The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-27
CHRISTMAS TREES BY DOZENS.
THREE HUNDRED SAILORS GOT
PRESENTS AT PORT SOCIETY
FESTIVAL.

The Gifts Distributed by Numbers.
Lutheran Sunday school Children
Made Happy by Two Trees at
Church of the Aseension-A santa
Claus Chimney Scene at Trinity
ChnpeI-Little Folk Had "A Merry
Time at First Presbyterian Festi-
vaI-WesIey's Tree and Festival
Tonight.
Among the many Christmas entertain
ments that have been given in Savannah
during this Christmas season, probably
the most appreciated, and certainly one
of the most interesting. was that of the
Port Society last night, at the Sailors
Home.
Supt. Iverson and the ladies of the Com
mittee on Decoration had worked hard all
day decorating the chapel, and the decora-
lions were most elaborate The walls
were covered with flags of every nation
except Spain, and that was conspicuous
by its absence. The rafters, Also We're
hung with flags and The posts were
draped with them and the bamboo, The
first holly that has been used this sea-
son the sailors had. and plenty of it too
The flags had been loaned by Capt. Brown
of the steamer Buckminster. On the
platform, at the furthest end, stood the
Christmas tree, brightly decorated, and
hiding great heaps of useful presents to
be distributed among the sailors. These
piles of presents consisted Of Testaments,
mufflers, sweaters, caps, hats, mtteus
wristlets handkerchief etc.
After the sailors had been seated. Rev.
DIR. Fair of the Independent Presbyterian
Church offered a prayer, which was fol-
lowed by a short address by Rev. DR..
Chapman of the Duffy Street Baptist
Church. Refreshments were then served
every man in the room. coffee. chicken.
ham and tongue sandwiches, assorted
cakes and fruit.
Supt Iverson asked that If there were
any men who were there last Christmas
they would rise, and only one arose. Sail
ors from all over the world crowded the
room, which holds at least 300 people.
During the serving of refreshments Miss
Lillian Patterson of Griffin sang Be
cause" in a very charming manner, Miss
Iverson presiding at the piano.
A hat containing slips of paper each
containing a number, was then passed
around, and upon the duplicate number
being called when the presents were dis
tributed, the parcel bearing That number
became the property of the sailor. Supt.
1verson called the numbers first in Eng
lish, then, receiving no answer, in Nor
wegian. The eager faces of the men,
worn by wind and weather, yet in their
hearts children again, betokened their en-
joyment of the Christmas tree with its
accompanying good things. After the dis
tribution of the presents the exercises
were closed by a song and benediction.
The ladies serving were Mrs. Train. Mrs.
Cunningham, Mrs. Leaken, Mrs. Nisbet,
Mrs. Cassels, Mrs. Ellis Mrs. Denmark
Mrs. Freeman, Mrs Scherff and the Misses
Middleton, Ellis and Harmon.
Among the sailors the predominating
element seeming to be Norwegians. Nor
way contributes annually to the support
of The home, not with any conditions, but
TO he used as the Port Society may see fit
1t is a noble work, one of the noblest in
the city. Every Saturday night there are
services in charge of the various churches
The Independent Presbyterian Church has
charge OF this work for the month of De-
cember, but The Lutheran Church of the
Ascension will take charge in January
aud in February IL will be succeeded by
the First Baptist.
In the summer when ii is against the law
for the sailors 10 sleep on the river, they
go to the Home, and for twenty cents a
night are given a good bed and lodging. In
this way $500 was taken in during last
summer. No one is ever sent to the hos
pital unless in cases of extreme illness.
They are cared for by Mrs. Iverson, who
is the matron of the Home.