The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-12-26
CHRISTMAS SERVICES.


Some special preparations OF greater or
lass exttt,E were made by nearly all the
lending churches yesterday on account o.
the usual Joyful Christmas servlc:s. Ever
greens OF the usual Christmas kind were
used In decorating, and the only difference
was in the various tastes in which the la
dies q the different churches arranged
them.
II the days procedtrz are called fine, in
pcirt OF splendid weather the weather
prophet put HIS best foot foremost for tho
anniversary OF tho Saviors birth and gave
undoubtedly the best weather in the cal-.
cndar OF the closing year.. The church
going people, a. much In appreciation OF
tho event as the weather cafna out TO
church by the hundreds, and before the
usual hour OF morning services all the
churches were filled TO their utmost and
in some cases additional chairs were used
to furnish seats for all who came. The
choirs In every case had new anthems or
Christmas hynrls which were in word as
well as In tune appropriate to the occasion.
Shcnrn Mcthodist Church.
Tho decorations at the Shcafn church
were profuse yet simple aud artistic, ~
is almost necessary consequence where
the graceful Southern smlax ls used.
This evergreen adorned every gas Jet,
every window, the pulpit, the large pipe
organ, and the visitor might have known
that the event was Christmas from the APP
pcarance and naturo of the decoration.
The choir was materially strengthened
for tho occasion, containing five lady and
threa male voices, which made che singing
of popular Christmas anthems emphatic
aud joyful.
This attendance at this church during the
morning service was very large as would
naturally be- expected on so bright ana
glorious day in point of the weather as
VOL SIS of sentiment.
Tho usual scrptural lessons We're taken
from that portion of the Bible relative to
the birth OF Chrsst and tho prophecies OF
His comirg, after which the pastor, Rev.
Seth Ward, announced an appropriate text
from Johs /, Ii And the Word was made
flesh, and dwelt among us, ana We beheld
tlis glory az OF tho only baSotten of the
Father, fun! OF grace and truth"
Each object III nature, each event in his
tory and eash individual In tho human race
represents truth and represents n slEnlh-
canoe peculiarly It's own. To-day We ccle-
brate the Anniversary of the historic fact
| the birth OF Jesus OF Nazareth but the
greatest Importance of this birth Ia Its sig
nificauce to Ing and amongst our merriment
ARD enjoyment we ought to consider
chiefly the facts and teachings which fol-
| low as consequence of this birth.
| Christ was born during the Augustan age
| of the Roman empire--the golden era
| but who would have dreamed that one who
was to be the chief OF all benefactors OF
| the human race should have been born OF
| the humblest parertage and IL, so strange
a place as in n manger in Bethlehem OF
| Juaea. All men. even before this time,
had believed in the extsteuce Of divine
Being, but before the event OF the coming
OF Christ, Cos had only revealed Himself
Grcompletely and imperfectly to man and
something mora was necessary to the full
| plan of salvation. In carrying out the full
| hllment of perfect plan lie made Himself
lcomp.etely and fully known In the form OF
human flesh and Christ appearel accord
irg to prophecy o perfect man and God
manifest in the flesh, Hence on this glad
anniversary let us endeavor to see God
through Christ which is the revelation of
n personal God.
| You will never obtain any comfort IN
believing in an impersoilal God for In His
| srperhumar power we see Him in His
marvellous power as shown In His works
and miracles. There is hardly "a truth in
all religion that brings more comfort than
this: However wicked man may be and
| the often apparent success of ung0dllness
| around us | cap look to Christ as the con-
qusror OF all and to Him we can look I'm
love to help us overcome them all ne He
has done
There is no power in the universe that
cares for man was the utterance of GER
Tain infisiei IL this, on: own city. but VIZ
who are Christians take loving comfort
| through faith In JESUS Christ,
| Put the truth OF Christ as Savior ia
mems hearts and we will not have occa-
| sion TO cotho the makes and feed the poor
for prosperity win take tho place OF pow
erty and want But what Lesson are we to
get out OF this Christmas? We can uro-
| ciainl, Unto Ms WAS born Savior in
Bethlehem which WIS Christ the Lord"
This beautiful service concluded with thu
singing Of the following hymn, followed by
tho doxology:
Rather Of our hearts We lit
| Up to Thy gracious throne
And thank Thee for the precious gift
or rhino 1noarnate Sou"
First Bnptist Church.
Rev. l. D. Lalnltln. the pastor delivered
a beautiful sermon to his usual congrera.
ton. who came out In large numbers, ami
with uhe increase OF a goodly number OF
strangers doubtless Wishing the city, the
limited capacity OF the church was taken
10 hold them.
he took his text from Luke A:I0: And
vne angel said unto them. Fear not; Tor.
behold. bring you good tidings OF great
10Y which shall be TO all people"
| The theme announced as taken from tbs
text WAS Joyful Tdlngs," and the fol-
owing are a few OF the points set FORTH
My text constitutes part OF an apreIIr
message THAT broke the silence Of the nd
might sky and attracted the attont.oa Of
heaven and earth, and that chant stamped
us nr.ess upon the conscience OF the
world. That Song celebrated the birth OF
.ne most influential character OF all time.