The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-25
Gods Great Gift Of His Son to
the World COMMUNICATED
BY Christians in Speech
and Song.

" ~ AtiAS was tuV tutHiC UNIVERSAL
MIL In Christian nations yesterday,
And win be tenfold more so to-
cay, for Christmas at this day of the week
oathers at least two days into Its observ-
ance, and sometimes more. Thousands OF
seattle citizens, men ana women and chill
dren. gathered at the multitude Of houses
u worship that this city claims and sung
= paeons Of thnnkfulness for the great
Christmas gift given to humanity with the
birth OF the Savior twenty centuries ago,
when the Child In the manger was born
to typify the divine Intention to liberate
men from the letters Of sin.
Today y Christmas; yesterday was the
sabbath. and accordingly the people made
Sunday double day ,!of rejoicing. They
Z took from their homes the choicest speci-
mems OF house plants, the pick OF their
conSorvatories, the finest they could Dor
TOW, and arranged them with appropriate
skill around pulpit and rostrum and nave.
with streamers Of evergreen dropping from
the ceilings, and emblems and rnottoeF
and festoons at the cbancels, that made
the sanctified houses bowers Of holiness.
And with this were mingled esngs from
the city's fairest and sweetest singers
and words of fervid efoquence from tho
ministers combining into a universal
theme of rejoicing the thankfulness for
Jesus entrance into the world IN the long
ago.
fresbyterians. Congregationalists. Metho-
dists. Episcopalians ana all other Protestant
denominations united in an expression OF
Joy n years results Of Christian work
Today the Roman Catholics will celebrate.
- Christmas day with them is the only day
for bringing this hallowed feast into mod
ernness. whether the 25th Of December IL
Sunday or Monday or any other time Of
week. And so, Seattle Is to have two days
Of observance-Sunday and Monday-and
both have been and will be epochs in Seat
ties chronology Of Christmas celebrating.
~ Xxx
bTNHE Plymouth Congregational. on
Third avenue and University street,
was one Of the important centers Of
worship yesterday. the auditorium being
diied both morning and evening with adj
herents and transients who happened to be
In the city at the time and wanted to go
70 some church to show their unanimity
with the general spirit of rejoicing. Flow.
ers had been contributed by the parishion-
ers and friends OF this church for the
Christmas. and when the decorations were
nnished there was not finer looking edi-
nee in the city Rev. w. II. g. Temple,
the eloquent pastor. was at his best. and
gave one of those rare instructions that are
q delighting to adherent and transient alike,
His subject, like those of the other Seat
tie preachers was one in keeping with the
spirit Of the day, and covering various
phases Of the Christmas life and giving.
He analysed the presenting Of gifts at this
Time o.. year from tne stanupo'nt OF potn
the donor ana receiver, craving the topical
lesson of the great gift presented to hui
rnanity by God. when He gave up His Son.
How different was this gift from the aver
age token seen nowadays, said the minister.
He took the position that person OF
wealth. VINO old not make suitaple provision
Tor this season was unspeakaniy mean ana
that one OF limited means VINO DID more
tnan ne could anord was extravagant ana
se'nsn, TOT ne gave WITH otner peop,e
money and TOOK credit to himself Tor aoins
good deeds
The magnitude OF the LORDS GIT was
Elaborated win MI tne eloquence ana
devotion to detail OF which this talented
preaeher was capable. ne p,c'usea ,n ie
cIeatson OF .ne nlllahsu pIsuue a., ~ .u NE
matchless form, modelled after that OF the
Creator, the intellect, the handsome capa-
BILE Of turning out with untold skill won
derful mechanicai results, the power 70
take q brush ana palnt sunset, 70 amass
the raw products OF nature ana mouel tnem
into the most intricate and delicate ma
hlney voca ose bp,v ' % sd nsn ana
write words that would ring out with every
new energy for the influence Of all genera
lions and an eve as the window OF the
soul: ana tnen. ls no, TINS tne unspeaksoie
gift Of the Alnlishty?' asked the speaker
and he want nm 70 pict,,re the man disso-
-. e $3.50, ~, -. tstood.hn. fror,
lute ana 1oriorn-Hls eyes piooushot i'm.
dissipation, his head boWed IN shame, ana
his clever fingers doing works of mischief
ond cr,re with form shaking and spent
80 e. ,cad.vs ~ vice Then
.-s.. ~. -,,,,.ct was alone and frfendless
the great spirit Of God came down to him,
and taking him by the hand led him to the
life eternal. This gift Of redemption was
the great gift, the unspeakable gift. the
wonderful Christmas present that had been
bestnwed unon humanity.
Tho regular order of service was observed
In The morning. Mrs. w. Fl. Whlttlesey
snnp the Christmas offertory and the
choir rendered ''IIark, What Mean Those
Heavenlv voices" by Gilchrist and "For
INTO n. . Child Is Born" from the Mes
st.b"
The regular festival service was given at
7.sn n m. when the choir, under the d.
rsction Of f. Boyd Wells, rendered Sc
,eotIona from the great oratorios, with