The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-01
ALL READY FOR LEAP YEAR.
UsHERED II AT MIDNIGHT WITH
THE USUAL CEREMONIES.


the New Year Looks Upon n Meth
odist Love Feast at Wesley Monu-
mental and Services at -. Paui'z
Episcopal and az the COlOred
Churches-To-day's Events.
Leap year is here and the girls will have
chance. The old year went out under
favorable auspices. and the new one has
already begun 10 get ia its work
II was a bright and crisp moonlight
night at the hour Of - Five minutes
before that time the night was silent
and scarcely a sound could be heard, eX-
cept perhaps that Of an isolated whistle
OF hrecracl1er that got in its work ahead
Of the game.
Just before tina long hand on the clock
reached midnight. however. the whistles
began TO blow. the bells to ring and the
reserve frecrackers TO give warning that
the time had come. Congregations ia sew
eral Of the churches were engaged in
prayer and song. the chimes on St. Johns
church were ringing out glad welcome
10 1895. the bells and whistles on the river
front were changing and blowing as though
trying to speak the language Of the half
dozen nationaliues they represented. but
which with the new year was that Of the
one race they presented-humanity.
Fires were left under many a boiler that
their whistles might announce the New
Years coming nre crackers and can
non announced its arrival One-half of
Savannah was awake something unus-
ual for SaVannahians at the midnight
hour, and lights cleaned from many
window. The rounder took his parting
drink at the club on the last stroke or
the clock, and with mis- New Years greet
ing went on TO dream of future sports
and coming feasts.
Last night promised a bright and glo-
rious day FOR the new year. The day VIII
probably be "a haE-holiday all round.
Most Of the business houses will close up
al least in the afternoon, while the public
and semi-public buildings will be closed
for the entire day. The courts Will open
merely for forms sake at 10 o'clock, ana
few moments thereafter Will be closed
Tor the day. The city exchange, the Gus
tom house the cotton exchange, the board
of trade and all the banks Will take
day off, and their employees or most OF
them viii have day of rest.
There were services of an Interesting
and attractive nature in many of the
churches last night About 800 people of
all denominations, the majority, however,
being Aethodistss attended the services
in the lecture room a. Wesley Monumen-
tai church. The services We're in charge
of Rev. A. NJ. Williams, the pastor and
the sermon or talk was by Rev. J. II.
Seruggs OF Trinity church, who spoke
in a most interesting and entertaining
manner Of the lessons that the occasion
should teach to all. This was followed
by regular Methodist love feast and
experience meeting in which brief talks
suggested by the occasion and the eXpe-
Tiences Of the speakers were made. APP
propriate hymns were sung and poem
on the old and new year was read by the
pastor. The services closed with prayer
and benedicton in which blessings for
all for the new year were asked.
The services at St. PauPs Episcopal
church began at 1l:SO o'clock, and were
of an impressive character. The congre-
cation nearly filled the church The first
part of the service marking the close
nd
fessional. After the general confession
the lesser Litany was said and the Psalm
for the day. The rector read a scripture
lesson and just before the clock struck
u the congregation knelt in silent prayer
until the last stroke marked the advent
of the new year. when the choir and
congregation Joined in a hymn of praise
and thanksgiving. The celebration of the
holy communion followed. The service
was the first of its character ever held
IN 81. Pauls. The rector. Rev. J. L.
Scully briefly alluded at the opening of
The service TO its general character and
the spirit in which the occasion should
be observed.
The First Bryan Baptist church away
down in the Craw was packed to the
doors with men. women and children.
Very good order was preserved, however,
and there was nothing out of the ordinary
in the services. The large congregation
was on its knees and Pastor Griffin was
putting up a fervent petition that his
flock might be made better Christians and
better church members, that they might
during the coming year when the hands
of the clock reached the figure r. With
an appeal for divine guidance for the
heads of the government, city, state and
national, the pastor said amen. The
whole congregation Immediately broke
into the song, Happy New Year" and
all began shaking hands and wishing each
other happy new year
Pastor Griffin has put an end to the
jumping Egypt, and walking through
Jerusalem" which were once characters
tic of this church, ana while the members
continue to show great deal of emotion
on occasion, they express it in more con-
Ventional ways.
The congregation at he First African
Baptist church ushered in the new year
with the regular watch night service. The
church was crowded and the meeting was
an interesting one. Nearly everybody
prayed and everybody was prayed for
Some of the congregation seemed inbued
with the belief that it was their last
chance on earth TO pray and they prayed
all the time regardless of what was go
AT 81. Philips church, it happened to be
the night for the quarterly meeting and
the younger element which so much
Egypt and who had anticipated such
glorious time We're somewhat disap-
pointed. The stewards of the church.
however, decided to dispense with class
meeting service with the exception Of
the class service collections, and have a
genuine old-time watch-night service
Some OF the brethren objected TO 'walkin'
Services began about o'clock with a
prayer meeting, which lasted until 10
O'Clock, when the pastor began his sermon
which lasted about an hour. At the close
of the sermon the meeting resolved into
a prayer meeting again. At twenty min
utes before u o'clock the church became
silent and the congregation fell on their
knees in secret prayer. They continued
in silent prayer until the clock struck II.
Services were held in most of the colored
churches.
There will be foot ball game at the
Bolton street park this morning at IL
O'Clock between two teams composed
largely of college boys who are in Sa-
vannah spending their holidays at home.
One team viii be styled the Madison
Squares and the other the Young Mems
Christian Association team, many of the
members composing 1t being members of
that association. Mr.. Craig Barrow a
student Of the state university, and one
of the players on chat team will be the
captain of the Madison Squares, and the
Young Mems Christian Association team
will be captained by Mr.. Alex Krenson.
one of Savannah's well-known athletes.
The usual annual contest of the Sa-
vannah Rife Association for turkeys will
be held to-day at the Avondale rife range.
The shoot viii begin at u o'clock noon
and the entries Will close at I o'clock D.
m. The advertisements of the Ocpa siOn