Smyrna times., 1897-12-29
CHRISTMAS GREETINGS.
The Day Quietly Spent in and About this
Vicinity-Church Carols.

ang of the small boy was an evidence |
that the great natal event was dawn
ing which was giving happiness and |
good cheer to so many children. The
day was ushered in under most favor
able circumstances. The atmosphere
was cold and crisp and the air was
fleckless. While many were disap-
pointed because it was not ''white
nevertheless it was an
ideal day compared to so many that
have characterized this climate this
fall.
The first intimation of the day was
the pealing of the Methodist church
bell, calling many out to the "Day-
break service. There was about the
usual attendance. The Pastor, Rev.
Adam Stengle, read an appropriate
chapter of scripture, followed by a few
well chosen remarks. He was as
sisted. by his son, Rev. Charles I. Stem
gle, pastor of the Leipsic Methodist
church. This with a service of song,
experience and prayer, filled out the
hour.
By this time most every home in
town was agog with Christmas tidings.
The home was the centre of attraction
throughout the day, the uniting of
home ties and the gathering around
the festive board. In fact this seemed
to be the one and only way the people
of this community spent their Christ
mas, and though little went on out
side, it was none the less enjoyableand
happy.
The Episcopal church held service at
II o'clock in the morning, in accord
ance with the ritual, by the rector,
Rev. &. w. Dame. The church had
been neatly, but without profusion,
dressed for the holidays, except the
gas brackets in the chancel and the
baptismal font, where holly was used,
with crowsfoOt. This was entwined
about the pulpit, lecture chancel rail
and chandeliers.
The Sunday School entertainment
was held at night. There was nothing
else going on i'll town, and the chapel
was crowded. The chief feature was
the Christmas tree, which was large
and well loaded, containing a present
for each pupil. There was service of
song. Mr.. Lang's cornet helping ma
terially with accompaniments. Supt.
w. E. Waters had charge of the exer-
cises, the principal address being by
the rector.
During the afternoon the Pioneer
Corps, bearing their battle axes, pa
raded in full uniform.
SUNDAY.
Sunday until the middle of the after
noon when it cleared off, was Just the
opposite in the brightness of the day
before. The rain, which commenced
before four o'clock in the morning,
congealed, with the temperature at 80
degrees, to the pavements and trees.
The pavements were like ice, and real
ly unsafe to walk upon. The atten-
dance at church was consequently
small, but about seventy persons were
present at the Methodist church, and a
less number at the others. At the
Presbyterian church the meeting was
an informal one, no sermon, but enjoy
able addresses being made by the pas
tor DIR. Estiin and Rev. J. F. Seemans
of Kansas.
Rev. A. Stengle preached on the an
nouncement of the angels on the plains
of Bethlehem-''the Messengers, the
Message anditsreception." The church
was elaborately and handsomely decor
ated. A branch of holly graced every
lamp bracket, and hemlock did the
rest. Formed in ropes it entwined
every pillar and the chancel rail, and
neatly festooned the organ front. Half
way between the pulpit and the ceiling
was the legend in large evergreen let
ters suspended on wires, "Peace on
Earth" The committee who had the
decorations in charge, did their work
well.
The Sunday School exercises were at
night. The rise in temperature and
the coming out of the sun an hour or
two before setting, greatly improved
the walking and large audience as
sembled. Not only was the auditor
ium filled, but large part of the gal
lery also. Mrs. Marion Coverdale
played voluntary while the school
was coming up from the lower room.
Supt. John H. Hoffecker had charge of
the exercises and L. NJ. Price led the
singing, the scholars having the hymns
on printed slips.
The following was the program:
Organ Voluntary.
Chorus, 'Awake to JOY" BY School.
Responsive Reading.
Chorus-"Christmas Bells" by the
School.
Recitation-Laura Vanzant.
Solo and ChOrus-Infant School
Trio-''Angel Voices" )" Agnes Car
row, Bertha Stengle and Eva Corkran.
Christmas Story-Miss Margaret
Robinson.
Chorus-By infant School.
Recitation "Jes' Fore Christmas"
Thomas Jones.
Address-By the Pastor.
Solo-"Jesus Our Lord Will Ever
Be, Nina Wells.
Chorus-"Hark! Mighty Chorus"
by the School.
The choruses were leading fea ture,
but the reading of Miss Margaret Rob
inson, the solo by Miss Nina Wells
and the trio by the three young
ladies above mentioned elicitated
close attention. The Infant School
was less in numbers than usual
owing to the bad walking. The or
chestra was composed of violins, by
j. Allison Start and A. Lee Clifton,
and cornet by George Sylvester, the
latter an important feature of the
music.
Father Waldron officiated at the st.
Polycarp church at o'clock, Christ
mas morning and IL o'clock Sunday
morning.
Some Foolish People.
Allow cough to run until it gets beyond