Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-12-27
Christmas In Montpelier.
AT BETHANY CHURCH.


in each window, were placed upright spruce
trees-the whole combining to produce most
pleasing effect The musical selections were APP
proprate to the day and were exceptionally well
rendered. The morning sermon was preached
from the.text, Micah v. 2: "But thou, Bethlehem
| Ephratah, though thou be little among the thou
| sands OF Judah, yet out OF thee shall he come
forth unto me that is to be Ruler In Israeli whose
| goings forth have been from Of old, from ever
lasting" The conclusive evidence which estab-
| fishes the antiquity and the reference OF this
prophecy was pointed out and then its Importance
as going to establish four important truths OF
religion; first, the being Of God, who alone could
| foreknow the future; second, inspiration, by
which alone the communication OF this knowl-
edge to the prophet can be accounted fori third,
the providence Of God, shown in the direction
given to events which led to Christs being born
In the place named in prophecy; fourth the d.
| vine nature OF our Lord, shown In the fact that
the wisdom which foretold his advent described
his nature in terms which are only applicable to
one who is, as the apostle John represents him,
the Word who was in the beginning with God
| and was God In the evening pleasing chill
dren service Of song was held after an arrange.
ment with some variations) called Christmas
chimes, prepared for the season. The pulpit and
communion table were removed from their ordl-
nary places, and on the two platforms thus left
free and the floor in front the children Of the
| Sunday-school were grouped The exercises con-
sisted Of carols, hymns and other musical exer-
clses with responsive reading, prayer and address
The school carried out their part Of the exercises
with spirit, and solos by Master George Wilder
and by Mr. Briggs were especially fine. On
| Monday afternoon the members Of the Sunday
| school were given sleigh ride In different de.
tachments, all returning to the chapel for supper
at five o'clock. At half-past six members of the
society in large numbers came in by invitation,
and did the same for supper also and after a
| a pleasant evening all returned home early. Dur
| ing the evening Chinese lanterns were suspended
| from the tower of the church and from evergreen
trees placed in the snow at different points through
the grounds The children voted this the best
| Christmas they had ever known.
AT TRINITY CHURCH.
The sermon in the morning was appropriate to
| the occasion founded on Matthew Ii: TO- "When
| they saw the star they rejoiced with exceeding
great Joy" The preacher referred to the late
| transit of Venus, showing the great interest in 1t
among the men Of science and in the nations Of
| the EARTH because the information thus derived
would furnish key to very important knowl-
| edge. He then showed the interest in a siderial
wonder which was observed by some astrono.
mers many centuries ago and their joy at the
sight. Then, after showing the kind and i'm
portance OF the information derived from the OBJ
servation OF the transit OF Venus, he compared
the value of the information derived in each case,
that Of the modern astronomers and that OF the
| aui he oil hp n NJ m
urement for siderial distances. The latter
| gives the unit of measurement for all moral dis
tances. A look at Christ showing man (1) the
measuring OF this life; (2) an idea of immortal
| ity; (9) a true idea of God; (4) mans distance
from God; (5) mans possible approach to God
and salvation There was large congregation
| and the singing under DIR. Whitneys direction
| was excellent The Sunday-school concert In
the evening was fully up to the average OF such
services at this church and that indicates good
thing. T. r. Gordon, Esq, the superintendent,
presided. Rev. Mr.. Miller offered prayer. The
subject Of the evening was, OF course, Christmas.
| The children contributed their full share to the
pleasure Of the evening, under the direction Of
| Mrs. d. L. Fuller the assistant superintendent.
| They sang and rected pieces and they did 1t
| we'll Little Jennie Mcdonald rather carried off
the palm as an orator. The seminary students,
who were present in large numbers, contributed
several parts very acceptably. The choir ex-
| celled itself In the excellence Of its music. The
| Christmas tree Monday evening was we'll loaded.
The patron saint Of boys-Santa Claus-was pres
emit in all his glory fur coat jingling bells, hand
some face and chuck full OF things for the little
folks. He did his duty SO faithfully that he could
have had little left for the children at Middle
SCI" where he said he was going. His presence
| in 49, voted capital and he is invited In '83
Some pieces OF music and Rotations by a few OF
the children previous to the distribution of the
presents were very entertaining and all had
merry Christmas.
AT CHRIST CHURCH
| The exercises OF Christmas evening were en-
trely OF music, OF which the following is the pro-
gramme
AnthemM Messiah is King, ................... Warren.
oTs IN y Si " Rci
Benedc Anima Mea, in fat Bset
Hymn G....,,... MAdrd.
For the exercises OF Christmas day the church
was beautifully decorated with flowers and ever
greens-the monogram l. II. s. and the Greek
| monogram (Chi Rho) between the windows. The
| pillars were entwined with evergreens and dec
| GRATED with wreaths, were the windows and
doors. Over the font was Alpha and Omega,
and in front Of the choir large crown. 1.-THE
Word was Made Flesh was the motto behind
the altar. Those who have had charge of the
decorations in this and previous years have shown
excellent taste and deserve commentator. The
music, of which the following Is the programme,
was rendered by II. II. Scribner, organst Josie
Robinson, soprano; Jennie Kimbal, alto; and
Herbert c. Gleason, bass: