The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-27

the number of communicates grea h. I
also. The text of the rector's Christ
mas sermon was from the LIST epistle of
st. John Chap 4, verse 9th God
sent His only begotten Son into the
world that we might live through
Him. The theme was the doctrine of
the Son of God, the necessity of hold
ing last the apostolic faith, and of sac
ramcntal union with Christ, as the
source and origin of all spiritual life.
The Episcopal church held their
Christmas feast in Red Mems hall last
evening. Refreshments of coffee and
cake were served and the evening DC
cupied with Games and dancing. The
sunday school and choir all received
presents from off the Christmas tree.
At st. Michaels Roman Catholic
church the three affairs were handsome
! ~ trimmed with laurel and evergreen.
while cut flowers were prettily arranged
on the main altar and - lighted tapers
gave brilllancy to the joyful scene.
The singing by the cliildren's choir
added much to the celebration of the
great feast. Rev. Father Cunningham
gave one of mis- thoughtful, earnest dis
courses ON the significance and duties
of this and other church feasts. TAX
ing his text from st. Luke. Chap. H.
{ he said
st Luke Chap Ii. 1t has been 4 practice of
the children of God in all ages to keep certain
feasts, TO set apart certain days in the year to
be kept holy in memory OF certain events in
their religious history. We read i'll the Old
Testament that when God, through Moses, fgayr
his law and religion to the jews. He comman
ded that certain named days should be kept
holy in memory of their delyerance from
Egypt As the Jews had their holidays, so the
Catholic church has hers, and tor the same
viz. to return thanks to God for favors received
The church has instituted feasts in memory
of the principal events in our Lords earthly
life. The history of our Lords birth as given
in the sacred writings contradicts our precon
ceived opinions about what is proper and he
coming. We are so imhued with worldly dis
found so easily worldly prosperity and worldly
responsibility with goodness ant virtue, that
many reading this Gospel find it hard 70 be
licve that this Child oil Christina night with
stable for home and q manger for cradle
could possibly lie the Son of God.
This was "ioolishness to the Greeks" and "a
stumbling block to the Jews" and still is fool
shness and Il stumbling block to many who are
neither Greeks nor Jews.
To those who things by the light of faith,
nothing could be more consistent with tho mag
esty of God than that He should be born as he
was and live the life of humility and poverty
that lie did. These are far more certain signs
of His Divinity than all the pomp ans: circum-
stances Of earth. God, vine is all sufficient in
Himself, could have no need Of any outward
nam F-titluu OF MS power or Ms glory.
Our lords life and teachings show that an
iudotvn luxurious, sensual life in this world
raun"' reconciled with happiness hereafter
Ii ,uvn Il. life could bc reconeiied with happiness
in tn, r.itcr world, We would never have heard
Of the ble,or the manger, or the scourglng, or
the crown of thorns, or the cross.
We ,.st deny ourselves even Legitimate
pleas; from time TO time a. means of dis
riplin If we enjoy too eagerly and with
out l,i."nt permitted d. pleasures , we viii NOT
temptation presents itself.
The Baptist church decorations of
laurel and evergreen We're unusually
fine and tasteful in arrangement. y
'hoice musical program was rendered.
rs announced last week by the choir
lnder the leadership of Lucian Howe.
Rev l.. ID. Temple preached a forceful
md inspiring sermon on the AN
Of the Birth of Christ to
he Shepherds and Wise Men, The
attendance was large.
"Wednesday evening the Christmas
was given in the audi
nee room of the church which was
rcll-tiIled consisting of cantata,
Santa Claus Dream by the younger
members of the Sunday school. Santa
,as impcrsonaed by Christie Crowell.
he entertainment which was arranged
y Mrs. Temple was in charge of L..
Y. Hawley with Miss I2etta Stewart
t the piano,
The evening opened with rectations
y the little people of the Sunday
:hool followed by Il telegram from
anita Claus and the arrival later of
he old fellow himself. Among the
'aturcs of the cantata was the read
Continued ON 18th Page,