The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-20

Christmas has always been observed
in the various churches of this city
with much splendor Of song and SER
wee, but 1t would seem as If the musi-
cal directors in charge of the arrange
ment of this years programmes had
entered into joint agreement to outdo
all previous efforts and make the last
Christmas of the nineteenth century
one long to be remembered by the
church-gong people Of Scranton.
Not only will the musical programmes
be especially rich and elaborate, but
the Sunday school entertainments be-
ing planned far exceed any previous
efforts along that line, both in novelty
and magnifcance:
The Christmas services in all of the
central city churches, with the excep-
tion of St. Peters cathedral and ST.
Lukes Episcopal church, will be con-
Quoted next Sunday, both morning and
evening.
At the First Presbyterian church
there will be services both morning and
evening, with a sermon on both occa-
sons by the PASTOR Rev. DR.. James
Mcleod. Prof. John #. Watkins has
charge of the musical programme and
is now rehearsing a special mixed choir
of thirty voices, which will sing at both
services.
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN.
Prof j. NJ. Chance, of the Second
Presbyterian church, is nightly 1'ehears
ing his efficient choir, which will rem
der on Sunday morning a carefully ar
ranged programme of Christmas carols,
interspersed with several special selec-
tions by the quartette. In the evening
there will be a Christmas praise SER
vice, with separate choruses of male
and female voices. The pastor, Rev.
DR.. c. E. Robinson, will deliver short
addresses both morning and evening.
The Sunday school entertainment will
be held on Christmas night in the lee
ture room of the church and a special
feature will be a stereopticon display
of thirty Of the celebrated Tissot pic
lures representing the life of Christ.
There will be music by the church or
chestra and a distribution of gifts for
the little ones.
The Christmas services at the Elm
Park church will be conducted on Sum
day night when the pastor, Rev. Dr. c.
M. Giffin will deliver an appropriate
Christmas sermon. A special pro-
gramme Of organ and vocal music will
be rendered under the direction of Prof.
J. Alfred Pennington.
The Sunday school entertainment this
year at this church is planned to sur
pass anything Of n similar nature ever
given in this city before. The entire
affair will be given on Christmas night,
under the direction of Prof. John n.
Watkins, who believes that no less than
5000 persons will attend.
The special stage which is placed in
position every year is to be set to rep
resent a southern camp scene at night,
with twelve of the leading male sing
ers of the city dressed un uniforms,
posing as soldiers. They fill render a
number of selections. including 1.-THE
Suwanee River" Dixie" and Home,
Sweet Home"
TO ILLUSTRATE, THE SONGS.
The entire front OF the mammoth Or
gan is to be covered with a screen
and on this, with the entire auditor
ium darkened will be thrown pic
lures illustrating the songs. Seated
just below the organ will be a care
fully drilled chorus of seventy-five
voices, who will sing several anthems
which will lalso be illustrated with the
slereopticon. There will be several
drills by the children of the school
and other attractive features.
Two immense Christmas trees have
been purchased and will be placed ono
on either side of the stage. They will
be brilliantly illuminated with colored
incandescent lights and will be laden
with Gifts for tho 1itf1a nnac.
At the Penn Avenue Baptist church
there will be musical programme OF
exceptional interest rendered on Sun
leadership OF Prof. Haydn Evans,
with sermon by the pastor, Rev. DR..
Robert r. Y. Pierce.
The Sunday school entertainment
will be given on Christmas afternoon
at 2.30 o'clock and the principal feat
ure will be an emblematic piece called
.Christmas Star" now being ar
ranged by the pastor. The Star OF
Bethlehem will be shown, with its
wonderful brliliancy and the heathen
peoples will be represented coming for
some of its light. There will be mes
sengers to bring the rays from the
star to those seeking the light.
Those who have seen in the past
some of these emblematic productions,
arranged by DR.. Pierce, ara looking
for a delightful afternoon. On the
Thursday evening following Christ
mas, there will be the annual distri-
button of gifts to the primary chill
dren.
Prof. Schilling. musical director tat
st. Peters cathedral, is arranging ITO