Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-04

Christmas Church Decoration.
THE Art Att ateur.l
Lately the decoration OF churches at Christ
mas, oEce very exceptional. has become quite
common. and the question of how a church Is
to br decorated SO as 20 display the workers
taste. and yet not mar the architectural b .auty
CT the Building, is one OF general interest 20 the
members OF hearty all Our religious denontna-
tons. The first thing 10 be done is to agree
upon what parts OF the church are to be deco
rated, and what designs are to be used, as much
after discussion is avoided by having settled
plan to begin with; A COMMITTEES OF ladies
should be appointed to divide the work into
materials are provided, and to exam.
Inc and approve all that is done.
They should give the rough work such
tised fingers, and the DECORATIONS of altar.
pulpit, font and reading desk to such as
have more knowledge and taste: The hints
churchea} Collect into a large room all the
materials necessary. and be careful to provide
an abundant supply. Evergreens of all softs
tates work materially when children are en-
ployed to cut them into working size. Thick
ropes measured to the lengths wanted for the
heavy wreaths OF windows and arches; laths
into the spaces for which they are required: a
quantity OF the thinneSt wire and stout string.
scissors, knives, glue, tape, nails, aud the nj
should be at hand, as the time for completing
decorations is always limited and much OF Il
can be saved by thought beforehand
Always begin upon the rough work. First
cover the narrow lathS which are used for gal
leries or spaces that require narrow line along
the top OF them, broader one below, AID up
rights at measured distance between the two
Good pieces Of evergreen should be placed few
together, one after the other in Succession on
these, and bound round with thin wire. The
advantage of putting them on system atically Is
at once apparent when finished, as 1t gives the
work clear and distinct appearance, and sepa-
rates 1t entirely from the rough Wreaths Thee
take small punches of red berries treal nr im,ta-
tiOnl and place them at regular intervals on the
work, binding them securely in their places
with wire. The decoration at the bottom OF the
space OF gallery should correspond with that OF
the top and upright, but be broader and fuller.
Thorough Wreaths that mark out the windows
and arches can next be made On the thick ropes.
1t has good effect to let long tendrilS OF some
delicate green fall from these and hang down
over arch and window; to insure success large
number should be inserted, so that when The
wreath is up in its place those that do not hang
gracefully, or are not required, can be cat
Ing. It is great mistake to make these
wreaths too thick and full, as that gives heavy
look to the decorations. The window stills OF
most eh hn being OF good SIZE their shape
moss or red cloth glued upon this and placed In
them: They are then ready for the designs that
are afterwards made and laid on them.
Should the church have plain pillars up the
AISLE they should be decorated with either a
narrow wreath made like those described for
the galleries, only on fine rope, and wreathed
with the same kind OF wreath but having
VaIiegated leaves and plenty OF berries In it;
or by three bands OF red cloth eight inches in
width, placed at equal distances round them,
6e composed OF only one kind Of leaf,
the three wreaths on each pillar to be
the same and each pillar. il possible, to
be adorned with a different shrub, but no
flower or berry OF any sort to be used as the
color Is already obtained by the red cloth. The
large dark leaves Ivy if posslole) and sew them
upon piece of cardboard, one uprlghtly and
the others horizontally. Where the three stalks
meet put bunch OF red berries Alternate
this with round bosses, made OF dark green
leaves or berries, and placed six inches apart
round the pillar. Should the pillars be fiuted
and have the appearance of a cluster OF
posed OF leaves, picked off and sewn on one by
columns. The capitals can then be decorated
The use OF red cloth in a church depends
very much upon whether Its interior is white
stone. brick, or wood. and the degree OF light In
it; but it should be used as much as possible
red and white being the symbocaI colOrs most
appropriate to Chl1stmas-red SIS the symbol or
DIVINE love and creative power; white as the
symbol vi innocence, faith. JOY, and regenera.
Having finished the rougher portions OF work,
IL IS time to commence upon the finer decOra1
tons, such as emblems and texts, ali Of which
should bear some reference to the season and
typify In some manner the BIRTH mission, and
attributes of Christ.
The window sills of church, being generally
wide and deep, afford good spaces for diagrams
and embiems. The frames that these are con-
9tructed upon are either thin strips OF wood
painted green, and dovetailed together, or zinc
cut 20 the device. This zinc can be procured 10
thin sheets from an ordinary plumber, but 1t i5
the best plan TO buy the frames already cut out,
or to draw IT, design On ordinary paper. paste
1t upon strong rdboard, and cut it out with a
penknfe. Designs so made Will last two sea
sons and sometimes more, il carefully handled:
but the zinc and wood ones are the best When
expense is no matter.
Scrolls are much used In church decorations,
and can he either Illuminated by hand On zinc
and parchment, and placed within framework
OF Terms or eVeTgreenS. or made by cutting out
and placing them upon a background OF red
cloth, surrounded by evergreens. Letters can
De made OF straw, Or covered with leaves
When illumination is chosen the worker should
be careful not to employ too many colors: red.
white. violet and gold are the only ones allow
aOle, the last mentioned to be used sparingly.
In all cases the letters themselves must De
TO Imagine that to make the letters visible
from a distance they should be OF an
enormous , Size: Clearness, is much more
tiers composing one word together. and leaving
plenty Of space between the words. In a text
composed entirely OF letters OF one size they
should be made half the depth of the scroll;
thus, II the scroll Is eight inches dep, the let
tiers should be four inches high. When calcu-
lat1ng the space In which the scroll is to be
fixed, and settling upon what text there would
be room enough for, decide upon the depth OF
the scroll first. This Will give the height OF the
letters, and as all capital letters With
the exception Of are contained In q
square, 1t Will soon be found how
many words can be placed in 1t. Letters
used In all cases should be the piainest church
text, especially when they are to be covered
with either leaves or flowers Take sheet OF
brown paper. draw TWO parallel horizontal
lines, divide the space between off into squares
ard draw lines across and d0Wa each square
so as to meet In the middle. Draw all the let
tiers Within these squares making the mtddtes or
all come to the line across the square, bringing
the tails of the Is. Gs and S. up to It, and
crossing the HIS upon it. This viii give per
feet uniformity. Paste. the brown paper On
cloth to prevent Its tearing. and cut out with a
sharp knife. Should the letters be covered With
leaves, they can be cut to shape, as the d.
Viding OF the leaves does not show.
Imitation holly-berrieS will be found very USE
ful for church decoration. They can be made
by dipping dried peas into a solution of sealing
wax varntsh two ounce stick of red wax Is
reduced to coarse powder, then placed in a
bottle, and quarter Of pint OF spirits Of wine
poured upon iI. The wax dissolveS without the
aid OF heat, but the bottle must be repeatedly
shaken, as the yarnish cakes very quickly.
unless attended tn Tale tho meas Mn with