Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-12-28

The Christmas exercises at the Clugre-
gatioual church began on SUNDAY morning
The church was tastelully trimmed about
the pulpit and organ los the Young ladies
and Mr. c. r Allen. The choir rendered
their Christmas music with great satisfac-
ton TO the audience The sermon was up
on the text IN Psalm NXIv.. 9 Lift up
your heads, % ye gates even lift them up.
We everlasting doors and the King Of glory
shall come in The central theme was
the greatness Of Christ and his near ap-
proach TO the spirit Of man. The thoughts
OF the discourse were arranged under the
topics \ royal city, royal King. and xiv.
ing the King royal welcome Ia the even
ing the annual Christmas concert was given
in the church under the conduct Of Mr. II
II Thompson, preceding which was half
hours praise service IN the chapel upon the
subject, The sympathy Of Jesus
The concert. which was much eujoyed hy
a full house, began With a fine solo from
Mr. Markham The Nativity /" then came
carol by a chorus Of boys. God rest We
merry gentlemen % then recitations were
prettily given 10y Matte Parker Marion
Rice and Alma johnson After these came
carol singing by Mis-, Clay's twelve little
girls, recitation by Marion Noyes, singing
10y Cora llscom. Christmas - rccitations
toy Minnie leunox and Ahhie Pratt. and
carol, Wonderful night by the school
Then followed Il recitation hy Florence
Hemnway, A Christmas hymn by a
class of young ladies'. "A reading by Ruth
Hawley. another song, Brightest and
best, 10y a chorus of girls recitation by
Miss Miss Maud Emerson, Responsive sto-
~, with responses from an invisible male
quartet remarks 10y Mr. Day, aud a clos
ing hymn 10y the congregation, Hank, the
herald angels sing.
On Tuesday Christmas night the school
aud church full Of friends assembled at
$50 for an hours entertainment in the
church, under the lead of Mr. Menzies
who. with Misses Fletcher. Emerson aud
Cowdry. constituted the committee for that
purpose Four carols were sung and a
bright and varied program given. Most
notable was the appearance Of The twelve
Miss Pellcoes, and The Little Huusekeep-
ers. - Then the duet, Reuben and Rachel, -
by Florence HemIuway and Alfred Thomp
son. Charlie Stolte opening address was
a decided hit, a. was Eina Crusby's Gun
ming recitation d" Ny earliest recollection.
Annie Stolte and Alfred Thompson gave
two pieces, and Misses Stoddard and Mad
die Gregg rendered selections finely.
The school and all friends who could get
in proceeded to the chapel at 1.3O and en-
joyed their tree. The mission tree, trim
med for the Italian SUNDAY school at Five
Points, New York. was especially rich, con
tanning 20 quarter pound candy boxes, 1870
large Christmas cards, $50 New Years
greetings ,cards in envelopes. tied round
with ribbon and "a sprig Of green 60 bags
Of popcorn, - base balls, 40 handkerchief.
2S pairs Of mittens, 30 books, a barrel Of
apples from Oscar f. Ware, and 2jO mis-
cellaneous articles, toys, garments. games.
etc. There are 10000 Italians in New
York aud this is the only mission for them
Of the Protestant churches The pastor.
Rev. Antonio Arthisi, had promised his
school the contents of a tree, not knowing
whence they would come 1t was called to
the attention Of friends here, who CORE
sponded with the pastor and precisely met
their needs
After the trees, Messrs Menzies, Kirk
land and Clay amused the children awhile
by exhibiting Little Tom" who recited
Shakspere, practiced black art. exploded
conundrums and sent the Children home
happy.
The UniIRrias Church.
The Sunday services at the Unitarian
church were all devoted 10 the celebration
of Christmas. In the morning Mr. Phalen
preached a sermon ON The birth of Jesus
After pointing out the reasons from history
science and Scripture why the doctrine of
the supernatural birth of Jesus cannot he
regarded as sober history. it was shown
that the real essential spirit of Christianity
remains IN all it, primitive power and beau
~ when the mythology which hides the
real Jesus Of history is swept away. The
mission Of Unitarianism, Mr. Phalen con
tinued. is 10 show this age of religious tran
sitlon that vital Christianity is independent
of miracles and wonders that Christianity
is iJe, an attitude Of the soul, not belief
in the speculations of theologians that
religion is possible which will satisfy the
heart without paralyzing the brain" If
this faith he born in our hearts. then, in
deed shall we enter into the spiritual i'm
port of Christmas. and hear once more the
song the angels sang when Christ was born.
The music was furnished by double quar-
tet choir
In the evening a Christmas service Of
song for the Sunday school was rendered
under the leadership of the choir, and Mr.
Phalen gave the children short address on
The manger child
Christmas eve parish supper and Christ
mas tree were eujNyed in Red Mems hall
Before the distribution Of the presents the
Sunday school children sang their Christ
mas carols and then the evening was given
up TO Christmas festivities and games.