The Sunday morning news., 1891-12-20
CH2IS9MAS ANTHEMS.
Extensive Musical Prepara-
tions for the Great
Festival.
WHAT THE CHURCHES ARE DOING.
Fair and Merry Workers Weaving
Decorations With Deft and
Busy Fingers-Notes
of Interest.
WHAT THE CHURCHES ARE DOING.

Christmastide means a great deal to
our churches nowadays. 1t means decor
ations of fir and eroundpine, masses of
glossy leaved holly. studded with scarlet.
and words of peace and benediction
formed in letters of living green. All
this means also vast amount OF plan
ming and arranging on the part of the
decorators, and fingers scratched by hid
den thorns or bruised by misdirected
hammers, as the devoted church worker
hies her to the top OF lofty ladder with
her mouth full of tacks and drapes the
garlands of green.
And Christmas meaps drilling the choir
for days and weeks beforehand, until
soprano, alto, tenor and bass know their
respective parts well enough to sing them
backward with perfect ease. aud until the
hoy who pumps the organ at rehearsals
Uf there be no water-mOtoi), and who has
no music in mis- soul, wlsaes that the
choir would sing something else for
change. And apropos OF anthems, 1t Is
with due sense of its Importance and
with no spirit of irrevereuce that the writer
would commend TO the attention of
Christmas choirs in general the following
anecdote:-
Said Sailor Ben to Sailor Tom, "Ship-
UiHlt, Wildb IL HHutHeD! OiIlof lOui
yep.ied:-"Suppose you was to say to me.
Tom. give me haudspike.' Well, that
wouldn't be hauthem. But suppose
you was to say:-'Tonl. Tom, Tom, give
give me a, give me, me han-han hand
spike, spike, give me q han, a handsnike,
spike. give me sliEe, Tom, Tom. Tom,
give me handspike. spike, SPIKE, ah
men, spike. ah.men-men, au-men'-tldt
would be a hnnthem."
MUSICAL SERVICES
The choirs of our city will rem
der excellent programmes on the 9th.
next Sunday AT the Park Reformed
Church, Rev. Walter I. Griffin, pastor.
the quartette choir, under the direction
of Mr.. Joseph Posnanski, will maintain
the high reputation 1t has always en-
joved An elaborate programme will pe
rendered by Miss Eleanor Buchanan, So
pranc; Miss Jessie +. Smith. alto; Mr.. L.
L. Woltshire, bass. and Mr.. Henry Cas-
tens, tenor Miss Buchanan's clear
soprano voice will be heard to
advantage in several arias. At the
North Baptist Church, Jersey avenue and
Fourth street. Mr.. William Iuwright,
organist and conductor. has prepared an
interesting programme, which would in
itself be sufficient attraction without the
additional fact that in all probability,
the Rev. George w. Nicholson, the erst-
while pastor. will leave his Saratoga pas
iorate to preach the sermon. Mr..
Tuomas p Sherwood, chorlster of
the Lafayette Reformed Church, has
arrayed an excellent service, which will
be ably interpreted by Mrs. c. Howard
Slater, soprano; Mrs. j. H. Brensinger.
contralto; Mr.. W. H. Low, Mr.. Max
Fackert and a chorus choir. Mr.. Louis
Sherwood, who is known as one of Jersey
City's finest organists. will play at both
services. Organi>t Preston OF the Bergen
Baptist Church has been practising for
days past on the Christmas music, aud
H.. g Ill
down quiet Madison avenue of after
moons, while Deacon Charles Reed,
cborister of the Sunday School,
has spent much time and labor
over musical and literary
programme for his young charges. Aud
speaking of Sunday school entertain
ments, that given by the Hedding NJ. E.
Church last Thursday night was we'll
worth seeing aud reproducing. A num-
ber of young ladies in staJuesque Greek
gowns, led by Miss Seguine, executed be-
witching poses, and broom exercise was
a pretty feature. but the crowning event
was alive Doll Saow," where seven
teen tots, dressed to represent various
dolls. were exhibited, much as de-
scrined in last Sundays NEWS. by Miss
Ramsay, The entertainment was under
the charge of Miss WEIGH, aud as its OBJ
iect was the raising of funds wherewith
TO buy Christmas presents. its notice is
not out of place in this connection, Al
though the second Presbyterian Church.
Third street and Jersey avenue, last week
celebrated its fortieth anniversary, it has
not yet outgrown its Christian charity.
The Rev. Alexander McKelyey believes
in putting into practice the dictum 1T is
more bles4 ell to give than to receive" "and
so each Christmas, instead of receiving
presents from Christmas tree, the Sun
day school pupils each bring an offering.
and the combined results equip several
Inv v or tha Snntn
The pupils Of the Emory NJ. E. Church
Sunday School will receive boots instead
of the customary candy and oranges, and
the Lafayette Reformed Sunday School
teachers are each given an appropriation
to purchase gifts suitable for their pupils.