The Portland daily press., 1886-12-30
THE CHRISTMAS cLuB
Entertains Eight Hundred Guests at
Its Fifth Festival.
How the Children Were Amused at
City Hall.

to crowd into the corridors of the City
Building waiting for the hour when they
might be admitted to see the wonderful en-
tertainment in the big hall up stairs, given
for them by the Children's Christmas Club.
AT last the doors were opened and the chill
dren marched up stairs and were given seats
on the settees at the sides of the hall. 1t
took some time to get all of the 500 guests
comfortable seated, and Mr. Gilbert, who
had charge of the children, was busily en-
gagged as well as the following young men
who acted as aids: E. C. Mitchell, w. C.
Eaton, c. G. Wells, N. Ii. Ingraham, A. II.
Gould, T. II. Tracy, T. II. Weston and G.
w. Barnes. A squad of police were in at
tendance to render assistance Provisions
had been made for checking the outside
clothing of the guests. Thanks to the eff
forts of the ladies who had charge of the
work, and the kindness of those who made
donations to the club, all the guests were
warmly and neatly clad. In addition to the
guests the younger members of the club sat
on the floor of the hall, while the seats sold
in the gallery for spectators, were we'll filed
The afternoons entertainment opened
with music by Chandeliers orchestra, after
which came the march, in which many of
the members Of the club participated, much
to the satisfaction of the guests, who Wig
orously applauded when the march was
over. The welcome of the club was then
extended by President Mcdowell to the
guests. The president spoke as follows
Friends and guests of the Children's
Christmas club, greet you all most heartily
and extend a cordial welcome in the name Of
our club. Another year has passed by and
We again meet to celebrate this Merry
Christmastide, also our fifth anniversary.
We are all glad to find our club still prosper
ing and In such fine condition. Through the
advice and Judgment of our kind friends,
Miss Sargent and others. we decided to dis,
pense with our usual dinner. We trust,
however, that our guests will pass as merry
Christmas as they have in years gone by.
With sadness we have to recall the death
OF four OF our most active members, who
have been greatly interested in this work.
will not lnger any longer as know you are
all anxious to make merry, but in closing
will extend grateful thanks to our officers
AMI kind friends | hope you will enjoy a
pleasant day and wish you all a most Hap
Ply New Year.
At the conclusion of his remarks Mr. Nc
Dowell read letter from Mayor Chapman,
who regretted his inability to be present
| Rev. DR.. Hill was introduced and delivered
| the following address to the children:
hope that you have all enjoyed your
Christmas; and l hope you will all have a
Happy New Year Christmas is day of re-
joicing over the coming of our Saviour; il is
Kept as though it were his birthday. He was
born at Bethlehem; but passed all his child
hood and youth in Nazareth, which lies in a
little valley among the head waters of the
river Kishon. From hill close behind the
have n q incf vic ",
Palestine; mountains to the north, hills to
the south and westward looking over that
valley OF KishOn, which has been the scene
OF SO many tremendous battles, from the
days OF Abraham to those of Napoleon
Bonaparte.
| We know very little of the childhood and
youth of our Saviour. st. Luke tells US that
He was subject to His parents, and Mark that
his nelghbors called h i'm carpenter. 1t is
very likely that, when He was young man.
He did help Joseph in making benches and
tables, cradles and collins. And probably
when He was a child He helped His mother
at home. For if, in those years at Nazareth,
from when He was little boy until, at the
age OF thirty; tie went out to preach the
kingdom OF God and TO meet His cruel death
If, during that time, He had done anything
OF a kind to excite wonder and make men
talk about Him. would probably have been
mentioned in the gospels. think that He
did do every day something which was
| sin. Every one of us knows that that is a
| very hard thing to do. We all of us know
| that we are sometimes little lazy, or little
| Impatient; or we are not perfectly open,
| frank and truthful i~or we are not clear in
| our minds and thoughts; or in some Other
way we sin; we all know that we are sin,
ners. But our Saviour does not show, in
| one single word, that He had ever done
| wrong; He was without sin.
| Now think that boys and girls may take
| great comfort, and get great help and
strength from remembering these things
The holy and sinless One lived until he was
| thirty years old, doing nothing but common
| everyday things; nothing to excite wonder
among his neighbors, unless, perhaps, the
| wiser ones among them wondered how that
| carpenters boy could be so good. How
| pleasant for you when you are learning your
| school lessons, or when going on errands OIL
doing little tasks, to think that thus the spot
less One, in His childhood learned His He
brew Bible, and copied out the words on His
| tablets; so He went to the springs to bring
water for His Mother; SO He helped Joseph
IN the carpenter shop. And it will lend new
pleasure to innocent games and amusements.
to remember that this blessed Child roba-
oily played with other children in the streets
of Nazareth. That Child, whose birthday il
holiday for Ill nations, because He is the
saviour of men, the light of the world, and
the lord OF life, lived until he was man full
y grown, thirty years old, as common man
among common men; distinguished from
other men only by being so good so gentle
and obedient to Joseph and Mary; so kind
and cheerful with His playmates; so faithful
in His work in Joseph's shop; SO courteous
toward Ills townsmen; so reverent and con-
slant in His attendance at the synagogue-
which was the Jewish church.
That IS the great use which Christmas may
be to children; If it makes you think of
Jesus childhood, and try to be like him. The
way to have Happy New Year, and a
blessed life, Is to try to live as that holy boy
Of Nazareth lived. The best work that a
child can do is to be good child; faithful,
tender, trusty and true obedient reverently
pure minded and clean, in word and thought
steadfast and industrious, in study and at
work kind, obliging, good natured and in.
nocent in play. Such child is following the
great example; and will be sure OF the best
gifts, the love and respect of men, accept
ance and approval with God.
Under the lead of Mrs. Merrill, teacher of
singing in the public schools, Christmas
carol was sung, hosts and guests joining in
the words. Later, another carol was sung,
and everybody seemed to enjoy it as much as
they did the first.
What proved to be taking feature of the
entertainment came when Miss Mary Me-
Cobb described how she had met a number
of people from out of the way corners of the
globe, all of whom were anxious to come to
the festival. Miss McCobb said that these
strange folks were all waiting in the ante
room and asked if they should be allowed to
enter the hall. In reply to a shout Eyes,
yes" the orchestra struck up march and
an Indian and his squaw, Japanese man
and his wife. couple of natives from the
wilds of Africa, Turk with eight of his
wifes and an Esquimau, entered and march,
ed about the hall. After they had with
drawn, the Indian chief and his ten braves
held a pow-wow and war dance, winding up
by capturing and putting to death a white
man who came in their way
The remainder of the afternoon passed
quickly away. The guests were provided
with pop corn which they ate, while quar-
tette composed of Messrs. Colby, Thurston,
Bodwin and Shaw, sung "Come, let us ram
BILE" and responded to an encore. Mr. Geo.
A. Thomas, who officiated in the capacity OF
Santa Claus, also sang two of his capital
songs. Before what was the surprise of the
afternoon, the hall was swept, while the or
chestra played several selections, the drill
squad of the Portland Wheel Club rode
silently into the hall. Hardly any one knew
Of this part of the entertainment but the
excellently performed evolutions were re-