The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-26
EXERCISES OF The
SUNDAY SCHOOLS
elm Park Church.

The vast auditorium of the Elm Park
Methodist Episcopal church. with its
vast seating capacity, was literally
filled from end to end last night with
such an audience as has never before
gathered in this city at a Sunday
school entertainment, for the occasion
the children Of the Sunday school,
which is the largest in the city.
Directly in front of the organ was
erected a large platform and on this
the exercises We're given. At either
end of the balcony was Christmas
tree of enormous proportions. bright
and brilliant with colored incantescent
lights and hundreds of yards of tinsel
The members of the Sunday school
had the place Of honor in the front of
the church. While behind them was
seated the rest of the audience.
The programme was opened with an
organ prelude by Hu. r. Huffmaster,
Prof. Pennington's assistant and a
thorough master of the instrument.
Rev. DR.. c. NJ. Gifin the pastor, Of
fered fervent prayer, and then came
one of the many unique features of
the programme.
The church was darkened and as the
organ pealed forth burst of sound
there We're thrown on a screen, cover
ing the entire front of the instrument.
sacred views representing the "Angal
of Night and the "Angel of Morning.
Then came an anthem, "The Babe of
Bethlehem" by a special choir of
twenty-five voices, illustrated with a
beautiful picture Of the Christ child in
the arms Of the Virgin. The effect of
these pictures was wonderfully i'm
pressive and they were greeted with
much applause.
The tenor of the regular church
quartette. Alfred Wooler, whose voice
was in well-nigh faultless condition.
rendered arise, Shine" being assisted
in the chorus by the Elm Park Sunday
school choir. After reading by Paul
inc Cogswell Hall, there We're another
set of appropriate views thrown on the
screen. and then the programme of the
infants department was gone through
with, under the direction of the super
intendent, Mrs. Aria Williams.
Willie Gray had solo, when Santa
Claus Comes Round" and there Were.
recitations rendered in remarka bly,
clever manner by Edna Pruener, Ella
Gilpin. Lawrence Scott and Romaine
Helmer. The biggest hit of this part
of the programme. and probably of the
entire evening, was made by Bessie
Marsh. dainty little miss just seven
years old, who sang THE Story of
Love-"
She walked up on the platform with
the air of a professional concert singer
and gaZed unconcernedly at the great
throne of 5000 persons, while the OPEN
ing bars of the piece We're being played
on the piano. When she sang, people
looked around at each other in amaze
ment, for every word she said could
be plainly heard over the entire audi
torium. Her enunciation was perfect
and she retained such remarkable self
possession that when she left the plat
form she received a great ovation.
The second part of the programme
was opened with rendition Of Meyer
beers Coronation March on the or
gan by Mr.. Huffmaster and following
this was given a Christmas drill by
twelve young ladies, attired in white
and carrying wands. They Went
through series of graceful move-
ments, and upon them We're thrown
vari-cOlored calcium lights.
Miss Martha Matthews, whose beau
tiful soprano voice is so we'll known in