The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-31
THE Old And THE NEW
How Evangelical Churches
Will Speed the PART
ing, and Welcome
the Coming Year.
COFFEE AND cAKEsATM Mr.. LIrTLE,s
Love Feast at Simpson N. E.
Special New Years Services
Local Church Gossip.
COFFEE AND CAKEsAT MR.. LITTLE's

The custom OF watching the old year
out and the new year In is as old as the
divisions of the calender. At whatever
season the nations of the ancient world
placed the opening Of the year. at that
time there were always those who
watched with that which was dying, aud
welcomed that which had just arrived.
With the advent OF Christianity, the GUS
tom took on a new aspect. It was then a
solemn vigil, kept by those who knew not
at what hour the end of the world night
be at hand, to whom the year that was
dawning was the last for the earth before
the arrival of the millennium. The early
Christians kept the night with fasting
and prayer, and the exnortation of the
elders. AS the years went BY and the
generation of the martyrs passed away,
the observance of the day became less
general. and was kept alive rather by the
family than by the church.
At the time when the wave of Dissen-
sion passed over England and the stern in
fiuence of the Pnrftans was felt SO strong
ly among the common people. the custom
OF the midnight watch was revived, as
was indeed any opportunity for fasting,
vigil and public prayer. From that time
on, the dissenting churches have observed
the day in some degree, a although the
Methodist Episcopal Church does by far
the greater part of the observance.
ORDER OF SERVICES.
The usual watch night" begins at
nine or half-past nine p. NJ, with gospel
hymns and prayer. The pastor breaches
a sermon on the duties and responsible
Ties OF the new year, after which bread
and water. the customary love FEAST is
pacGnd Wha nrrtnraffnn tba. -,ritA ~.
hymns. prayer and relation of religious
experiences. until the ringing of bells
tells of the death of the old year, when
all kneel in silent prayer, At the last
stroke of twelve there Is a general hand
shaking. congratulations and good
wishes are i~ntercnanged, n the meet
lug is at an end.
The Moravian Church dlspenses with
bread and water, Offering instead coffee
and cakes. The Rev. G. E. Little, while
stationed in The vicinity of Bethlehem,
Pa, learned this custom from the Mo
ravlan brotherhood, and will introduce
it tonight at Ghe Lafayette M. e.
Church, where services will begin at
nine 2. M. The Kings Daughters will
prepare the refreshments and the Kings
Sons will serve them.
There will be a real old-fashioned
watch-night service at Simpson M. f.
Church, tomorrow night. Rev. D. Hal
leron. the pastor, believes in keeping up
the time-honored institutions OF the
church. and will carry out the usual pro-
gramme to the letter. Praise service will
commence at half past hine P. M. The
pastor will preach at ten o'clock. and at
the clusion of his sermon, above feast''
will continue until midnight. Doors will
be closed at half past eleven P. M, so
that nothing will disturb the solemnity
of the hour. Similar meetings will be
ho1l IN h a.pf lofk4d;~fE l.. D.
DIR. HEISIG'S HURCH.
The First Baptist Church, Grove street,
near Mercer, will commence the new
year. by holding a prayer meeting tomor-
row morning from seven to eight O'Clock.
At that time the pastor. IN accordance
with his usual custom, will give a text
as a motto for the year. This church will
also observe the week of prayer, except
on Monday night. A cordial invitation
is eXtende to all.