Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-29

candles. toys. useful presents. with cheerful
yoices and happy faces. made this one Of the
many pleasing festivals Of this Christmas
hOlidsy.
The Almsbouse Mission IL work begun
two years 9go by mission-workers from 81
James church. IL now embraces IN its
CO rps az teachers and visitors members %
the ditforeut Protestant churches Of the city,
Ail working together with zeal and harmony.
The work Of the Mission is two-fOld. LADY
members make reguisr visits 20 the inmates
oi the alm-b0usr, reading beside the sick
beds from Scripture aad devotional books,
aud holding brief service OF prayer aud song
In the different wsrds.
The sunoay-schoOl work is well arranged,
aud the corps Of teachers are among the most
faithful In the city. Besides the inmates Of
the house, many children and older persons
from without attend, aud the schO0lsroil
shows over a hundred sltendsnts. 4 hand
some organ. neat benches, library, aad we'll
arranged platform make the chapel Of the
slmshouse o fitting place ior this interesting
and importan, work.
The festival yesterday was the provision
OF this sunday school. A frame WORK
around the platform was covered with ever
greens and lig0ied up with candles. Upon
this was arranged the presents suitable FOR
the children and the grown pcrsOns.
santa Claus called each name and handed
% he happy recipient gift, together With
fruit and caodies. No one was forgotten.
The little child and the old man. The wall
whose only home Is the almshou-e; the boy
and girl whose parents live outside; The
nan wso comes on sunday 10 service, and
the ased inmate whose hfe is spent IN The
wsrds-all were made happy. and faces
shohe with peasurc that are Oitencr cloudcd
with sorrow. Willie stone. one ol the best
boys in the school, received as first prize
yerv handsome oxford Bible, having missed
but one sunday ia the year.
From the store provided donations were
SAINT over "a the c0lorcd almshOuse 10 add 10
The Christmas cheer there. SIR. Carter. the
superintendent. and the officers o. the aims
house added by their labor and interest 10
toe success Of this festival, which will long
be remembered by sll who were present.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS OF DE. HoGE's cHrecH
The Christmas celebration Of the sunday
schools OF Dr. HOge'- church was held ves-
terday. Al Il O'Clock eager faces, rlyalling
the brightness OF the sunshine ont OF doors,
crowded INTO t0e room, and gazed with de-
lisht az the Snow Palace richly decorated
with graceful green and its entrance oroa-
meuted with . bohy.tree on either side,
sprinkled with snow and red berries. With
in was A wonderful snowfall Oi immense size,
hollow within aud filed with baskets Of good
tbings 20 be distributed by the snow queen,
who stood in her palsce with her golden
hair falling over the soft fold, OF snow which
made her royal robes.
Tee infant claS. marched IN. with their
banners inscribed; Hope, Fnith. Patience,
Mcekness, Love. Temperance &c, sing
ing. tll they reached their places, the hymn,
with chorus, PIN the Ranks for Your
SAVIOUR ana Your King" As they passed
in their gifts Tor Oii-Aarket Han scholars
were laid upon table prepared 70 receive
The donations % the schools for that purpose.
After all were seated the larger school sang
an opening anthem, 60, the Christmas
Time" with refrain.
Ring ye bells, choral bells.
Ring aloud your tunefui chime;
Christ b. born. Prince of Fea0e.
Light aud Joy OF every cline
Readiug of Scripture and PRAYER by the
SUPERINTENDENT vas followed by a second
Christmas hymn.
The infant class repeated by memory in
concert Scripture verses selected for the 0cca-
sion. and rose and sang
joy 10 ths world he Lord hss come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let e.ery hearL plepafe him room,
Aul Heaven and nature sing
The speakers were Masters Eddie NscoD,
John Blunt, Lewis Eiilr. Willie Cooke. Well
ford Lorraine. and Misses Mary James, Lulie
Pierce, Conway Elh Macon. Emma LOr-
ralne. and Etic Holmes These stepped t.
the entrance u the snow IA ..e and won
hearty applause by the very cr.l ltable man
ner no Which they spoke ther pieces, some
OF them being not over from four tOfiX years
Oh. The whole class repcsied. in concert,
the Old Lymn, while shepherds watched
their n0cks ~ nisht,' aGd then rose and
-snr. "Ring, Ring, We merry beli'," 10
which they kept admirable time with the IT,
tie bells in each ones hand.
A rrge number Of przes were given 10
the larger scholars, ana then the snow
Queen presented a gin 90 each one r. they
h.ed our, aud another Christmas cad made
little heart, glad.
REUNION OF Y0CNG PtoWE.
It hss been Che custom ot the second Hap
ii.t church 20 hold 30 annual relniou OF the
entire congregation 10 this time oi the year,
but thi. yer o. was deemed hest % restrict
the entertainment 90 the young people. The
lermrc-room was filed la.t night with youths
and madcns. and an occasional married cou-
pie here and there t0 chaperon the company
Words of welcome were spoken Icy Mayor
Elly,on. one of the teachers IN the Sunday
school. after Whicl an excellent programme
of instrumental music was rem nlered uy lar
deilA's band. with vocal piece, by Mes,rs.
Watkins aud Lei-vich. Between the pieces
and after the close OF the regular programme
social intercourse. rr0mruadins, ard mutual
good fellowship filed lp The merry hours.
Nr. Charles W. Tanner. tle chairman oi Tie
Young Peoples Committee. acted as host,
aided 10y s. select corps oi assistants. tne oi
the most interesting features oi the evening
vas the presentation hy the Willing Work.
ers society t0 tle Hon. &C. h. Ellysoa. su-
pcrmterdent 0t the sunday school for over
iorty wears. ~ % sGperhly-eXecu'ed sin
.,cra1v quilt" Isch square in the qulii was
the Eanlwork OK some former pupil OF the
superintendent About II o'clocs the com
pany dissolved into couples and "cnded their
way homcwari, pron0urcing the reuaion