Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-12-27
THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.

! THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
II, Happy aud Proper Observance b,
the HrnttlcbOro Churches aud sunday
schools.
But little Of the traditional Christmas an.
pearauce in the outer world could be dis
covered by anyone in Wednesday, the 2jth.
when the warm, soft air and bright sunshine
combined to make rarely beautiful day
for mdwinter But if Father Time did
make blunder and drop a lovely spring
day into the heart Of winter, there was no
mistake made about the celebration of the
most joyous aud beautiful festival Of the
whole year, aud the Christmas spirit per.
vaded the town
As usual, or perhaps in some instances
with little more elaborate observance
than usual, the festival Of the Christ-chid's
hirth was kept IN the local churches, the
pastors Of most Of them bringing before
their people on Sunday last, in some phase
or other, the event which the Christmas
time celebrates, and the various choirs rem.
derlng anthems and hymns appropriate in
character.
Briefly stated the Sunday services were
as follows: Rev. Mr.. Sprague at the Uni
Vtrsallst church presented AS his theme
| ~ iiH' iii'HlbuN Iullutnte OF CnfIstfnas.
taking his text from Matthew II, H. The
concert program for the evening, The
| Leading of the Star, was pronounced one
OF the very best ever given by the Sunday
| school, and included some very pretty reel
! tatlons and readings As well AS the carols
! "hich form so important part Of "A Christ
! mas concert always. The trimmings of the
church, Of evergreen and holly, were
tasteiully arranged At the Methodist
church Rev. Mr. Smthers delivered a ser
mon of unusual excellence and little ont
OF the line Of Christmas sermons in gener.
al, ms subject being The Umspaakable
'ihV Inc morning service at the Bap.
tlst church was Of dedicatury ma ure but |
IN the evening the beautiful old story was |
told again 10y Rev Mr. Parry. showing
how Jesus the Christ was Emmanuel CioJ |
"ith US and how the happy season en-
forces lessons Of brotherhood and pence
me congregational church was bright with
hoIiy, blpssoming plants and evergreen
hhd iull OF brightness and the holiday spir.
1t was the sermon Of Pastor Day as he
brought to his people the Gospel of Heart
and Hand Christmas concert was civ.
en- IN t.s evening, much after the usual
pan, NI'h carols, readings. class recita
ions christmas story and other pleasant
ira' :. The Unitarian people considered
'' ~ i7Alild0 'i'l~ltI III Lle Nineteenth
century. Rev. Mr. Phalen showing that
the Christmas gospel must be modified To
SUIT the changed conditions Of the age. as
every age has conceived Christ and his gos
pei IN different way and this was illus
uHted by the change IN the art conception
81 Ihrlst from the time Of the old masters
down to the present day The evening
was devoted 10 the rendering of a special
service Of carols and responsive readings {
aud little talk to the children bv the pas 3
TOR On the Christ child The music given ,
10y double quartet was Of special merit
At It Mchaels Episcopal church the
great festival oil the Nativity was appro- g
priately observed The church was nav., I
more beautifully decked for Christmas
service and unusually large numbers Of
""rshippers wa, present The music was
rendered 10y the boy choir. assisted by "A g
male quartet and with Mrs Shery,iu at the I
organ and Mr. Simpson %, director this ;
important part Of the service was most >
reditahly given. On Christmas eve a ser a
wee was held, aud uu Christmas nnruinu I
At 1870 the children uf the parish OPENED Is
me service with carols followed hy iuoru Il
ng prayer. oh"rally rendered The ser
mon 10y the rector. Rev Mr Collins was il
rom lisa IN. .. 'bf the increase Of his 81
government aud peace there shall be uo II
ma Christ S kingdom in the world was "a
'"irrrvd 10. It's perpetuitv. its growth anil
&, peace being the line, of tb,p,,b, I'll Z,
owed, dwelling especially upon the sacred M
citations OF the fatherhupd Of tod and tn. X
brotherhood Of man At II Michael, Ro {,
ma" 'hth'lir church the newly placed mar ct
Ne altar AMI the side affairs were elaborate "
\ decorated. aud at midnight lambilott.',
lass IN d was celebrated new Ave Ma
VA by 0rmudlrr, heiug rendered "w
lass Wa celebrated At : urlogL,. - high ~
lass again at 1880 ~ ~ ;,..n ar'
lon from $tV..p.-- 80 % 'h' va s.T,u. on
-'u ~ Milard - 7hluuh''7 NO. -
an, Fryo" hy Gurh. Inc ~ WITH the -
,,;,,alv ,in- -, making "a festlva! Tor '"'
l. .,1par folk The exercises at the 9''
m ',rrgational cnurchou Wednesday even
, were especially happy in their selection =
"A execution. the member, Of the sunday go,
bonl furnishing q program of varied char ~
Tor the most taking feature being the w.
ven or eight night sowned. night capped -.
nv folks who we're Watching Tor santa
aus " and whose waiting Was rewarded, =
Il by the appearance of the Jolly old saint - -
1t by an adjournment 10 the chapel where IL
,e handsome tree. was stripped ot ITS load MA
-hile these festivities were gong on the
artist neighbors across the way were EN-
wing the evening To- the full tArly III oh
ie evening the younger children we're ia
.rv.d with "A light lunch, after which, IN ''
h. chanel below. they furnished most en-
,yAble little entertainment of Christmas ~
boruses and rccitation, Then the chiI- ia
rem themselyr, were amused with fe" -
tereopticon views but the best Of all was
.vealed by the removal Of thu hlg screen bl
a loaded tree furnished 10y cerlalu 'a' VI
learted individual as surprise TO tne Gnu IN, IT
lreu, and It was fully Appreciated. ING -
dethpiIst people a's' 't',5''Eri - -, -
program by the children, assisted nN the "
'hoir, the TWO trees WEI ! -. 1t
=. -, H., =, ,Iistrihut., the gifts At n
-. 4 NJ. l.U last avrnin, vocal and in
ne" nv" ""'' ~, .,,.;,- a,,I a liz.
- "'-''" IN. 1T Il R,,. for all Of