Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-01-01

TIE EPIsCoPAL CuUECH.

LIE Christmas tree festivities OF
the Episcopal Sabbath School were
held on Friday afternoon in King
Street Hall, and Notwithstanding
the very disagreeable weather, the
Hall was filled with spectators. The
exercises consisted i'll music, singing
and short and appropriate address
by the pastor. A Christmas tree
very handsomely decorated and Ia
den with cornucopias filled with
sweetneats, was planted upon a long
table, and upon this table also was
spread an abundance of cakes, can
dies, fruits, nuts, &c, all of which
were distributed among the children
during the evening, much TO their
delight and qualification. Notwith-
standing these exercises were held in
King Street Hall the church had been
deliberately and handsomely dressed
with evergreens. The walls of the
edilice were covered with appropriate
notices wrought in green, the mi
tial letter of each motto being red,
giving to the texts a highly iflumi-
mated appearance. On the left side
is the motto, g Prince of Peace;n on
the right. . Star of Bethlehem in
rear OF pulpit, 'Hosanna to the Son of
God. On each side of the altar stands
a large evergreen tree, the one on the
left side having large blue banner
hanging from its branches. In the
east corner of The church a gilt star
is suspended from the ceiling. The
frescoed columns on the walls of the
church ale ingeniously trimmed
with evergreen so as to give them the
appearance of real columns twined
with spiral strans of green from top
to bottom. An immense Gilt star
decorates the space on the wall be-
tween the two doors entering from
the vestioule. The pulpit ALTAR and
the railing surrounding, are delicate
ly trimmed, harmonizing beautifully
in artistic taste with the other de-
colations Of the edifce. The mater
ial used in the decorations is spruce
pine bl ought from Alpine, on the B.
u .. r. Rand furnished by Dir Ella
son. The ladies having the work in
charge have performed it with skill,
taste, and al tistic judgment.
REFORMED CEUECE.
Although the services in this Church
were not TO commence until 81
O'Clock p. NJ, yet long before that
hour, every available space in the
beautifully decorated house of wor-
ship was filled by interested specta-
tors. AS usual those whose duty it
was to ornament the church main
tanned their reputation for the grace,
elegance and beauty which has al
ways been accorded tnem in church
adornments.
Starting from TIE center o. the
ceiling Immediately over large
chandelier, STRAINS of evergreen fall
ing in graceful curves connected each
conner of the church with The COM
mon centre. Directly over The han
Gel lail two strans of evergreen az
tistically festooned in the center,
connected the corners OF the church
on either side of the chancel. Altar
and pulpit were beautifully and del
icately trimmed with evergreen. In
the rear of the pulpit surrounded by
evergreen was a banner bealiDg the
following inscription in gilt letters
"Sing, Oh, Heavens! and Rejoice
Oh, Earth" Above this in arched
form in Letter of evergreen, was the
words, 1--WE have come to worship
Him. On either side of the pulpit
were large trees almost reaching to
the ceiling, every Dough literally fill
ed with good things for the little
NIL
liantly illuminated with hundreds of
wax candles.
In a window on the east side of the
church was an illuminated star typ
zeal OF the one which guided the wise
men to the Manager wherein the Sa-
viour was born. Over each of
the windows in plain letters
of evergreen appeared one of the
inscriptions :-"Calvary," IN az
areth, Jerusalem, !" bethlehem. -
Taken as whole, brilliantly lighted
up, the arrangement and the scene
was good. The exercises were con-
Quoted by the pastor Rev. MI. Hoff-
helms and consisted of prayer, scrip
ture, lessons address, and distibu-
ton of gifts, alterntaed by singing.
We must compliment the singing,
nor shall we omit to credit Prof.
Carroll's skill who had charge of the
music. Closing our feeble descrip-
ton we shall crown it with the one
word which we trust all may find in
time and eternity that is, it was a
success.
THE LUTHERAN CONCERT.
The Lutheran Sabbath School
changed its programme this year land
instead of Christmas tree festives in
the church, gave concert in King
Street Hall. 1t was a grand success
in every respect. The Hall was
densely packed with spectators, and
the performance was greeted through
out with demonstrations of favor.