The Hawaiian gazette., 1894-01-05
How the Holy Season Was Gele-
brated by Our Neighbors.
CHINESE SUNDAY SCHOOL SERVICES.
Feasts. Dances, and Serenades Form
Part OF the Holiday Celebration.
Large Fancy Dress Bau.-News
OF Congress Action.

! | place were decorated with mower
/ and foliage, and the general holids
festivities were fairly begun. Christ
; mas gifts and remembrances hsr
: been pretty generally exchanged th
evening before, and everyone felt il
/ good humor and ready to respond t,
the message of goodwill to men tina
the pulpits that day brought to thei
parishes. The decorations wer,
beautiful, and the services were ap
propriate and attractive.
On Christmas Eve, the Christina!
Tree at the Chinese church attracted
a large audience. The way from the
gate to the church door was lighted
with torches and Chinese lanterns
and inside were numberless illumina
tons excelling all previous efforts il
that line. The great Christmas Tree
wgs in the centre of the church, deco
rated with candles and tinsel and
toys. The school was arranged in
order in convenient position for
the ready performance of the exer-
cises, which began with the twenty
third psalm in English by the entire
school, after which the Rev. A.
Ostrom of the Foreign church led in
a short prayer and then continued to
act as chairman for the evening.
There were both singing and recita-
tons in English and Chinese, by
individual scholars, by classes, and
by the whole school, all rejecting the
highest credit upon both teachers
and scholars. The teachers are Miss
Akina Principal and English instruc
tor, Mr.. Kong Hyenk Foong Chi
nese instructor, Mrs. Ali, Kinder
garten instructor.
One of the set pieces was by twelve
scholars each one of whom bore a
single large gilded letter so that
when they were all in position the
letters read Christ Is Born" An
other, was the wise men led by the
star of Bethlehem. 1t was symbolic
of the human search for light and
truth. After time the star disa-
peared, and in its place came the
Bible, with which the search ended,
amid jubilee of song praise and
thanksgiving. The kindergarten
exercises were heartily applauded,
the choruses and evolutions of the
little Chinese children of four years
and upwards being very entertaining.
A couple of babes who lisped little |
duet deserve special notice. There |
was large star of Bethlehem lit |
with many candles at which nHm-
Der of the graces and virtues lighted |
their candles, with appropriate de-
clamation, typifying the distribution
of the light of the world This part |
of the exercises ended with a flag
work by the school to the sound of |
music. The flags were the Stars and |
Stripes, and it is considered by some
that this scene was also typical of the
of the light.
The speaking of the children in
was singulsrly distinct, and
the whole programme was most
to the patrons of the
school, and most creditable to Miss
Akina and her assistants. 1t far sur
passes all previous efforts. The
Trustees are fortunate in having
secured such q corps of teachers, and
in having such an unwearying and
energetic helper as Mrs. Ostrom to
carry through all their
plans. The school building is to be
enlarged.
After the Literary exercises, the
main work of the evening began, as
the children themselves looked on it.
The great box of presents was de
posted in front of the tree, and an
impartial distribution of Christmas
presents occupied the rest of the
evening. The whole audience was
treated to oranges, cakes and
candies, and if anyone went away
empty handed, it was his own fault.
On Christmas day the Church of
England had long and attractive
service, including baptism. The
church was crowded, the whole
country side turning out en- masse.
The Rev. Mr.. Abud oficiated.
On Christmas day the news that
Congress had taken the Hawaiian
natter in hand, and had administered
rebuke to Mr.. Cleveland for his
,iratical policy, came to US like a
,oodly greeting from the American
,eople. And we went through the
peculiar to the day, with a
ceiling of goodwill to all mankind
t large and the United States in
PARTICULAR.
There were Christmas fessts
.alore, beyond mention. 1t will be
reeks before Kohala can look
urkey in the face without blushing. ]
he serenaders we're out in force
rom Christmas eve to New Years
light. If they would only take a g
int, and come when people are
wake, morning noon or evening, q
ather than in the middle of the 6
i0bt tbav yvould rapu hattar