The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1898-12-29
XMAS FESTIVITIES.
KENOSHA CELEBRATES THE chill.
DREN'S HOLIDAY.
CELEBRATION AT CHURCHES
Christmas Dinners and Christmas Songs
Make the Day One Long to be
Remembered.-Many Unique
Celebrations.

Christmas, with It's burden OF happl-
ness and pleasure, was celebrated with
more than usual gayety in Kenosha
Sunday, and church and home alike
resounded with the voices of happy
children. All day long the clouds
lowered over the city and just enough
snow sifted from them to make it a
white" Christmas. It was day of
good fellowship ali over the city.
All day Saturday the bundle was
king and Sunday morning found the
children rejoicing over the gifts Santa
Claus had left them.
From the belfrys of the churches the
chimes rang out, "Peace on Earth
Good Will to Men," and around the
hearthstones in the homes pleasant
family reunions were held, closing
with the old fashioned Christmas
dinner. For one day the poor were
forced to forget their poverty, for many
kind hearted people thought not only
of self, but also of those whose circum-
stances were such that no Christmas
Joys came to their hearts save from the
kind hands of their neighbors and
friends.
1t was day of universal rejoicing
and praise in the churches and all the
pastors chose sermons appropriate to
the occasion, while special programs of
beautiful Christmas carols caused the
day to be one of great enjoyment.
Nearly all the churches held the
Christmas entertainment for the chill
dren. Saturday evening the Sunday
schools of the Baptist, German Metho
dist, German Lutheran and Danish
Lutheran churches gave special chill
dren services, consisting of songs and
recitatiOns by the children, and the
Christmas tree weighted down with
gifts from parents and teachers.
The annual service for the children
at ST. Matthew's church was held on
Sunday evening. The rector made a
short talk to them, after which they
were presented with the usual holiday
gifts.
The celebration at the Congregation
al church was an exceedingly unique
one, which was held Monday evening
The parlOrs of he church were turned
into great dining hall and feast was
served for the children. Over 30l
members of the Sunday school were
present and the tables adorned witt
pretty holiday decorations, surrounded
by mass of happy children, made the
affair a very enjoyable one. During
orchestra consisting of Mrs. HOlliste1
and Messrs. Mailer and Newman. A
the close of dinner the children received
their usual gifts of candy and oranges
At the Park Avenue church must
cal and literary entertainment was
given by the Sunday school Monday
evening, ending with a treat for tht
school and presents from beautiful
Christmas tree.
At the Swedish Lutheran church last
night the children of the Sunday schoo
rendered beautiful concert of sacred
music, after which Santa Claus was
introduced and distributed presents
from two very pretty trees.
AT st. George,
st. George church was filled with
wOrshippers Christmas N )rning at five
o'clock mass, and beautiful sight met
their gaze as they entered the ediice
The church was ablaze with many
lights, the affairs being unusually
prettily decorated with many flowers,
palms and potted plants, with many
candles burning upon them.
The celebration of high mass was
conducted by the pastor, Rev. B.
Elskamp, and he delivered a mastery
sermon on the great feast that was
being celebrated throughout Christen-
dom on that day. Previous to the
sermon he spoke few words of thanks
to the congregation for the large
attendance at services during the short
time that he has been here, and wished
them one and all merry Christmas.
The reverend gentleman has made
himself beloved by his flock, for the
great interest he takes in everything
of interest to the church, and the
congregation is to be congratulated on