Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-01-04
Christmas Celebration


christianity look forward to Xmas al
we NAV say too. in what ever PAM
aud adversely they have hitherto aols'eo
1.-The fight of time look with pleasure
for it. From the new year i'll her nra'
morn when we must Of necessity
though regretfully, turn from the festa'
dav. of one wear, we instinc;ively look
down the vista of time through th'
yelled thirteen moons until eheir waxing
and waning shall have brought Us
another Xmas, wondering with what o
pleasure or good cheer" it Is ifeign''
ed for Us, often forgetting that thls Is
the .'vale of tears" aud time must nave
new sorrows too. Nor is this conlneo
10 the christian era, for the chosen peo'
ple's one CONTIGUOUS Inquiry was where
and wben:' the Messiah should come
though they rejected this royal ou'
lloMly Babe whose birth II comme""r-
a,es. Il was this looking toward the
lssIst anniversary that led to the
ARRANGING of the FESTIVAL service" and
the decoration OF the Lutheran Churcn
n, Wood,,ock. The decorations were
elaborate aud unique. The old church
.our dear old church" seemed to have
mt off her usual cold mid@inter APP
ne.rauce and arrayed herself IN the
beauty and verddre of sprin8-tlne' OF
from the sears aud wrinkles OF au age
If nearly three score years, aud thI
burden of 80 many Xmas SHOWS au
ace "lhoush frosty, yet kindly" &c
have renewed her youth, or become
hide in the summer Of her day adornet
tor her husband. Trust evef] hear
which is the enduring church was dlleC
with the essence aud fragrance OF the
rriuciples so boultliully bestowed ioI
.ur adorn,ns. If we could paint tn
lll,.u we could describe it, but cannot
The pulpit aud chancel were trimmed
with foliage. then were added eX'llcs
OF many aud handsome variety unit
no more were wanted to make "prota
sion most profuse" nor another iouct
The mastelly hand aud artistic eye o
,,o fair DESIGNERS. behiad the pulpi
! 0be old one having been cut down tC
ordinary size) vas an immitatlon seen
Of Bethlehem aud the significant eros
and crown, having back ground o
the Judeau hills, with guidn@ sta
resting just above.
Around this scene were pillars ont
on either side, upon the base OF then
l,ba words ''Word" and Truth" con
Meeting ,heso and above was an arch
10 the keystone could be read Jesus
then around the pillars were enlwine'
the prophecies relating TO Jesus an1
inst under The Keystone were three
JOYOUS bells, ringing out, as 1t were
sreedom from the curse OF the law
THIS filed the space between. Fac
window, pillar, door aud gallery wa
festooned with evergreens rem indln
us Of the Tree OF Lite" the babe
> Retblehem which is Ancient OF days.
The spaces between these by the mot''
inscribed there called upon Us to IRE
iojce for the Lord is come add tn
picture was com plete. While by thes
things We worship with orr hands, w
did not forget, 1 hope, that preparation
of heart so much needed.
How gladly we answered the call G
the Sabbath bells this beautiful X ina
morning where we repeated and trie'
to inscribe the truth OF the Incarnation
of Jesus upon the tender minds to tn
children.
When lessons were concluded tn
! school presented lis very III ieni sup
! Mr.. Milton Conman Solded II ca L
: cane As only slight token OF her al
probation Of bis work.
ALL O'Clock the ''Fes'iv'l 5 ~ &c
: for Xmas consisted in responsive re ID
: inrs Of the gospels and some prnphecl'
i,,ter,p .rspd By hymns. three OF whit
were sung by the little girls. one s'aG
;,c verse at The time, and one verH
.unc by three from four to six years an
40 we'll did they cord. that many though
there was but single voice. The
were supported by a soft organ az
{ commandment, this was enjoyed IN a
c rost brealhless silence from the who
= hou<e ill the organ pealed forth 40
e several hundred voices echoed Il
" choruses. making a marked and hapI
q contrast. These tender voices WEI
+ rai.od in the sweetest songs aud tende
Is " lisped the Jesus Loves me-" Ih'
Is repea,ing the Old. old story" and
I most in pleading tones that it be 10
ID slowly" and "uiten', IN child like
e forget go soon"
- The early dew OF morning
r Has passed away at noon."
!. Chnst at Bethlehem was sweeiIy re
T., dered and 80 distinctly we're The NOR
rs arIiculated That any one conId lea
-. the whole truth Of the gospel rs CIV
~ in this song. Stern manhood itseli COZ
to but have accepted their Savior VIII
re- listening their almost angelic lay, W
can tell the story Of Jesus aud |
Love" so sHeelly as little child {"
how many have GONE hiiher' lead
q, such an one.
re A short sermon upon the greatness
Of Gods love in His gift to man and
lis consequent effect, AMI morning serv
wos over. At night a similar program