Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-01-03
The Annual Concert Of the Pres
byterian Sabbath School last
Thursday Evening.-The Jubi-
lee on that Occasion.

lee on that Occasion.
The annual concert of the Presby-
terian Sabbath School was held last
Thursday evening, in the Presbyterian
church in this place. The evening was
also uade the occasion of Christmas
Jubilee, and the double ceremony at
tendant upon the formulated Sabbath
School questions and answers, and the
programme adhered to IN the disfribu-
ton of Christmas gifts was of an inter-
esting character, far exceeding anything
of the same nature participated in BY
the Presbyterian Sabbath School.
The assembly was large. Chairs and
benches we're brought into requisition
to seat the assembly, as the pews or
permanent seats were quite unable TO
accommodate the people who attended
to enjoy the examination Of the school,
and witness the distribution of the gifts
and good things on the Christmas Tree
that stood in its evergreen beauty at
the pulpit end of the church, reaching
from the floor to the ceiling.
Preceding fhe review Mr.. s. y. Lon
don read his report as Treasurer Of the
School.
Upon the close Of the review, or ex-
animation of the Sabbath School on the
lessons of the past year, BY the efficient
Superintendent, Dr. Thomas A. Elder,
A. }. Patterson, Esq. a member of
the church, was asked to come forward
aud deliver an address. The reques.
was complied with by Mr.. Patterson
taking the platform and delivering an
extemporaneous address. lie opened
by recognizing the important Sabbath
School exercises or review, to which
the audience had listened with such At
,enfion, and said that that was indeed
the FIRST great cause Of the meeting,
but coming just at the time of the
1S17th anniversary Of the birth Of the
Redeemer of men. it could not we'll be
passed without fitting tribute to the
greatest event that has taken place
among men, for the fallen race. The
anniversary hour, or day, 1t IS true
was past, but yet so recently gone that
its marvellous impression had not lost
its influence upon US. FroI the
pleasant introductory Mr.. Patterson
passed to the consideration of Christ
mas Day the manner of lis obse:v-
arce in past days, in the Old World,
from tie earliest days of its recogoi
tion among men as the turning point III
the religious career Of humankind /;
The manner Of observance in Germany,
Northern Europe and England, in Feu
dal times, and more modern times, was
dwelt on in highly Interesting and in
srructive way. But while the address
was ladened With historical references
and other data, such as the student and
thinker ever consider as essential
points in an address, the great central
figure that occupies the minds Of the
children, boys and girls, the great vast
army that is closely pressing in the
wake of the generation to which the
speaker belongs, and who soon will
be in the same busy whirl Of bust
ness life, was not forgotten To leave
Santa Claus out Of such an address
would be, as the critic said, to play
Hamlet with Hamlet left out. Mr..
Patterson did not forget Santa Claus,
but be had him moving about, all the way
down from the days of Baronial Christ
mas fesiivity to the present time, until
one almost imagined that the good gift
giving old man was somewhere secreted
behind the Christmas Tree looking out
from among the candles and evergreen,
ready, as soon as the speaker sLoCld
end his speech aud give him chance,
to come out and hand around his gifts
In very pleasant way Mr.. Patter-
sou closed his address by announcing
that the time had come to honor the
time bonorei custom Of giving the pre-
pared gifts to the children, who we're
eagerly awaiting them. The speech
had so sharpened the desire Of the. lit
tie people, and big people too, that
when it was finished their eyes fairly
sparkIed With anticipation, aud the at
titude Of their bodies indicated that
there should be nc time lost in bring
ing out the baskets.
The Superintendent called the infant
class first. Quite a murmur greeted
the dear little people as they fled out
and in front OF the tree to receive what
was in store for them. 1t almost made
ones heart ache not to be one of their
number as they marched out and into
their seats. From that class, up, 10,
by regular step. of programme Ill the
Bible class was reached, the classes
filed, Ou: to get, and into the seat with
the tiny baskets filled with candy and
surmounted by large orange. The
murmur that greeted the infant class
was increased to an optburst of genu-
ine heartfelt merrlment when the Bible
class filed up in front of the tree, for it
included such aged people as Judge
Elder and Mr.. Hutchinson McAlister
they all preserved their gravity and re-
ceivsd the presents with becoming
dignity.
After the classes had ali been served.
the Superintendent of the school said
number of gifts yet remained to be
given,s whereupon Mr.. Il. S. Parker
stepped forward and presented to the
superintendent handsome aud valua-
bic gold pen, aud gold pen and pencil
holder i'll a neat case; then for the
School and Church the superintendent
presented Rev L. j. Sherrard with
large basket, heavily lsdened with SUBJ
stantial good things.
Again the Doctor was called on to do
the agreeable in presenting valuable
and handsome gold pen, gold pen and
pencilholder, to MIR. A. j. Patterson
in behalf of Mr.. Patterson's class.
The class taught BY Sir. James Buy
ers made the Doctor the happy medium
through which to present their teacher |