Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-01-01
Christmas at ST. Paul's Church.

| CHulClA, " ouCItOWH, O0ucTSOu COuIiCy
Wis. Beautiful, impressive and devout
services were held in this church on
! Christmas. These were fifty preluded
| by the first vespers on the eve, and
were ushered in on Christmas morn
ing by most reverent and devout eel
ebration of the Holy Eucharist at the
early hour of 6 A. NJ, goodly number
of the faithful being in attendance and
receiving.
The church was decorated in exquis-
lite taste and most churchly style. A
handsome framed rood screen spanned
the archway between the choir and
the chancel, tastefully trimmed with
evergreens and surmounted by cross,
on each side of which the upper bar
was finely fringed with row of lovely
lights, nine on a side-a unique and
beautiful piece of decoration never be-
fore excelled in this lovely little church.
Back Of the altar, which was tastefully
trimmed with evergreens, hung snow
white dossal barred and dotted with
ground pine and arbor vitae, above
which rose, equally beautiful with
blended green and white, three neat
upper bar. The choir rails and front
were trimmed with equal taste and
beauty with the finest evergreens, upon
a ground of snowy white, the whole,
looking toward the altar, forming a
tout ensemble, to which we are quite I'M
able to do full Justice These decora-
tons remain in place until the Feast of
the Publication, Feb. L.
Morning prayer and the high cele-
bration were held at 1920 A. NJ, the
reverend rector being the preacher and
celebrant. The musical programme,
which, departing from the custom of
displaying only the more artistic parts
of ''the performance, we give quite in
full, was as follows: Professional,
clark! the Herald Angels" Mendel-
sohn; Venite, tone V, 5, Rouen Media
ton; TIE Deum, in G., Whitney; Bene-
dictus, Tonus Regius; introit, angels
from the Realms of Glory" Smart;
Kyrie, Gounod; Gloria Tibi, Tails;
hymn 26, "Calm on the Listening Ear
of Night" Dykes Sursum Corda,
Preface and Sanctus, Camidge; COM
munion hymn, 205; Gloria in Excelsis
(old chant; Nunc Dimittis, Tonus Re-
gius; occasional, "Come Hither, We
Faithful" Reading 1922. The music
was finely rendered by vested choir
of twenty young men and boys, under
the direction of Mr. G. S. Hawley; Mr..
Alva Thompson, precentor; Miss Ella
Brickell presiding at the organ, and
the solos being taken by Messrs. Haw-
ley, Thompson and Parr and Master
Brickell. This vested choir, by the
way, is the Oldest in the state, and has
been accorded the post of honor in the
al fac off Lei III
the choir and its leaders deserve great
praise for what they have accomplished
in the last half year. The only criti-
cism we venture to pass on their sing
ing is, that the musical programme was
rendered too much, perhaps, as sim
pie act of worship, and not quite enough
as an artistic performance for "the en-
tertainment of an elegant and appre-
ciative audience"
The service was largely attended, and
the sermon set forth in a somewhat
original manner the divine origin, pur-
ity, peace and power of the happiness
secured by the gospel, as contrasted
with all earthly delights, and was lis
tened to with the characteristic atten-
ton and interest of ST. Paul's congre-
CATION.
St, Paul's church Sunday School fes-
tival was held on Friday, Holy limo
cents Eve. The exercises commenced
promptly at Z P. NJ, and were conduct
ed with praiseworthy dispatch, closing
before O'Clock. The Sunday School
entered in in procession from the
chapel, singing hymn. After this fol-
lowed a short church service, which
was closed by pleasing carol. The
rector then added few remarks to the
Sunday School, and explained the
method adopted in apportioning the
choir-boy rewards. The Christmas tree
having then been lighted, the distribu-
Jewell, Fred Prentice, w Judd and Geo.
Prentice officiating, and Masters Geo.
Roper, Arthur Mulberger, Ed. Brickell,
and Arthur Beck acting as pages, all
doing their work very handsomely.
DIR. Jewell then distributed the several
sums in the apportionmento of $50, which
had been generously given in bequest
by member of the vestry for that pur-
pose, to the various members of the
choir, including the organist and organ
blower, the sums ranging from rs cents
upward to 1910, the highest amounts,
1910, being reached by Masters Ralph
Eberle and Arthur Mulberger. He an
nounced the pleasing fact, that the
same gentleman had pledged $50 more
to be distributed in like manner at
Easter, adding the hope that some
others, as generously disposed, would
| make up what, from the increased size
ofsthe choir and their greater effort,
would be necessary. to carry out the
proposed plan. 1t is an interesting
fact that this was the twentieth ami
versary of the organization of St. Paul's
vested choir; and it speaks well for the
parish, that it not only instituted the
first choir of the kind in the state, but
has sustained it so long without break
The work of collecting the funds and
preparing for the festival, was done by
its most faithful and indefatigable teach
ers, Mrs. Schwieger, Mrs. Altrogge and
the Misses Harger, Norris, Brown and
Jewell. Others of the teachers, but for
their necessary absence, would doubt
less have rendered excellent help. I'M
portant aid was given also by few
ladies of the parish. Too much praise
cannot well be given to the young men,
Messrs. Jewell, Prentice and Judd, on
whom, in addition to other help, fell
all of the heavy work. A crowded and
deeply interested congregation was in
attendance. The whole affair proved