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

General Observance of the Day-Decora-
tions of Holly and Cedar-Stately Music
Sermon and Song and Christmas Trees
at the Churches Celebrate the Advent of
the Worlds Redeemer - The Spirit of
Charity Brings Happiness to the Weary
and Heavy Laden.
In spite of falling rain, misty, foggy at
mosphere, and temperature that had in IT
little suggestion of Christmas time, the day
was generally observed in Montpelier. Bus-
ness was almost entirely suspended on
Monday, and, on Sunday and Monday, at
the several charches, the story of the birth
of Savior in the lowly manger at Bethe-
hem of Judea, the glad tidings of peace on
earth and good will toward men, and the
herading the advent of a worlds redeemer
by angelic choirs, was told in eloquent
discourse and triumphal music, while a
wealth of gifts on Christmas trees gladdened
the hearts of young and old The grateful
hearts of many people of Montpelier did not
forget the needy and unfortunate, and most
gratifying accounts have been received, ac.
companied by request that no mention be
made of them in the printed story of the
day, which show that not few destitute
families in the community, homes which
the depression of business and the wave of
adversity that has swept over the whole
country have left this year with empty
larders and sad hearts, have had cause to
bless the day our Savior was born. If these
ROOu uttuS 20 uuTtcOTutu mere, sure IL Is
that they have not escaped the notice of the
recording angel, and to those who have dis
tributed food, fuel and rament to the un-
fortunate ones of the village the "inasmuch
as We did il unto the least of one of these,
my brethren" must have new signid-
cance
BAPTIST CHURCH
There was the usual service Sunday
morning, with sermon by Rev. g. o.
Webster, the pastor, appropriate to the
season. Mr.. Webster preached from these
words, Thanks be unto God for his un-
speakable gift" Following is brief alb
stract: The Christmas time, when hearts
are stirred by the memory of what God has
done for the race, is good time to tell in
all simplicity the gospel story. Which of
the many gifts does the apostle here call the
" Unspeakable gift -? I" God in the person
of his Son hath all his mightiest works out
done" Jesus Christ stands alOne-God's
greatest gift to man. We prize gifts first,
because of their inherent value. Christ is
Gods "unspeakabe gift" both because
he is the highest expression of Gods love,
and because of what he is in himself to the
heart that has by faith received him.
Taking up this latter thought, QD Christ is
the unspeakabe gift of God because of his
relation to our salvation. Man is lost to
himself, to humanity, TO God. OF himself,
apart from divine intervention, he can not
effect his salvation. Through Christ a way
is opened that is accessible to all. While,
under existing conditions, many will have
to go without the usual Christmas gifts, yes
and even without the necessities of life, the
best gift of God is within the reach of all.
(2) Christ is the unspeakable gift of God be-
cause of his relation to every other gift OF
God, both to the special blessings OF Gods
providence and to those blessings that are
universally bestowed. All come through