Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-27
THE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL,
Special Sunday Services at the
Churches,
And Merry gatherings and Christmas
Trees for the children.
The Baptist Church.

The audience room Of the Baptist church,
which lends itself admirably to long, graceful
festoonings and massings of green, had been
tastefuly trimmed by deft and willing hands.
From the high platform above the pulpit green
ropes had been draped, with Christmas wreaths,
each enclosing a gilt star, placed here and there.
On the front OF the choir loft and the correspond
ing space on the other side of the pulpit was a
deep band OF green studded with stars The
Scripture lesson Of the morning included the &C
count Of the annunCiatiOn 10 the shepherds, the
visit OF the magi aud the alteration OF Jesus as
the Messiah by Simeon aud Anna in the temple
These passages formed the basis Of Rev. Mr.
Temples sermon. which treated OF the three
different classes Of men to whom the announce
ment Of Christs coming as Savior is made. and
the three methods-neCessarily as different as the
different classes--by which the knowledge
comes. The classes represented by the shep-
herds, the wise men, and the prophets were re-
speCtively the simple minded and interrupted,
the intellectual and cult Ired, and those inclined
by nature to God and religious things. Just as
each announcement was made in the best meth.
cd TO reach each class, and no one method could
have reached the other classes so. as long as
these different natures continue must they be
reached, each in the meth cd best suited TO 1.-THE
smpe-minded by the electric power Of great
gatherings of Gods people in revival services,
with songs and heartfelt testimonies; the intel
lectual through study and research; che religious
~ inclined 10y nature by the moving OF the Spirit
Of God within. The one thing needfu Is to re-
ceive the message. 10 20 and find and worship, as
did those Of olO.
The organist and choirmaster Lucen Howe,
may well be proud of the work Of his choir on
Sunday. Unfold ye portals everlasting" from
Gounod's Redemption" and The heavens are
telling from the Creation were rendered
most effectively, the trio in the latter being sus-
tanned by Miss Rawson Mr.. Gilbert and Mr..
Crowell Not the least effective was the master
full rendering by Mr. Howe OF the difficult but in
spring accompaniment. Their careful training
during the past twelve months has brought the
singers to high standard Of excellence, and the
Baptists may well be felictated on the reGngage-
ment of their talented and conscientious musical
director.
The Sunday school held their Christmas enter
| tainment in the church Wednesday evening.
| Words OF greeting and appreciation Of the Christ
mas committee by Superintendent Hawley were
| followed by the singing Of carol by the chill
dren and prayer by the pastor. several recita
tons were then given as Introduction TO the rem
derlng Of the Christmas cantata. Santa Claus's
dream While the recitations were being given
| Messenger Riley Of the Western Union Office
| went down the aisle with a message for Mr. Haw.
| ley. There were some anxious faces in the audi
| ence as the superintendent ran his eye over tn,
| message. But as the boy was dismissed and the
| telegram from Santa Claus was read announcing
| his early arrival, the joke was thoroughly appre
ciated and fear of bad news forgotten The can
tata followed, tie part of Santa Claus being taker
by G. B. Croweu, Then came the interesting par
for the young people. the presentation Of tbs
gifts. Two brownies raised the wind" and the
gifts came tumbng forth from the door of
| tower, surmOunted by a huge windmill. Whil
| the children were receiving, several of the olde
classes held reunions ia their class rooms, anon
| them being the classes Of j. T. Hall. Mrs. + "
| Stoddard and Miss Stewart.