The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-12-02
Recollections of Old Newtown.
CHRISTMES EVE.

Among the old and interesting customs
which have passed away was the oeserv-
arfce here of Christmas Eve, that glaa
season wherein our Saviour's birth Is cei-
ebrsted, at the old Episcopal church
which was few years ago, as we all
know, taken down to give place to the
present stone edifice.
Every window in that ancient building, |
from the belfry to the foundation, was
gaily decked out with rows Of candles, OF |
all colors and description, from the pureat
sperm to the poorest tallow, with coarse
tow wicka, which were prone to swail
and drip upon the stills, and upon the
heads of the congregation beneath. This,
but for the extreme vigilance OF the sex
ton Zone of Governor Redstone's prede-
cessors) might have ended in an illumi-
nation of a grandPr and more magnifi-
cent scale. Happily, this ''pyroteckneck"
display passed of without accident, al
though the hempen material burnt down
to It's wooden socket, and gave up the
ghost in an expiring flicker.
The venerable pastor, DR. Burhana,
usually s'spread himself" If 1 may with
out irreverence use such an expression.
on these occasions, reviewing all the do
| ipgs of the society during the now clos
ing year, and counseling his hearers with
great affection, to spirit of unity, peace
c and concord" among them. He dwelt
: imp pres sively upon the u f 'rtunate disp''-
/ tEaA IN nd nsrf 0f
parish, to quarrel, and to bear false ~it'
o res against a neignbor, sdmonishii G
them to love one another, and to do gouo
TO those who do evil to them, as we'll r.
It ca extend full ard complete forgiveness
u al VII, bad ln any way trsn-gTesste
o5o: GheIr ighta,
. fheea xct,;eAL le-.U Ds IL l. gr& If ics
D g. f+si, have NOS been wasted. for, al
trough it j. more than half q centur!
sipce they were uttered, their good effec
Z is stiil apparent to every citizen OF rh
?. town, and to every stranger "withiD 1t
gates"
d. Perhaps some of your readers wi
{. laugh, and be inclined to doubt THE, @
to suspect that am Joking, but l mu:
proceed with my story, and cannot sto
e to argue the point.
ia The music for Christmas Eve was q
ways intended to be extra fine, so ths
'e not one of the congregation ventured I
of Join In (uniess it might be Andrew Clio
er, of ancient renown, who had a vol,
and will peculiarly his own) throug
fear of marring the harmony and emba
De- RAISING the action of the choir.
The leader of this hailed, I believ
from Zoar, and only turned out on gre
Is occasions, and this was one Of them. f
ov was well ''posted up" In the music
Handel, Hayden, and other emine
vi composers of sacred music, and had
as squeaky voice, of considerable powe
which was something between a barito
and tenor, with strong nasal tone, tn
ZEN made it conspicuous over those Of
~ colleagues in the organ gallery.
The choir did not boast OF having In
lie any sopranos, contraltos or basso pi
he'd fundos, OF which we hear so much no
a-daya, but it was very creditsble o
. for those days, and acquitted itself
an the delight and satisfaction Of the whit
ar. audience.
The old church, by the way, ne,
'ef- looked finer in les interior, than VIII
Ing dressed with wreaths and ropes OF ey
greens and running ivy, interviewer a
encircling the columns that support
lily, the roof and galleries, the result OF
-, whole weeks work by the young la
and lasses Of the village, who no don
sea were more than pleased with the opp
the tunity Of rendering this service to
church, as they could sound one ano
er's hearts at the same time.
ard The pulpit, desk, and the altar, W
nce the two black and gilt Iettered tablets
the rear, were profusely decorated, so
ean devices being added as were appropri,
. for the time and place.
The old, quaint sounding-board ca
10 for It's share OF decoration. 1t v
suspended, as your readers will RENE
Der, from the ceiling, by means OF an II
rod, which was afraid might some d
n drop and extinguish our great light,
B., for it somewhat resembled an Q
"A fashioned candle-extiDguisher, III
fiattened at the top. Fortunately 1t b
is on till the last, and did not come do
from its thigh eminence" until the VIII
structure was demolished.
To conclude, 1t has always been .
ject for regret, with me, that this
church could not have been spared.
been suffered to remain upon It's origi
site, where, with It's white and grace
apire, IL served as . never failing bea
for the citizen or stranger, in his
proach to the village, to cay nothing
isa associations with the near and d