Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-24
AT THE CHURCHES.
Christmas Services In the Various
Places Of Worship, Sunday.
Musical Programmes Rendered and Brief Ac.
count Of What Was Done.

In nearly all the churches special ser
vices appropriate for the Sunday previous
to Christmas were held, yesterday. and
were largely attended. Very few had
any decorations Of special note Several
fine programmes were provided, as the
list will show.
Free Baptist.
The singing at this church consisted Of
hymns suitable for Christmas and were
rendered by the congregation. Rev. E..
G. Hayes took for his text, We beheld
His glory" and in brief spoke as follows
"The glory Of Jesus was not of wealth
which few can share, for, The Son of Man
had not where to lay His head. It was
not of high estate and popular regard, for
He sat in fishers boat and was cradled
in manger. 1t was not glory for dim
cathedral aisles, but for the carpenter's
shop. The glory of a human life divinely
lived a glory in which we each may share.
"Christ's glory was in ideas, in love and
in devotion. AS the idea that all men are
created free and equal was slowly appre-
hended, but has wrought transforma-
tion in the nations, SO Christ's idea that
God is our Father and each one of us His
child, contains the plan of vaster trans
formation. 1t offers each a Godlike des-
tiny; calls for universal brotherhood of
love, made possible by kinship, with the
Father. But map is not a journey. Not
only His idea, but the souls response of
love, and above all, it's free devotion, like
His, who embraced the cross and bore it
to Calvary, these, too, they must share
who would partake of Christmas glory.
''In the words Of Scripture, we are
called to glory and virtue To be trans
formed into the same image from glory to
glory, Called to the obtaining of the
glory of our Lord Jesus Christ ITO be
conformed to the image of His Son that he
maybe the frstborn among many breth-
ren.' Ast
Miracles are the dollar stamp of the
currency of Heaven, the Divine life is the
gold Men were too ignorant to esteem and
receive the gold without these signs that it
came from Heaven; they are a lesser
glory; the human life divinely lived is the
glory meant by the text; the glory we
are called to share; indeed, it is the great
est miracle. This miracle God will en-
able us to work The word that stilled
the sea was seconded by power Divine
When human words are always words of
truth and love, they must be seconded by
power Divine, For it is God that worketh
in you to will and to do of His good pleas
ure.
"Herein is the joy of Christmas, that
then we see not cruelty and folly, but
God s gift of peace and righteousness and
though we had despaired for our poor
world, at Christmas time we hope again
for the reign of peace and righteousness
and joy;' gladness comes with the glory
of goodness. It is Christmas offer to us
each and the prophecy Of Christmas for
our world.
t' UniversaIist Church.
There was large congregation at this
church and the services were especially
fine The organ solos before the service
were: "Gloria,'' from Mozart's second
part; "Cujus Amman, from Rossini's
"Stabat; Alteration, from A. r. Gaul's
"The Holy City, postlude, "Gloria, y
from Mozart 18th mass. The programme
of the service was as follows:
Carol-"Babe of Bethlehem" Marston
Scriptures.
o"'' Inc '''1s -A " 49, Bailey
Psalms-Responsive.
Anthem-"Come Adore Him." smart
Hymn-"Calm on the Listening Ear of Night"
Prayer.
Response-"Blessed Jesus Hear U.s."
Offertory
Anthem-"Hark to the Music" Cluett
Sermon.
Hymn-"Joy to the Earth,'' Antioch
Congregation.
The choir was as follows: Mrs. W.
Scott Hill, soprano; Miss Ena Chad
bourne, contralto; Mr.. I. H. Chandler,
basso; Mr.. c. b. johnson, tenor and CHOIR
master; Miss Pauline johnson, organlst.
Rev. C. A. Hayden took as his text,
The son Of the angels, on earth peace
good will towards men, MIR Hayden
dwelt upon the birth and teachings OF
Christ; the inspiration of this period OF
the year; the right of gift of God in Christ
Our gifts from one to another should pear
remembrances of the gift of God in HIS
son. Mention was made as to the COM
ing of Christ, His birth, and the simple
abode in which he was first living Such
should teach us of all that Is pure, SIM
pie holy and lovely, and later he comes
as an elder brother to lead us to the Father
Cristmas should impress upon us the
thoughts of what is noblest and best IN
human life.
-9-4 First Baptist.
Rev. j. M. Wyman preached very aoie
sermon on the subject Christmas JOY
and treated it in an understanding and IN
teresting manner. He spoke OF the young
child being filled with joy upon receiving
the expected gifts from Santa Claus a.
this time and Of how the little ones lookeo
forward to Cristmas. The thougnt oi
Christmas bears with it remembrances Oh
that joyful day when our Saviour was
born, that period Of delight when the BON
of Man came into the world to live ana
d;a for ,,rn.rS The iovfI1l songs sung AZ