The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-23
CHRISTMAS IN THE CHURCHES.
Services to BE Held in Celebration
of the Glad Festival.


Christmas services will be held on Sat
urday at most Of the Episcopal and Ro-
man Catholic churches OF the city. The
other churches viii hold appropriate ser
vices Sunday. .
The fact that Christmas day falls on
Saturday this year will be the cause of
many of the denominations holding the
services over until Sunday. Heretofore
it has been usual for services to be held
on Christmas day. The natural inconven-
fence that would follow attendance on the
last day Of the week 10 many of those
who would desire TO be present, and also
the fact that the regular day for worship
follows so closely, has induced the minis
tiers to pos tpone the Christmas services.
Services at the Cathedral OF St. John
the Baptist, st. Patrick S, St Johns ST.
Paul's and Christ church will be held at
II o'clock though at some early services
viii take place. Holy communion viii be
celebrated at StJohns Special musical pro-
grammes have been arranged, and all of
the churches viii have fun choirs and the
best selections. The choirs have been
practiCing the Christmas music for some
time
Many poor people, particularly children,
noon, when gifts will be distributed among
them. The SUNDAY school of the First
Presbyterian church will give a great deal
to the poor of The membership. If the
contributions received warrant it, the
teachers of the school viii give to the
poor of The city Unfortunately after the
poor of the church have been relieved.
The children will take their donations,
consisting of articles of food, clothing or
usefulness of any kind to the Sunday
school room at 8 o'clock in the morning
They Will be received by the teachers, I'M
der whose direction the work will be.
Wagons will be secured in the afternoon,
and the goods VIII be taken to the worthy
poor. There viii be a great deal of good
accomplished by this means. The children
OF this Sunday school, unlike those Of
most Others in the city do not receive
presents. Their pleasure is found in Civ
ing to those less fortunate than them
selves. It is said that this plan will be
changed next year and that the school,,
in addition to giving, will receive gifts.
"A CHRISTMAS tree, given to the poor chill
dfen OF the city, will be given Christmas
afternoon at 3 o'clock. at the Catholic
library hall. The ladies' of Froebel Circle
of the Kings Daughters have the tree I'M
der direction. They have now more than
500 children upon their lists. of those to
whom presents will be given. They have
been busy for several days in putting the
contributions into convenient packages for
distribution, and to-day they will com
mence the work of labelling them
None Of the ladies have solicited any
of the contributions. They have all been
donated cheerfully and freely. Old cloth
ing, toys, fruit of all kinds and candy
have been given the ladies, and they have
a large quantity of things on hand that
will delight the little ones who will re-
ceive them. Many people have given con-
siderable sums of money for the tree, and
this has been expended principally for
toys
Some Of the schools both give and re-
ceive presents. Among these are those of
Christ church, St Johns and the Luther
an Church of the Ascension. Others have
merely the Christmas tree celebrations, i'm
which the children are given presents by
their teachers and parents. The custom
OF holding these Christmas trees, or sim
liar methods for the distribution of gifts,
is regarded most faVorably. 1t gives the
children something to which they may
look forward with delightful anticipations
and is a merited reward for their attend
ance during the year.
The days upon which the Christmas Gel
ebrations are to be held have not been
determined by most of the schools though
nearly all will have them during next
week. That of the Lutheran Church of
the Ascension will take place Tuesday
HlSut. y Sptclal programme OF music and
recitations has been arranged for the oc-
casion, and those attending are assured
of pleasant evening. On the afternoon
of the same day the celebration at St Mi
chaels chapel win he held. This will be
a Christmas tree, which will be under the
direction of the teachers of the Sunday
school and of the Brotherhood of st. An
drew. The tree at ST. MichaeFs also I'M
der the direction of the brotherhood. will
probably be held on Wednesday afternoon.
The Christmas celebration at the Duffy
Street Baptist church will be held during
the week. and win consist of the building
of lighthouse with boxes of candy. Ii
will then be torn down, and the candy
with fruits, will be distributed among the
children. At the Second Pres byterian
church the celebration will consist of a
Christmas tree and will be held on New
Years eve. Watch-night services will be
held then at the First Pres byterian
church. Rev. Dr. James Y Fair of the
Independent church will preach at the
service. Rev 1dr. Nisbet of the Second
church has also been invited and will
probably take part in the service.