Morning journal and courier., 1891-12-26
FAIR HAVEN NEWS.

The CnflStmaS D0y VDSefVanCes-
 Festivities in Many Churches
 Business Suspended For the Great
 Holiday.
 It was anything but old-fashioned Christmas weather yesterday, but the wretched weather tended to keep the peo- pie home, and there was the more of fire side cheer. The stores closed in the fore noon and business was generally suspend ed. The postofice closed at noon. Fair Haven letter carriers although having 8 half holiday, were tired people last night. They were late on their routes, and we'll they might be, for they were just loaded down with gifts for hundred of homes. Quite good company attended the mat inees and the evening performances at the theaters, and a number of the gunners at tended the shoot of the Gun club, juve- niles enjoyed games of ball, but the pro verbal Christmas skating was lacking.
 At the Christmas Sunday. school enter tainment of the Grand avenue Baptist church, the pastor of the church, Rev. E. c. Sage, was presented by the beginners class with handsome study desk; Mrs. Sage received pictured framed in oak from the same class; Superintendent o. J. Hull was presented with an umbrella and there were many gifts from teachers to classes and visa versa.
 At St. James, church instead of the Christmas entertainment there will be a tree loaded with gifts for the Sunday school with appropriate exercises on New Years eve.
 On Sunday evening at the M. E. church the Christmas praise service, postponed from one week ago by the illness of some of the choir members, will be given. There will also be praise service at the Grand avenue Congregational church.
 Owing to illness among the people of the Second Congregational church, the Sunday school entertainment has been postponed until next week.
 There was large attendance at all of the masses at St. Francis Catholic church yesterday morning. Rev. Fathers Mulhol- land, Shanley and OConnor oficiated. The altars, illumined by hundreds of Christmas candles, looked very pretty. There was also a representation of the babe of Bethlehem in manager. A ves- per service was held at 7:30 D. m. Choris- ter William J. Rohan conducted the mu- sic, as he has for so many years on simi- lar occasions. The program of music has been printed in this paper. The soloists were Miss Mary Maloney, Miss Mamie Dwyer. Miss Maria Curley, Miss Lizzie Geary, Miss Rohan, John J. Donahue, Frank Maleney and John Dwyer.
 The house of St. Ignatius T. A. & B. so- ciety, on Ferry street, was open all day and many friends of the members were enter tained.
 There were the usual Christmas morn ing services at St. James and Grace Epis- copal churches, with special programs of music.
 Last evening the East Pearl street M. E. church was crowded at the annual Christ mas festivities for the children of the Sun day school. Around and in front of the pulpit platform evergreens were lavishly used in decorations, and the display was very effective. The pulpit having been removed, house about 10 feet square had been erected, under the direction of Stew art Morgan, who conceived the plan and performed most of the work. Within this house were hundreds of gifts for the chil- dren. A Santa Claus becomingly costumed descended the big chimney, and after warming himself at mimic fire in 8 fire place, with old fashioned andirons in front, he distributed the gifts to the delighted children. The roof of the house was white, and represented winter scene. Besides the gift making there was an excellent program of exercises, including music and speaking, which completed the successful festival.
 Charles Robinson is very low with pneu- monia.