The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-01-01
CHRISTMAS CHEER.
The Hearts of Many Young and
Old People Made Glad by
Gifts From the Hands
of Cheerful Givers.
An Account of the Services in
Churches.


the Christmas tree and Santa Claus
-sfor their presents. The churches
have done nobly along the line of as
sisting those of their congregations
and otherwise as will be seen from
the accounts chronicled below. The
children entered into the scheme
most heartily and did all in their
= power to make it real merry Christ
mas. Their central thought seemed
to be: SIT is more blessed to give than
to receive"
METHODIST CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal church
was packed on Thursday night
with young and old and every face
was lit up with smile that de-
noted happiness and good will.
The committee in charge had dec
Grated the church and had ladened
two immense Christmas trees with
gifts to make many heart glad.
The entertainment consisted Of
singing and speeches and was heartily
appreciated by the large audience.
The novel feature of the evening
was the distribution of gifts by 1.-THE
Brownies" who went through the au-
dience dressed in gay costumes and
made everybody happy.
Christmas morning the Junior
League of the church, under the di-
rection of the Superintendent, Miss
Mary Grannis, and their president,
! Roy Hudson, distributed large num-
/ Der Of baskets well filed with cakes,
pies, fruit, etc, TO those elderly per-
sons and young children who were
/ confined to their homes by sickness
/ and other adverse circumstances.
/ The committee esteem their acts as
bringing to them more Joy and glad
ness than any other Christmas they
ever participated in. In fact, it was
a double blessing to them to see the
welcome face and listen to the heart
felt expressions Of those who received
at their hands.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
This beautiful edifice was brilliant
+ Illuminated Christmas eve for the
purpose Of celebrating the festal sea-
son. by making the hearts of the lit
tie ones glad and at the same time
bring comfort and JOY to those who
have grown gray in the service. The
interior Of the church was gaily dec
grated with 'holly," and presented a
view that could not but be admired
by everybody present, AT an early
hour there were recitatiOnS, speeches
and singing in the church proper, and
at the close Of the exercises the as
semblage adjourned to the chapel
where refreshments were served and
a general good time enjoyed. Yes
o terday morning committee went out
and distributed food, fruit and other
nice things and made a number of
families glad by their presence and
offerings. To them it was day that
they will remember for all time to
come.
LNANGELlCALftd l XIII.
The entertainment given by the
Sunday school of the above church,
situated on North Second street, was
a grand and complete success. The
exercises conducted by Aron Schmidt
were exceedingly interesting and
suggestive. The chair, under the
leadership of Mr.. 5. T. Simon per-
formed excellent work and added
materially to the program.
The Christmas tree was brilliantly
Illuminated and displayed to an adj
vantage the presents that hung there
on. The audience could not but
highly appreciate the efforts of the
young people to make it real, genu-
inc Merry Christmas.
CoNGREGATIoNALC CHURCH.
The attendance at the Congrega-
tional church festivities was large,
considering the inclemency of the
weather. The affair was conducted
by the children of the Sabbath school.
A lunch was served and each one who
partook felt that it was good to have
been there. As in two of the other
churches, goods were collected and
handed over to a committee who dis
tributed them to the unfortunate and
thus were enabled to send gladness
and sunshine into many homes that
otherwise would have been cherries
and dark.
GERMAN LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The school connected with this
church gave an excellent exhibition
Thursday might which consisted OF
addresses and singing of an excellent
character A Christmas tree ladened
with good things gladdened the hearts
of the children present.
WEST AIANKATO SWEDISH LUTHERAN
CHURCH. G
The festive season was thoroughly