The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-26
First Baptist
Has a Blaze.
GAS JET IGNITES.
Christmas Decorations and
Church HaveNarrowEscap

A striking departure from the ordi-
nary Christmas celebration took place
at the First Baptist church last even
ing. Ill was not down on the program
which had been arranged by the COM
mittee, but it took place all the same
and created more interest than any
other portion of the celebration. 1t
was A lively fire which destroyed the
festive decorations on the organ front
and caused a lively hustle among the
few who were in the auditorium at the
time.
Fortunately the fire took place sew
eral minutes before the hour for open
ing the services, and was witnessed by
early arrivals only. Had it started
when the church was filled and the eel
ebration at its height, panic would
have resulted. The scent of burnt
cloth filled the church when the audi
forum began to fill, and serious still
ness pervaded as thoughts of what
might have been occupied their minus.
The fire was caused by a flame from
one Of the gas jets catching the deco
rations on the organ front. The organ
had been literally covered with ever
green and paper decorations, a portion
Of which was hung Immediately over
one of the jets. 1t hung in such a
manner that casual glance would not
reveal any danger. Clarence Holland
son of the janitor of the church. assist
ed his father in getting ready for the
evening service, which began at
O'Clock. a few minutes before that
hn1lT he took q 1io1fcd Ia frr
the gas. As one on the organ front
flashed up, the decorations immediate
ly above it caught fire Young Hol-
land Immediately called out His
father, Charles P. Holland, and Walter
s. Bliss, tenor Of the church choir
who We're in the building, rushed to tht
scene of danger, and began to strip tbs
organ of the burning decorations They
had no difficulty in extnguishing th.
evergreen and paper. but some of the
draperies caught fire. and they were
forced to carry a blazing curtain from
the church and throw it into the street
The curtain filed the church witt
smoke which had not disappeared
when the congregation began to arrive
Everybody noticed the scent and made
inquiries
The services, however. proceeded d.
though nothing out of the ordinary haC
occurred. The celebration was a con.
cert exercise given by the children
Recitations We're given by Ethel War.
ing, Roland Carr Vera Smith, Harold
Waring, Ralph Brooks, Harriet Hol.
land, Walter Barrows, Fannie Converse
and the children Of Mrs. F. a. Carr.
and Mrs G. F. Brooks classes. The
primary department sang songs ant
rendered several recitations. The
church quartet was augmented to thg
proportions Of choir and assisted in
the exercises.
Rev WOodman Bradbury. pastor OF
the church, gave a short address whicF
was directed especially to the little
ones. A feature Of the day at the
church which added greatly to the ex.
erclses was the bringing of presents fol
certain families connected with the Oal
hill mission. Nearly every member OF
the congregation and as many children
entered the church with a parcel con.
tanning either food or clothing. as ne.
cessities were considered more fttine
for the occasion than luXuries. Tn
good things will be distributed bv ,
committee from the mission Of which
Rev. Arthur St. James is chairman