,
rabit, fish, railroad, girl and boy sce-sdw-
inc, and many other cariosiiies drew the
attention OF all.
The children's o!Icring t'jr the Orphans
TO $24, 05; this together with the
taken up, makes about t,i3 for
the poor. Well done. The scholars ac-
cOrding to the agreed conditions, worthy
Of special mention are John Grant Wal
ter, AGE, . years Ellen 5. Hay, age, 8
years; John Hay, age, 10 years Milton
Philppi, age, II years.
The exercises were closed with the Dos
)lcgy and Ben,diction.
Sp-CTAT1I: