The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-31
TO WATCH THE OLD YEAR OUT.
Midnight Services to BE Held in
Many IF the Churches.


Many of the Churches.
The departure of the old year and the
incoming of the new VIII be observed to-
night by several of the congregations of
the city in prayer, praise and devotional
services. The congregations will gather
at different times, but all will remain at
the churches until the passing of the old
year.
Services, in which all the Presbyterians
and the Baptists Of the Duffy street
church will join, will be held at the First
Presbyterian church. The hours will be
from 10 until y o'clock. 1t is expected
that. despite the inconvenience of the hour
at which the services is to be held, large
congregation viii assemble. The principal
sermon will be rendered by Rev. DR.. James
Y. Fair, pastor of the Independent Pres
byterian church. Rev. James D. Chap
man, pastor of the Duffy street church.
viii also preach. The last fifteen minutes
of the year will be devoted to a conse-
Grafton service that will be conducted by
the pastor of the church, Rev. Arthur J.
Smith. The service will consist principally
OF songs. Rev. w. A Nisbet pastor of
the Second Presbyterian church. will also
probably be at the meeting. His attend
ance will depend upon the hour at which
Christmas tree entertainment at his
cnurch sto-night for the Sunday school
will be concluded
All of the Methodist congrega tons will
unite in holding service at Grace church.
1t had been intended for the services to
be held at Trinity and the Seventh Street
church and such announcement was made
last Sunday from those pulpits, but the
ministers decided last Monday that it
would be a better plan for them to unite
ana hold the service at Grace church, the
location of which apf called to them as the
most advantageous. There will be no SER
vice in the northern part of the city a fact
that has induced one or two of the min
listers of churches located in that section
to regret that it was not decided to have
them open for the night.
The service at Grace church. which will
commence at 1880 O'clock will be con-
Quoted by Rev. DR.. J. %. Branch, pastor
of Wesley Monumental church The
union of all the Methodists at Grace will
doubtless fill the church. The members
of that denomination have taken great in
terest in the watch night service for some
time, and they are usually well attended.
Service will be held at II 80 o'clock at
Sta. PauPs Episcopal church. This will
be conducted by the rector, Rev Mr. j.
l.. Scuily. The service will consist of
songs prayers and addresses by the rec
tor. An address will be concluded short
ly before the stroke of y O'clock, when the
| congregation Will bow in silent prayer un-
til after the hour has struck. The rector
will then deliver another address,
The other Episcopal churches will not
hold the service. Properly with the Epis-
copalians, the service Is one of communion.
but It has been ordered in this diocese
that it be not made such a service. the
bishop holding that the members Of the
! congregations would not be likely to at.
| tend fasting, as the tenets of the church
demand, at a time of such universal fes-
| tivity and merry making as the holidays.
| The chimes of st. Johns will ring out
| the old and ring in the new Chimes
| Master Roberts will play two before and
| one after u o'clock. The first two will
| be of slow measure, the knell of the dy>
| ing year, while the last will be quick and
| spirited to welcome the new.
| Nearly all of the colored churches will
! observe the occasion. Services will be
| held until after the passing of the old year.
1t has been customary with the colored
| people to make puch of the last night of
| the year, and a great many of them will
| be out TO attend the services. A special
| occasion of this kind always has the eff
| feet of bringing many out, and the preach
ers will be heard by large congregations.
The first piece on St. Johns chimes will
be played fifteen minutes before midnight
| and viii be, "Watchman, Tell Us of the
Night" Ten minutes before midnight,
| Now the Throne Addressing" will be
| played and then the bells will be tolled I'M
til midnight. When the last stroke dies
away, Magnify Jehovahs Name" will be
| played and then the wedding march and
Home, Sweet Home