Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-25
Christmas and the Churches.
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In welcoming in the Christmas OF 1897, the
church members and churcn goers Of Omaha
feel that they have many reasons for be-
ing glad. They realize that the year that
Is just drawing to close has been an un-
usually prosperous one hereaways, at least
80 far as the churches have been concerned.
Churches that were without pastors last
year are now supplied with preachers and
the word OF God Is dispensed every Sunday.
Last year g. number OF the Omaha churches
were badly in debt hu. during the past year
many of these claims have oeen liquidatcd
and with very few exceptions the houses
OF worship are In good condition. both spirit
ually and financially. In addition to the i'm
proved condition OF the local churches. the
congregations have increased their member
ship and many new convert has been
brought to the feet Of the meek and lowly
Jesus.
To celebrate the improved condition Of re-
ligious matters members and communicates
OF the churches Of this city observe
the Christmas festivities this year thc same
as in the past, though in many instances
the observ1nces Will be more elaborate.
Christmas trees are erected in many
of the Omaha churches. while in others
the gifts for the Sunday school children
baskets and enormous sacks Expensive
presents are not passed out to the IL
tie ones this plan having become a thing
of the past, teachers and Sunday school peo-
pie considering It better taste to serve all
of the children alike and give them moth
ing but big red checked apples, mammoth
oranges, candies and other swee.meats.
The time was. and not very long ago either
when the Christmas tree was a gift-giving
enterprise. Watches. jewelry, orders for seal
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branches and the members of the churches
We'd with one another to Gee who could make
the most expensive Christmas presents, In
this way they got lot OF cheap advertising
but later Gl the plan wes frowmed upon by
the cergy and for a few years 1t seemed
that the Christmas tree was doomed to be-
come a thing of the past AT this point
the ministers took the matter up and issued
an edict to the effect that the Christmas tree
was ar institution for the children and that
the church would take care of the gift
giving. With one bound the Christmas tree
regatned all of it's old time favor and now it
Is th'ng that has come to stay and gladden.
the hearts of the little ones.
In very few OF the churches the old
fashioned Santa Claus climbs down the
chimney or enter through a window. Many
CT the best church men have tabooed the
Santa Claus of years ago, insisting that a
Santa Claus carries lie upon his face and
that church is no place to aid and abat
lying. even If It is done to please the chill.
dren. Having relegated the Santa Claus OF
other days to the rear. nowadays some
superintendent of the Sunday school or some
deacon Of the church mounts a ladder and
takes down the little presents while dozen
boys distribute them among the children,
rich and poor, who crowd the front rown
one night in the year.
The Christmas tree is not the only feature
OF the church of today. In addition to it, a
literary program of some considerable merit
is enacted in about every church in
the city There are songs and carols
recitations and readings and stories incident
to the birth Of Christ IN far away Judea
There is the tale of the manner In
which the wise men of the cas- nearly 1000
years ago followed the star until 1t rested
over Bethlehem.
In most instances the Christmas observ.
arces were held last night, though there are
some exceptions, certain churches prefer.
ring to carry out their programs tonight.
At Kountxe Memorial.
At Kountze Memorial church the Christ
mas exercises will be held at 1880 O'Clock
this evening The program will be al
follows:
Grand Chorus..... .....................Theo Duboi.
Singing-Gloria ..........................
WeIceme Feser ey bY Yasr1r
Leading Prophecies:
More than sixteen hundred years before
concerning Him which we will have read
Genesis. Xix. TO-
Two hundred years later Balaam gave an
other-Numbers, XIV II.
About 700 hundred years later sill an
other and more complete. prophecy wa
made by Isaiah-Isaiah. vii. IA; Isaiah. tx
About forty years later Micah prophesies
Still 400 years later Malachi declares
Malachi, Iii, l.
l, Jesus, have sent Mine angle to testif,
unto you these things in the churches.
am the root and the offspring of David ant