Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-12-21
FEAST OF THE NATIVITY.
Commonly Called Christmas pa

FEAST OF The NATIVITY
Commonly Called Christmas Day.
This festival is of very ancient date.
st. Chrysostom in the fourth century,
speaks of it as of great antiquity. Julius
l., A, d. 337, had caused strict inquiry
to be made, and he confirmed its Observ-
aDce on December 25th. 1t is spoken of
by Clemens Alexandrinus, who died
about one hundred years after the death
of S. John.
In the earliest chronicles Christmas
day and the Epiphany were identical in
their association, the actual Nativity be.
ing the first Manifestation. The name of
TheopiIany was given to the two-fold OBJ
servanCe of one mystery, the AanifestaS
tiOn to mankind of the Word made
Flesh.
The ancient custom in England was to
celebrate the Festival with three Masses
and in common with the whole of West
ern ChristendOm, which includes the
Roman Catholic and Anglican churches,
to appropriate to each office a special and
! distinctive EpiStle and Gospel.
The English Prayer Book of 1919. as
well as the present Book of Common
Prayer, provides Collect. Epistle and
| Gospel for two celebrations, and there
! has always been more than one celebra-
| tien in the larger churches-and the mid
night celebration has of late years been
revived.
The midnight celebration commentaries
the actual Birth of our Lord.
The early morning, its revelation TO
mankind in the person of the Shepherds.
That at midday, the higher and more
ornate Ritual signifies the glories of the
Etprnpl In Of IA Pol &c
hem.
In Bennington the Baptist, Second
Congregational and Methodist churches,
will observe Sunday, Dec. 23d, at the
usual hours of worship. These and the
other Christmas exercises will be found
noted below, under proper heads. At st.
Peters the hours of service will be at
7.3O and 10 30, Celebrations of the Eu-
charist.
We give the order of services to COM
memOrate the Angels Song: "Peace on
earth; Good will to man."
SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH-HoRNINe.
organ voluntary y.................. .Rakoczy March
JuDlaJe ........... .......... ........ Shelley
DoXology.
Invocation.
TIE Deum Festival in A....................G Gelbel
Responsive reading .72nd Psalm
Anthem Gloria s.,...,..
Scripture Reading,
Sanctns from the st. Cecelan Mass by Gonoud.
Prayer.
Response, Composed by Mrs. g. W. Keeseman
Hymn.
Offertory, "Die Kiningin Won Taba," Gonoud
Sermon.
Anthem, "Sing, o, Heavens" ,"............ Tours
Prayer.
Hymn.
Benediction.
f. E. Long leader, Mrs q. W. Keeseman organist
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
MORNING.
Voluntary Hallelujah chorus m zee. Handel
Carol-"Ring out ye bells" .......H. w. Downs
Anthem-"Brghest and best. Marston
Scripture Reading.
Gloria from Millard's Mass in flat Millard
Prayer.
Glorla Patri.
Notices, Etc.
Anthem-"Hark, bark with harps of gold" ,"......
Offertory, christmas Patoraie," .Gottschalk
Sermon-Prayer
Anthem-"NaZareth," .... =. ......... .Gounod
Postlude-"March Cortege" tfrom Irene) Gounod
The Christmas concert exercises for
which the Sunday school has been max
ing preparations. will be given in the
church Sunday evening, December 23d.
A concert will be given by the older
scholars in the church, Tuesday evening,
December 25th, at the close of which the
scholars will enjoy Christmas tree fes-
tival.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The joyous season will be observed at
this church next Sunday by an appropri-
ate sermon in the morning by the pastor,
from the text: And his name shall be
called Immanuel," Matthew 1923, and in
the evening public concert by the Sun
day school. In the absence of the or
ganist Ton her wedding tour). Chas. II.
Rennetr will nreSide at tha orTan
Carol "Rir, rin,, rim, rho b.I1sn E1o,s
Grgan voluntary. ........ .... ......... Bennett
t[aiSe sh L.; I, n Franc
Gloria Pairi oS T. p DayanJnrS
Te Deum............ -. ...... ....... Meitzke
Anthem .....;, ,,......... ..Deyendorf
,,CSynti0ra 10y 10 tnT G "%[,Hi %
The Watc6fuI SbSphcrjs > WanS 1anuS
The Lord Descended ,".................B Biicgs
AN Glory to God, ,"..,.................... Read
organ roS'luue .'','''.''',''''''''' - Bennett
a feature OF both the morning and
evening services VIII be the singing of
old EWM N0uua l.