Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-12-25
christmas is. the s.r...,sy.se,,oo.s.


making ii an occasion to be looked forward
to with pleasure, enjoyed bD the utmost on
the day of all days, anil ALWAYS held in
pleasant remembrance by the children in
after years.
1t is Il happy arrangeraeut-tliS idea of
combining so many pleasant features with
the solid instruction pupils of our Sunday
| schools receive, and cannot fail to result i'm
lasting good to both teacher and scholar.
The various Sunday Schools of Nashville
are making unusual efforts ths year in the
way of Christmas festivals. Some of the
schools have already celebrated Christmas,
among which we note the following:
The Edgar Mission, a branch of the First
Presbyterian school, held IA festival last
Saturday, which was largely attended. and
passed off in the most satisfactory manner
j. Il. OBryan is Superintendent of this
school.
The Second Presbyterian school, Mr..
Hartwell Superintendent, met in the church
at 5 O'Clock yesterday afternoon, where
singing and other exercises were engaged
in for a short time, at the close of which
the school adjourned to the lecture room
where a magnificent Christmas tree, loaded
with presents and beautifully lighted up,
formed the chief attraction.
The announced programme for the
Church of the Advent Sunday-School was
carried out last night with the finest effect
1t Z the children entered the church in pro-
cession, Miss Elliott, the church organiSt,
executing the while fine selection from
Rossini-"MoSes in Egypt"
The church was most tastefully decora-
ted the walls being gracefully festooned
J and bearing i'll large capitals the seven titles
of the Savior, as derived from the Bible.
| The initial letters were red and the rest
green. Besides, these festoons and inscrip-
tons, the walls were hung with wreathS,
enclosing each one of the twelve ''beati-
tudes," handsomely printed on framed
cards. The chancel was decked with SYM
| bOlic feStoOnS.
The services were conducted by the Rev.
Edward Bradley, Rector of the church, as
sisted by Rev. DR.. Lawson, Rector of the
Trinity Church. The school children sang
a number of hymns, rejecting much credit
on both teachers and pupils. The carols
were selected from the school hymn book.
DR.. Bradley made very eloquent address
on Jacobs Ladder" Immediately after
which, a ladder placed in the chancel and
reaching from floor to roof. was suddenly
illuminated, producing happy effect. Mr..
George b. Dawson, the young Superintend-
ent OF the school, distributed large num-
Der OF presents among pupils and teachers.
The festival closed with an impressive
| prayer and benediction by the Rector
The Christian Church was crowded to
its utmost capacity last night, at which
time the Sunday school held its Christmas
festival. An impressive prayer was offered
by Elder Sweeney, of Kentucky, and
number of songs, suitable 70 the occasion,
were sung. pr. Elliott then entertained
! the audience for an hour with number of
beautiful sterTescopical views, beginning
| with series of illustrations Of notable pc
| riodS in the life of olr Savior. Two very
| handsome trees were then robbed of their
| treasures, which were distributed among
| the pupils and teachers of the school. The
| Christian Church Sabbath school, of
l which Prof. A. ID. Wharton is superinten-
| dent, has an average attendance of
about one hundred and fifty pupils.
| 4 festival will be held at Christ Church
| tonight for the benefit of the Mission
School in West Nashville. The church has
| been handsomely decorated. Over the en-
trance are the words Let us 90 even now
| unto Bethlehem. On the left hand wall
which is beautifully feStoOned, appear in
| golden letters, the gifts Of the E'wse men
of the East" gold, frankincense and myITh,
and over these, respectively, box of gold,
an incense burner, and pot OF myITE.
Overhanging the chancel are blazing star,
and the word nDethiehem.n On the left
| of the chancel is an inscription $50 and
worship Him. and another, BE Thou
Faithful unto Death" while directly oppo-
site this, on the right ofthe chancel, the SER
tencc is continued, ''and will give thee
crown of life The words alpha" and
omega" occupying relative positions on
opposite sides of the chancel, The right
hand wall OF the building is i1St0uned and
ornamcnted with the words, ''Prophet,7
"IrieSt" AMI "king," the first word being
SuImouHted by 4 crescent Of stars, the sec
Ond by mitre, and the third by crown
These decorations were made under the
supervision of Col. S. VI. ID. Clark, Supe--
intendent of the Sunday School of Christ
church,
The puEday school OF the Central Bap-
list church observed Christmas last night
with appropriate exercises. The building
was crowded, and large number of valua-
bic presents were distributed.
The North Market street Mission School
OF the Cumberland PRESBYTERIAN church
hold festival at Masonic Hall next Mon
day, for which extensive arrangements are
being made.
This evening the McKendrce Sunday
schO0l, t4gathLr with the Nest End Mis-
sion School have a festival at McKendroe
Church, There will be a handsome tree.
singing and addresses. i similar enter
tainment was given at Sawries Chapel
last night, 10y branch of the McKendree
Sunday School.
The First Baptist Sunday School. are to
have festival at Masonic Hq.l at ten
C'Cioci to-day, which viii doubtless be
very pleasant affair.
The North Nashville Baptist Mission
School are to have Christmas tree Mon
dag night at their school room ON Jefferson
street near Beleville This will no doubt
be very pleasant affair,
The Westminster Mission School, South
Nashville, have festival at their school
room tonight. w. &. Thompson is Super
intendent of this school, which is reported
to be in very flOurishing condition.
The Cottage Church Mission School, on
South Spruce street, Mr.. McAlister Super
intenlent, ggYe 9 YRFy PLEASANT entertain
ment at their school room last night, which
was largely attended.
The Sunday-school of the Edgefield Bap-
fist church Will hold their Christmas festi-
val at the church, corner of Fatherland and
Tulip streets, tonight. The ladies of the
church and teachers in the school have
made ample preparations, and the Christmas
Tree will be laden with suitable presents
for the children, as well as those of larger |
growth.
DECORATING CHURCHES.
In this connection, the following, taken |
from the Baltimore Gazette, will be read |
with interest:
The art of church dressing is thing de- |
serving of more thought than has hitherto |
been giyent to it. The custom of robing the |
churches in living green, to celebrate the |
birth Of the Saviour, is SO ancient, SO SIM |
pie, so natural, and SO beautiful an express
sion of Christian feeling, that it is never
likely to 60 Out al use. The lsraeites |
were enjoined to "bring the fir tree, the |
pine tree, and the box together, to beautify
the Temple Of the Lord" and like use of |
evergreen is of immemorial custom with
us. 1t is at once a pleasure and
duty, and brings, at the appropriate
season, willing hands to its accom-
plsmnent, 1t is sad, nevertheless,
sometimes, TO see the loving work,
spent in 50 beautiful a purpose, TO fail in