The Republican journal., 1898-12-29


choir was Messrs. White and Pettingill,
Misses sullivan and Dinsmore, with Miss
Faunce as organist. The society feel deeply
grateful for this kindness. Miss Haney
played the organ for the other numbers
Monday evening the Sunday school had
Christmas sociabe at the vestry A letter
was read from Santa Claus announcing that
he was to drive from Tallahassee and would
arrive during the evening Soon after he
came in through window and distributed
three bushels of corn balls and some candy
to the children. W. C. Tuttle impersonated
the old saint in good style. After Santa's
departure fan drill was given by class of
little girls,
interesting Christmas services were held
at the Baptist church last Sunday forenoon
and evening. Following is the order of ser
vice IN the morning:
Organ voluntary
scripture invitation
Doxology and Lords Prayer
Carol, "It Is the Blessed Christmas Morn. -
Responsive Reading, Psalms SO
Anthem
"Hark. What Mean Those Holy voices,'
Nerul Sudd5
Scripture reading
Prayer
Response, Organ
Carol, The Snow Lay on the Ground, -
Offering and Invoked Blessing
flynn
Sermon by the Pastor
Matt. 2:2-" The Star of Bethlehem; A
Christmas Meditation"
Prayer
Hymn
Beutdiction
The Christmas concerti in the evening was
largely attended. The order of service was
follows;
Organ voluntary
Chorus, Sweetest Music Softly Stealing
Slmper
Scripture reading and prayer
Hy ymn
CnIluren's exercise
Chorus, The Passing of The King" Macy
CUntraito SOLO
Reading, selection from MIS-. Phelps Life
OF Jesus, Miss keene
SOLO, LATHE Town of Bethlehem
Philips Brooks
Mrs. Pitcher
Poem, Nv ondertui NlghU,' Ethola Frost
christmas otfe-lng
QuarJeute, There's Song in the Air"
Hulcomb b
Tenor solo, Mr.. White
A " ord from the Pastor
Hymn
Btutu1 ctOu.
! The services at the Uuiversalst church on
| Christmas day Were very interest ng and
there was large attendance. The audience
room very prettily decorated with fir
trees, evergreen and holly. The altar was
| banked with green and holly and numb Der of
! laurel wreaths were arranged with good ef-
| feet. The music was according to the program
announced last week, the choir consisting of
| Miss Pettingill, soprano; Miss Skay, alto
Mr.. Peterson, tenor; Mr.. Mixer bass Miss
Kingsbury, organlst. The sermon, by the
| pastor, Rev. Ashley A. Smith, was from the
text Matt. / 1;23-They shall call His name
! Emmanuel, which being Interpreted is, God
with US. By general request We give the
| sermon in full as follows:
| St. Matthew % "They shall call His name
Emmanuel which being Interpreted is, God with
| u.s.
f! The birth of Jesus, the event which at
| this season we celebrate with joyous festiei.
| ties and solemn rites, is one of the greatest
| of historical facts in its bearing upon the ad-
| vancement and well-being OF mankind.
| That birth in the humble town of Bethlehem
| nature. From that moment there was
| fuller realization Of the possibilities and
capabilities OF the human soul. 1t can be
| said that humanity took d new start from
| the birth and life and death of the Man of
| Nazareth. 1t can be truly asserted that man
| kind received q deeper incentive, nohler
| enthusiasm, a dlviner Inspiration by re Ason
| of the revealatory power of the simple sweet
| personality OF character of this peasant and
inspired prophet, uamed Jesus, or Saviour
| of men. The Chrlst's life comes to each of
| us as an encouragcmenu as an inspiration to
| noble thinking and nobler doing. he shows
| by reason of his lite as well as by precept,
| the powers and posi- ollities that are bound
| up in our human nature. We have faith in
| Him and the power OF his life, because he be
lieyed in US, had faith IN that human nature
of W hlch he was part. Because there was
| uobleuess IN his OW IL SOUL he believed there
was nobfeness III the souls oil other men and
women and this the meaning of that
word of his so often quoted, And L If be
lifted up will draw all men unto me. y
There is something magnetlcally attractive
in true manhood, something which draws
forth the dormant power from other hearts
| To meet and Join forces with It, This was
| the meaning of our own poet Lowell, when
he SAID. BE noble, and the nobleness thai
hes in other hearts, sleeping but never dead
!, will rise in majesty to meet thine own"
| Christ drew men and women TO HIM by
reason of his power OF innate goodness. lit
looked upon himself az the type and ilustra
tiou of universal lite. His advent upon
earth as the child of Joseph and Mary was
not. according to the beliefs OF The tune, al
, event unforeseen; it had been heralded as
prophecy and expectation for many years
Although His coming so humbly and unos
tentatiously was not IN accordance Will
their Messianic prophecies and expectations
, still the greatest and wisest men OF th
jewish nation had looked forward to the
l coming OF some great prophet and deliverer
, soma true King of the Jews. They locke,
for materialistic advent surrounded b.
omens. miracles, signs and wonders il
heaven and earth. Because this was no
realized. because he did not come upon til
, | rlouds of Heaven with blasts OF Heaven
trumpets and other such phenomena. IT. the,
did not receive him graciously and gladly
f Indeed, many looked upon INN as an ii
, | poster. one who was using the OLD Messianl
prophecles III order to gain foothoid # fo
. his teachings in the Jewish nation. Thi
was the reason largely for the reJectlon