The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-12-27
CHRISTMAS Ar MONTPELIER.


generally observed in Montpelier and near.
ly all places of business were closed at
noon. At the several churches q wealth uf
gifts on Christmas trees gladdeued the
hearts OF old aud young. At the Sunday
morning services and In III Sunday school
concerts the story Of the birth OF Christ Ia
lOuely mauger, the glad tidirgs Of re iCe on
earth and good will tOwatd men, rs herald
ed by angelic choirs, were told In eloquent
sermons, stately music and cheerful carols,
The grateful hearts OF many Montpelier
people did not forget th' nUrdy and unfor-
tunate on that day. In addition TO tho
money distributed 10y Mount Sinai Temple
aud philanthrop!c merchant, OF which
mention has been made, pleasing accounts
have been received which show that not
few poor families in this Ommuuity had
come to bless 'he day Christ WAS born. II
the dsily press fails TO record such deeds,
sure 10 IL they did not escape the notice Of
the one who said; "Inasmuch rs ye did IL
INTO the least of one OF these my brethren
you did it unto me-"
AT THE JAIL AND CITY FARM.
Overseer Wheeler and Jailor Tracy saw
TO it that the uufurtuuat- people under
their charge had reason 20 remember the
day with pleasure. A the jail and he city
arm bountiful dinners were provided for
inmates, and in many other little ways rays
OF sunshine were thrown into their lives
which will be the theme OF conversation
among Vutm lOr mauy udy'
AT THE BAPTI t CHURCH.
Sunday at the Baptist church was OBJ
served in the morning by special music ap-
propriate TO Christmas time rendered by
chorus choir. The choir gallery and plat
form were preltiIy decorated with ever
green and potted plants. Rev W J. ClOues,
the pastor, drew a helpful lesson from the
subject "Christmas JOY" Sunday evening
a Christmas Sunday school concert was
y L. In
Of the church, An interesting progr mme
Of music Al and literary selections had been
arranged and WAS most aCceptably carried
out by those taking part. Christmas day
was observed Monday evening by short
musical and literary exercises by the mem
bers of the Sunday school at the close of
which presents for the members and their
teachers, which had been tastiy arranged
upon two trees were distributed and So
cial hour was enjoyed.
AT BETHANY CHURCH.
The decorations for the Bsiley.Gulette
wedding were left ia Bethany church for
Christmas. These we're supplemented by
wreaths OF holly and additional evergreens,
making a very attractive picture. The mu.
steal programme Sunday morning has al
ready been publ shed in these columns. Il
was in charge OF w. A. Briggs and was SUI
perbly rendered The boy choir, under the
direction of Mrs Minnie Marsh, sang a
q
Norman Seaver preached strong SER
mon, that brisfled with originality of
thought from the wordl, "And His name
shall b5 called Wonderful, Counselor, the
mighty Cod, the everlasting Father, the
Prince of Peace" The exercises by the
Sunday-school occurred Sunday evening,
and we're in charge of Charles H. More, the
superintendent. They consisted largely OF
recitations, singing, eJc., by the smaller
children of the school. Attractive features
OF the programme were the Mcneil quar-
tette by children of John Mcneil; singing
by quartetle from Mrs. e. S. Fi-ke's class,
composed Of Florence Shipman, Bessie
Kemp, Emma Lyons and Bertha Dewey
singing by Miss Maud Shurteff's class; re-.
citation by Florence Frink; recitations by
Evelyn and Gertrude Ctilds; either solo
by Margaret Leslie; exercises by the pri-
mary class, taught by Mrs Mary Rbin ehart,
aud class exercises by classes taught by
Mrs. II. NJ O'Dall, Mrs. Charles II. More,
Miss Jennie Sparrow, Miss Bailey, w S.
Smith, Mrs. d. s Wheatley, Miss Gertrude
Leland and Miss Fannie Knapp. The pres
ents ON two heavily laden trees were the
annual gifts from the church to the schol-
ars through their teachers In the distri-
button Of these gifts no LITTLE one, or older
one for that matter was forgotten.
AT CHRIST CHURCH
No special Christmas features euterld
into The Sunday morning service at Christ
church. At four o'clock in the afternoon a
distribution OF presents from the Christmas
trees was made among the children of the
Sunday school, who sang several sweet
carols which they had committed. The
members of the chorus Choir were each the
recipients of "A beautiful present, given by
Col Fred Il. Smith. The church was pret-
tily trimmed with garlands of evergreen
aud holly which, combined with the soft
and varied light coming in from the win.
dows of Colored glass, produced a beautiful
effect.
Al 10:30 o'clock Monday morning a choice
program OF special music was rendered
by the chorus choir under the able direction
Of Professor A. j. Phillips who in this ei-
fort eclipsed all attempts which have been
made in previous years. AS one expressed
it, "Che music was almost divine" The
soprano solo by Miss Alice Fulsom, the
tenor solo by George A. Knapp and the
bass solo by John Angus were OF more
than usual merit from their purity OF tone
aud expression in rendition. The singers
were the subject of much favorable COM
ment AZ the close OF the service. The pro.
gram will be repeated at the next Sunday
morning service. Daring the service Mon
| day morning Holy Communion was cele-
brated by Rev A. n. Lewis, the rector.
AT TIE CHURCH CT THE MESSIAH.
Festoons OF evergreen and wreaths of
| holly gave the interior of this church a hOl-
iday appearances AT the Sunday morning
service, Rev j. Edward Wright, the pastor
| preached sermon appropriate to the day
! Sunday afternoon at five o'clock occurred
! the Christmas concert in charge of w. s.
Hudson, superintendent. This was in the
nature OF "Christmas Peace Convention, u
| and consisted OF carols by the choir and
! Sunday school, responsive readings, bible
J reading by Sibyl Wright, recitations by
Ethe Butler, Fred Huntington, Rollo
Blanchard, Joe Blakely, Forrest Foster
Ruth Dodge, Blanche Andrews, Bertha
Daniels, Ruth TempletoD, Beryl Nelson
Eva Leland, Harold Jackson Sidney Fos-
ter, George Smith and Halle Lane. Co
! lumbia was represented by Helen Hunting
ton and BrittaDia by Mamie Pitkin. A
pleasing feature Of the programme was the
| solo aud chorus, THE House the Woods
by Miss Alice Stoddard and the school
| Gifts from two trees made glad the hearts
| of old and young at the conclusion of the
programme.
AT ST. AUGUsTINE's.
Christmas at ST. Augustine's church real
| ly began with the celebration OF midnight
mass Sunday night. The church, which
| had been prettily decorated, was crowded
to its full capacity. Special music had been