Arizona republican., 1896-12-24
AROUND CHRISTMAS TREES.
Many Happy Phoenix Children
 Will Gather Tonight.

Decorations and Enter
 talning Programmes-The Postal
 Occasion Will Be FittIngIy Ob-
 served in This City.
 Tomorrow the festival of the Chris tian church will be observed in this | city in memory of the birth of Christ | in keeping with the universal practice l throughout the civilized world. The i custom of holding devotional meet ! ings will be followed in the various churches of the city this evening. All day yesterday preparations were being made by erecting and decorating Christmas trees, both in the churches and in family circles. Others are an ticipating the full enjoyment of the day by suspending work and taking a good quiet rest.
 Following is a partial report of church and Sunday school exercises for tonight, Christmas eve.
 At the Christian church, corner of Jefferson and Second streets, there will be elaborately decorated trees with limbs ladened with Christmas gifts.
  promptly at p. m., and will take up his quarters in beautiful snow house that has been prepared for him and will there listen to songs and recita- tions by the Sunday school scholars and the %. C." quartette, for about an hour, when he will distribute sweetmeats, nuts and presents to all the scholars belonging to the Christian Sunday school. A cordial invitation is extended to everybody to come and enjoy the programme.
 A pretty Christmas tree at the Pres byterian church will bear on it's boughs multitude of good things to be distributed after the following pro- gramme shall have been rendered:
 "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name" by the congregation.
 Invocation, Dr. Mckinney.
 Hail to the Day." chorus.
 Tableau, "Annunciation, (soft music).
 Three Wise Men and Star"
 "The Shepherds With Angels
 'The Shepherds With Angels (song).
 Babe Tn the Manager.
 Gifts of the Wise Men to the Babe" (soft music)
 Address, by Walter Hill.
 Distribution of gifts.
 This church is at the corner of Sec ond avenue and Adams street.
 At the Baptist church, near the cor ner of Jefferson street and Second avenue, yesterday afternoon Mrs. Sam Purdy and a number of ladies were busily engaged in preparing a hand some tree for this evenings entertain ment. The programme will be as fol- lows:
 Organ voluntary, Awake. Awakev' by the school
 Invocation by the pastor, Rev. Dr. Lewis Halsey.
 Address of welcome, by the pastor.
 Chorus, Echoes of Bethel" Recitation, Miss Lily Peers. Duet, Miss Ada and Nina Forbes. | Recitation, Miss Vernie Lincoln. Recitation, Miss Elton Stoner. | Baritone solo, L. W. Coggins.
 Recitation, Webster Wilcox. Recitation, Rollin McKern. Chorus, Peal on, Ye Bells!' Free will offering for the poor.
 Recitation, Miss Bella Forbes.
 Distribution of presents.
 Chorus, Goodbye" | At the M. E. church there will be no formal programme, but the young and older people will assemble and mutual ly entertain one another by songs recitations and exchange greetings suitable to the occasion.
 A short programme appropriate to the occasion will be given at the Meth odist church south. A committee will be present all day to distribute pres ents.
 Among the private families that will gather around Christmas trees will be Judge and Mrs. A. c. Baker, MT. and Mrs. B. A. Fickas and Major and Mrs R. Allyn Lewis. At Judge Bakers there will be present MT. and Mrs. J L. B. Alexander and daughter and MT and Mrs. George W. Hoadley and daughter A few close friends will be in attendance at the residence of MT and Mrs. Fickas, and at Major an6 Mrs. Lewis, the daughters of Judge Frazier, Misses Helen and Orpha MT. and Mrs. Pickerers daugh ter, and other young friend: will be guests. Everything points tc a period of peace on earth and goot will to men, in and about Phoenix this Christmas of 1896.