Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-27

committee OK the cuuScns
| AZ 10 o'clock tho exercises commvncen :,
| good style by the choir and the HUNDREDS
tof young. fresh, sweet voices among the
Pravs- was delivered by Mr.. Miles Tur-
pin. now in his seventy sixth year, who has
been member of the school thirty-eignt
years.
how from the Western Union Company adj
| vanced down the main aisle and presented
| 10 Superintendent Johnson telegram,
| which, after having been receipted Tor, ne
| read. as follows, much to the wonder ana
delight Of the little folks.
A MESSAGE PROM SANTA CLAUS.
Mr.. johnson announced that the mes
sage was from Santa Claus:
M Dear Children and Friends: Promptly
at Ia o'clock last night l started out from
my realms in the far-oh frozen world with
abundant supplies of Christmas cheer ana
goodies for ell. Iam now many miles from
| home and hope soon to arrive at dear old
! Lsigh-Street church and meet you N the
basement, where we may exchange gifts
and rejoice together. The runners to my
| sleigh are smooth, my renders are as
| feet as the wind. and as crack my whip
and fly swiftly along the way, wonder to
myself ii all Of you have "a library envelope
L
| dimes ard quarters and dollars to deposit
| In the big basket as you march down two
by two and four by four to meet me in the
grand reception we will hold on my ar
rival down stairs. Help in the music,
listen attentively to the speeches, be
orderly and careful in your department,
| and thus we will spend together happy
Christmas-day and lay the foundation ior
| many more similar sweet reunions.
| ISipnedl SANTA CLAUS.
DIR. HATCHER sPBAKs.
After this another sweet song was sung,
when DR.. Hatcher stepped to the front
and delivered one Of his characteristic
| speeches, full of quiet humor and good.
sound sense, which was heartily enjoyed
by the entire assemblage. He commenced
| by stating that his first acquaintance with
| Leigh-Street was at similar entertain
| in 1853, thirty-three years ago. De CON-
| plimented Messrs. Miles Turpin and A. b.
| Clarke. who were present then and who
were present on this occasion. on looking
so fresh and vigorous. He urged his
| hearers to continue to labor, for the
| time to do good. he said, was short.
| In humorous language he stated. that
| Leigh-Streer school was In the habit of
| whipping his (Grace-Street) school, but
| that both schools were like sick children
before breakfast when the Pine-Street
school once forged ahead and downed them
both: but since then both the Leigh
Street and the Grace-Street schools had
gone to work and now Pine-Street was laid
| aside IN the shade. He would tell the
| Leigh-Streeters that Grace-Street was now
getting move on them and would soon
| whip the boys out of their boots
and the girls out of their slippers.
He acknowledged that LeIgh-Street
beat his school about Xmas times
1 I,,< he
the scholars before him to come here
every Sunday IN the year. and as for him.
self. if he was hoy he would come If he
had to hop on one heel, because If he did
not some people would say hs came on
| Christmas Just to get O present. IL he
| were teacher he would take O card and
put on 1t &C. G." opposite the name Of
| the scholar who fell off after the holidays.
and if asked what those letters meant
would reply that all such boys and girls
belonged to the Candy Crowd" He
closed his address by saying that ne re-
| joiced when Leigh-Street beat and he re-
| ioIced when Grace-Street beat-tnat both
were working for the Lords cause.
| A RECITATION BY Mr.. cHILDREY.
Mr.. Joseph Childrey then delivered in
excellent style very affecting recitation
peculiarly appropriate TO the day and the
occasion and TO which his hearers gave
| undivided attention.
Rev. Mr. Wright. pastor of the church,
| being called On responded to some o. DR..
Hatcher's remarks in happy manner, and
related several interesting and amusing in
cdents. During Mr.. Wrights speech his
little tot of boy followed him TO the foot
of the pulpit. and because his father did
not take him in ais arms and pet him he,
too. made his little speech and III a tone
that was audible to all. This incident
only added TO the good humor that pre-
vailed during the entire proceedings.
REPORTS CT THE OFFICERS.
The report of the Secretary was then
read. as follows: Officers and teachers on
roll, ~: scholars. $50; number of new
scholars during the year, u.s. number Of
conversions, a; number OF taptisms, IS :;
deaths. 3. Largest attendance Deem Der
18th. when go were present; smallest at
tendance March 22d (snow-storm), 1870.
| The Trea5urer5 report states that the re-
ceipts sor the year were S696.20: disburse-
ments, 1852, leaving a balance of Sli.2O.
A very large contribution was made to
the library fund. an immense basket
having been well filled by envelopes con-
tanning donations for that purpose, which
were dropped in rs the scholars filed out
Of the church.
ANOTHER TELEGRAM.
Just here Western Union messenger
boy advanced and presented to Superln-
tendent Johnson another telegram from
Santa Claus, which was read TO the little
ones as follows:
Ny Dear Children and Friends: | ad-
dress the children first. because / love
them most. Hurrah for all the children
anyhow Well, early this morning wired
you L was on my way, and now l have
arrived at Leigh-Street, and l tender you a
4 ..l ..
below, where | will receive you and hold a
royal gifC-reception. Do not forget the
words Of warning gave you earlier in the
day. / wish could shake each of you by
tho hand but it is against court etiquette
for me to do so; so shall have to content
myself with bowling and scraping and
throwing TO the right and left from the
tips of my fingers the sweetest kisses that
my lips know how to impress. May you
all have 4 blessed day and prosperous
new year May the reunion we are holding
to-day be the means of more deeply in
teresting you in the glorious Sunday school
work, and encourage you. by the help OF
| our dear Father above, to endeavor to do
your best during all the days of your life
to promote the interest of this great Sun
day-school. this grand church, and His
| cause here, there, and everywhere.
Faithfully your friend, SANTA CLAUS.
The assemblage then retired to the base
ment, and after beng seated Santa Claus
entered from side door, and having
briefly addressed his children, called to
his aid some of his assistants. who pre-
sented each person present, big and little.
with nice fancy box containing choice
candies, and plenty of it. And thus
closed most pleasant Christmas entertain
ment, and TO Mr.. George Schleif, who per-
sonated his Excellency Santa Claus. much
credit is due for the eminent success of the
occasion.
Third Presbyterian Sunday School.
The regular Christmas festival of the
Sunday school was held at p. NJ. in the
school-room. The programme included
recitations by four very little children,
distribution of rewards to merltorious
scholars. and the giving of confectioneries
to all. The feature of the evening was
the rendition of the cantata Catching
Kris Krlngle," which was highly enjoyed
by the large company present. 1t con.
sisted of sweet music and lively dialogue.
Notes and Announcements.
The children's entertainments of the
| Is Il.