The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-25

l.. Moody.
ELM PARK CHRUCH.
At the Elm Park church in the morn
ing a short musical programme of es-
pccial excellence was rendered by Or
ganist Pc nington and the church
quartette. At this service the pastor,
Rev. Charles NJ. Giilin, d. D., preached
the regular Christmas sermon, taking
as his theme The Angels Song" The
Christmas praise service at this church
in the evening was of a more than
usually elaborate nature and was rend-
cred by the church quartette, assisted
by paid choir of thirty voics.
The first portion of this service con-
sisted of a miscellaneous programme
of appropriate selections, including an
eXquisitely rendered piano and violin
duo THE Allegro Vivace" from
Mozarts sonata in a, by Messrs. Wild
mayer and Pennington. The second
portion of the service consisted of the
cantata, The Story of Bethlehem"
composed by J. +. West, and which
has been so extremely popular in this
country that it was found extremely
difficult by Mr.. Pennington to obtain
sufficient copies.
There were twelve distinctive parts
to the cantata, which told in song the
story of the birth of Christ. There was
a solo for each of the soloists and sew
eral splendid Choruses all of which
were rendered in an excellent manner
The music had the gladstone ring and
sound of true Christmas happiness, and
at times one could fancy one was be-
ing waited back through the centuries
to the plains Of Judea on that glorious
first Christmas day of all
At the Penn Avenue Baptist church
the pastor, Rev. Robert +. Y. Pierce,
preached the Christmas sermon in the
morning, taking as his theme "The
Heavenly Anthem" and as his especial
text, GLORY to God in the highest ana
on earth peace, good will toward men,"
Rev. Dr. Pierce spoke of the famous
songs Of sacred hstory--the song of
Miriam, the song of Deborah, the Won
derful songs of King David. the song
of Mary, the song of Zachariah, tho
father Of John the Baptist, and finally
the text sung by the angel choir on
that first Christmas morning, nearly
1900 years ago.
In concluding. the speaker referred
to the open book of life mentioned in
the fifth chapter Of Revelations, and
said it should be everyone's desire to
have his or her name written on the
pages Of this book and have the angels
sing for them.
The musical portion Of the services
at this church We're also very elabor-
ate and were rendered by the large
choir of thirty voices, under the direc-
tion Of Professor Haydn Evans. Sew
eral soprano solos rendered by Mrs.
Brundage were especially excellent, as
was also an anthem. For Unto Us a
Child is Born" by Handel
The Christmas gift service which was
to have been held in the afternoon at
this church was postponed until next
Sunday afternoon. Tomorrow after
noon the primary department of the
Sunday school will conduct their
Christmas exercises and in the even
ing the Bible class will hold theirs. At
the latter service Rev. DIR. Pierce Will
deliver an illustrated lecture on THE
Life of Christ"
CHRISTMAS AT ST. LUKE'S.
There was nothing of a distinctive
!
the services at st. Luke's yesterday
excepting the announcements. They,
| indeed, had a decided Christmas flavor.
This morning there will be three
| celebrations of the holy communion,
! at 6, S and 1890 o'clock the last SER
! vice being accompanied by the sing
| ing Of the communion office by a chan
eel choir Of thirty men and boys, There
/ will also be a Christmas sermon by
| the rector, Rev. Rogers Israel.
Tomorrow ST. Stephens day will be
! observed with a celebration of the
! holy communion and sermon at il
! O'Clock a M. In the evening a sup
! per and Christmas tree will be given
! in the industrial school in the pa ish
house by a member Of the Conglcga-
| ton to a number Of children.
The festival of st, John the Evan
! gelst viii be observed Wednesday
morning with holy communion and
sermon at 10 o'clock. on Wednesday
evening the Wesleyan Glee .lub, un-
der the auspices of the Guild of st
| Hilda, will give an entertainment In
the parish house. The club will bt
afterwards entertained by the mem,
bers of the guild at the Scranton Bicy,
| Gle house.
Thursday, when occurs the festiva
of the Holy Innocents, there will bt
holy communion and sermon at II
o'clock and in the evening at 49,
o'clock there will be a childrens Choir
al service, followed by Christmas tre,
exercises and an exhibition of stereop
! ticon pictures Of the nativity.