Smyrna times., 1900-12-26
CHRISTMAS OBSERVANCE
AMONG THE CHURCHES
PRETTY DECORATIONS, APPROl RATE MU.
SIC, AND STRONG SERMONS.
Sunday and Christmas Day Made the Occasion
for Special Services at all the Churches
and Sunday Schools.

for Special Services at all the Churches
and Sunday Schools.
The Christmas observance at the
Methodist Church otherwise than the
day-break prayermeeting of Christmas
morning and the treat of the Suaday
School of the evening, came off on
Sunday last. The church was plainly
but neatly dressed in commemoration
of the great event-wreaths of holly |
lier and in front of the chancel and
organ. The choir had prepared two
anthems that preceded the sermon
''The Shepherds and Glory to God
in the Highest" which with the offer
tory and opening piece on the organ,
were rendered with good effect. But
the central attraction was the sermon
by the pastor, Rev. G. A. Hill. His
subject was, 1.-The Fullness of Time"
IN reference to the coming of the Mes
siah.
unusual acquaintance with history,
biblical and profane, codified into a
narrative of irresistible conviction and
force. He showed where, and the
methods God had chosen in making
the Hebrew race, all of whose great
men where religious, his "chosen peO-
ple," and how through the Egyptian
and Babylonian captivities and through
the culture of the Greeks and the PROV
ess of the Romans, God had overruled
! the invasion of Alexander and the sue
cesses of the Caesars in preparing the
world for the coming of the Messiah.
After the Balylonian captivity the
Hebrews, though they often grieved
Jehovah, never lapsed into idolatry
They had become acquainted with
with written language and literature,
and Paul, the great apostle to the Gen
tiles, could preach and write in the
language of the dominating races of
his times.
All prophecies had fortold a great
event that was to take place in the his
tory of the world, which was fulfilled
in the "Fullness of Time" in the birth
of the humble NaZarlne, whose doc
trines of ''peace and good will" were
in time to revolutionize all nations and
bring them to his dominion.
The sermon which occupied over
fifty minutes, was followed by we'll
rendered solo sung by L. NJ. Price
'The Birthday of a King"
Interesting Sunday School Services.
The Sunday Sch ool session at
o'clock in the afternoon, was an in
teresting occasion to the children, anC
the large number of visitors who were
present, filling up the vacant seats
The decorations of the room were very
, much complimented, and the singing
, under the leadership of the ch oister
Walter o. Hoffecker, aide d by tn
piano and orchestra, made that an i'm
portant feature of the exercises. Tn
following was the program in full:
Doxology
Apostles Creed.
Prayer-Pastor.
Singing-"Joy to the WORLDLY SchoC
/. Roll Call.
Scripture Reading.
Song by the Primary Department.
:, RecitatiOn-''Tha Glorious Song of Old
y Sherman Corkran
: Song" "Hark the Herard Angels Sing
\ BY School.
Recitation-LOla Dick.
9 Solo-''The Secret of the Stars" s"-Hele
8 Prettyman.
"Ihe Happiest Day'-A Glass.
-"Brighest Bestn-By School.
v Recitation-JOhn Postles.
q Song-By School.
Address-By Pastor.
s Song-By School.
g Secretary's Report.
!, Song-"We Hail the Blessed Savior'-B
l School.
Presbyterian Song Service.
e The Presbyterian Church was beat
I - ,