The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-12-27

|
and life, in this sublime doxology: Thanks
be unto God for his unspeakable gift" and
our lives most truly express thanks to God |
only AS they 90 out in activity along the line |
of Gods thought for the elevation--for the
salvation-of the race, On Thursday evening |
there was concert given by the children |
| in which all the parts were well taken, after |
| which the trees were stripped of their load |
of gifts for the Sunday-school. The fire.
/ place and chimney, which had been built |
! for the convenience of Santa Claus, we're |
| then torn down, and the bricks, filed with |
candy, were given to all. The substantial
present, in the way of purse of money,
which came the pastors way, will help him
to have Merry Christmas" The house
was tastefully decorated.
BETHANY CHURCH
The stately arches and stained windows
of Bethany church were skillfully decorated
with wreaths and loops of evergreens last
Sunday morning, when a large congrega-
tion gathered to listen to Rev. DR.. Seaver
and the fine musical programme which had
been especially prepared for the occasion.
The programme published last week was
rendered in the finished manner that might
have been expected from tn ladies and
ntlemen who compose the choir. Dr..
Seaver preached a polished and scholarly
discou sc from the words, And it came to
pass as the angels were gone away from
them into heaven the shepherds said one to
another, let us now 90 even unto Bethlehem
duu see IUlS Inl0g WDlCn Is come TO pass
which the Lord hath made known unto u.s."
In the evening Sunday-school concert
was held. The Choic was assisted by w. II.
Holton with cornet and Miss Eva Clark
with violin. A miscellaneous programme
was rendered, consisting of anthems by the
choir scripture reading by Rev. DR.. Seaver;
an exercise, entitled, "A Christmas Tree
for the Christ Child" bv little folks read
ngs by Misses Kate Smith Blanche Kelton
. and Anna Guernsey. The cantata, The
Spanfpr NC hrAn nfp, Att htrt tla
choir and school in a manner that was
highly creditable. On Monday evening,
the exercises connected with the distribu-
ton of gifts from the Christmas trees were
held in the vestry. w. II. Holton was
( presented with a handsome etching in
recognition of his acceptable services as
cornetst, and G. II. More, the Sunday
school superintendent, also remem-
bered with fine etching. After the trees
+. had been despoiled of their fruit much
. amusement was caused by the operation Of
L Dutch windmill, ingeniously arranged so
that it ground out packages of candy for
/ the children.
T. CHRIST CHURCH.
The Christmas festival of the Sunday
: school took place at six o'clock, Sunday
u evening. The service was full choral, and
= was beautifully rendered by the choir, rec
{ tor and members of the school. The SER
!, vices opened with a Christmas anthem by
u a the choir, followed by the first carol, " Sing
= Y Z tne songs OF IrdlSe. Among tne Otner
u u carols particularly noticeable for the beauty
g of their rendering were " Christ is Born Of
q Maiden Fair" :" Holy Night" and " We
Z Three Kings of Orient" For an offertory,
! the choir sang, TT Came Upon the Mid.
night Clear" Rev. A. n. Lewis, the rector,
h gave brief but interesting address to the
y children, which was enjoyed by the older
r heads as well, and the pleasant duty of dis
: tributing the gifts from the Christmas tree
t. and awarding the prizes was next in order.
Etr1t r,rirn for 1lar nttn lann or
3, Sunday-school were awarded to Bessie
st Bowers, James n. Peck, Nellie Moulton,
n May Mansfield, Mollie Dewey, Sadie Bow
ers and james Dewey; second prizes to
" Robert Phinney, Perley Holden, Ray Huse
r and Kate Blackwell third prizes to Sallie
Oviatt and Edith Roberts. A special prize
l, for attendance at morning service was
n awarded to Bessie Bowers. The interior Of
e, the church was prettily decorated with
d spruce and cedar, evincng the rare good
= taste of the ladies who had the matter in
I'd charge The finished manner in which the
9, musical programmes, Sunday evening and
~ Christmas day, were rendered was most
Id creditable to II. Fl. Scribner, the director
n and again demonstrated his ability as
v leader in such matters. Christmas morn
RS ing there was early celebration of the com
1. munion at eight, with service, sermon and
le holy communion at half-past ten.
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH
Pulpit, choir gallery, organ and chande
liers were decorated with evergreens and
holly at the Church of the Messiah last Sun
day morning, when services that had es
a. pecial reference to Christmas were held
c, The musical programme published las
es week was rendered with fine effect by tn,
OF choir under the leadership of f. w. Ban
of croft. Rev. j. Edward Wright, the pastor
ry read brief selections attestng honor anC
reverence for Jesus from Theodore Parker
~ Lecky, Renan, Emerson, Goethe and Jetfer
n son. He also gave as his address to tn
av children, customary at each Sunday morn
y? ing service an account of the exercises at
m happy distribution of Christmas gifts t.
at destitute children in Berlin, Germany, whicl
IN he attended last year. The text of tn
Ie morning discourse was from the eleventh
an chapter of Matthew, from the second to tn
ha sixth verses, inclusive. AS Jesus in his re
ar ply to the messengers of John the Baptist
MT appealed to facts, so the speaker made, il
a his behalf, an appeal to the facts of histor.
ed as justifying the observance of Christ's ma
mi tivity with special honor throughout Christ
,ot endom. Not that we attribute all honor t.
,st Christ, ,-nany other agencies have been a
,c work. But the moral change wrought in
he few centuries in the Roman empire, whic
he was briefly sketched, was so closely con
te nected with the influence of Christ's gospel
oh that it is fair to call modern civilization
Of Christian civilizations and justice demand
ia that its author should receive gratefu
Nv tributes from our hearts. In the evening
to Sunday-school concert was held. w. G
ga Andrews, the superintendent, was suiferin
ia with severe cold, and was assisted by j
he Eli Goodenough. The programme include
is2 ise the singing of Sing, o Heavens" 9Th
n- ro- Babe of Bethlehem and Hark, Hark
ch with Harps of Gold,' by the choir; carol
az by the school; responsive readings, and rec
III, tations as follows Welcome" Harli
Darling; Bennie's Request, Charlie Stod
dard An Old Story" Carrie Silver
" Christmas Bells" Rennie Luke "Th
ay Voice of the Christ Child" Lucia Bailey; an
y. " How Love Came" by Alice Blanchard
ne A carol, Slowly Fell the Snow Flakes,
se by Miss Clark's class, and an exercise, "Te
~ Us the Story" by Mrs. Harlow NJ. Smith
% % class and Chester Wright. were deeply in
'ts teresting and finely rendered. Rev. j. Ed
as ward Wright read Pastor Raymonds Sci
III mon," which mostened many eyes. o
,ol Tuesday evening, the children of the Sur
ne day school were made glad by the distrbu
oh tion of gifts from two well-fruted trees /
A.. the vestry.
.t ST, AUGUsTINEs CHURCH.
is In the presence of large and devout cor
se gregation, Christmas was ushered in b
"a ] "a anl mi iubt m at nai