The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-12-27
Christmas in Bangor.


Correspondence of the Journal.
BANGOR, Dec. D. 1877.
These are Winters Halcyon days; and the skies
are fair, the breezes are gentle
"1he sun shines softly through the hazy mist.
The lazy wind blows gently from the west.
For the capricious climate of New England
has given us the real Halcyon days which are
realized usually at this time of year on the Medl-
terranean All nature is enjoying calm and sweet
repose, and the winds are tempered for that shorn
/ lamb-the great body of the Poor. Let us sing
with Inland ''The world grows more beautiful
every day" And now as write the sun goes down
in purple and golden glory; it is the seal OF God
which closes the record of our Christmas Day. The
cowled and duskv sandalled Eve walks fcetly
round the earth, with face turned to the East.
| What, by general consent of Christendom. is the
happiest day of the whole year has closed as it be
gan-beautifullv Bless the sunshine lnvolun-
tarilv ones heart is lighter in fair weather. there
are no possibilities in rainy days AT this glorious
Christmas season the veriest Gradgrind must
be touched. and indulging in a little sentiment
| leave off demanding ftcts Gothic has told us in
| most beautiful allegory, OF two bridges, whereby
earnest souls pass from the Finite to the Infinite.
| One is a rainbow. which spans the dark river-and
this is Faith the other is shadow east quite
over by the giant Superstition. when he stands be
! tween the setting sun and the unknown shore.
And at this Christmas Tide blessed and friendly
| hands are leading us all to the rainbow bridge
The spirit of Man is made reverentia at this sea
| son. And each mortal who wishes his neighbor
Merry Christmas" lends himself to the brighter
possibilities.
Here in Bangor the celebration really commenc-
| ed on Sunday, when at all the churches appropri
ate services took place. At the Unitarian church
| the morning service and the Nespers were both
unusually interesting. The edfce was appropri-
ately decorated with cvcrgreens ferns, immortelles
and more perishable blooms. The music was
superb, for this church commands more talent than
hardly any other in the State Mrs. Jason Crowell
the well known singer is the soprano here. Her
husband is the basso Mr.. John Mason takes the
tenor and Mrs Henry Butler the contralto parts
| The organist is Frank l.. Crowell-a Young gentle
man OF remarkable musical taent-who has lately
returned from several years in Europe devoted to
a study of music At the morning service the
| quartet was supplemented BY extra SINGERS The
music At this time began with voluntary from
| Eli A chorus was sung from the NtSsah-"And
| the Glory Of the Lord" and this was followed by
rectatiye and aria "Oh though that telleSt good
tidings of Zion well rendered by Mrs. Butler. And
there were also sung several appropriate hymns.
| The discourse by Rev A. NJ. Knapp the
| Humanity of Jesus. He thought that the vital
relation of Jesus to the thought OF to day consists
in the acceptatiou Of his humanity differing from
| ours not in kind but in degree. 10 assign him any
other nature either simple mixed, is 10 sever
that vital relation and destroy The mysterious
power of sympathy.
that made the dry bones Of theology to rattle. At
the yesper service the music of bright and
| JOYOUS character. The recitatives from the Mes
siah There were shepherds and The angels said
unto them eNluisitely rendered by Mrs.
Crowell. and then the quartet gave the chorus
GLORY to God" from the same "rit"rlo. The next
music given was Il duet OF MrnlelsShonS In Thy
hands are all the corners of the earth" by Mrs.
Crowell and Mr. Mason. But the crowniEg piece
of all was Adolphe Adams Christmas Song begin
ing 80 holy night the Stars brightly shining
| sung by Mrs Crowe with an intelligence Of OK
| preston and a sweetness which simply match
less. The vesper hymn by Gotschalk. All
these particulars are given because It is interesting
to know that classical music be- rendered
| away down in Maine" in Il manner which would
be credtabe any where RophRlrk RtMhLE