The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-28
FESTIVALS NIGHT
JACK TAR's GALA FEAST AT THE
PORT SOCIETY.
LADEN WITH XMAS GIFTS.
HALF A DOZEN OTHER CHRISTMAS
CELEBRATIONS.

Double Celebration at the First
st. PauIs Lutheran Children Made
Happy-Unigue Celebration by
Trinity Methodist Sunday-schOol.
Wesley MonumentaFs Merry Oc-
cnsiOm - other Celebrations to
Come.
The Christmas celebration of the Sa-
vannah Port Society was held at the
Seamen's Bethel last night. Practically
every white sailor in port was there
and was the recipient of gracious
and lavish hospitality and a Christmas
gift. 1t was one of the most success
full of the many successful occasions
of the same general character that
have been held under the auspices of
the society.
The programme began with an invo-
cation by Rev. w. P. McCorkle, pastor
of the First Presbyterian Church. The
address of welcome on behalf of the
members of the society and the people
of the city was made by Rev. DR.. John
D. Jordan, who told the sailors how
pleasing to the society it always was to
have them as it's guests.
"If you are as glad to be with us as
we are to have you" said DR.. Jordan,
why, then, you ought to be very glad,
indeed, that you came.
The speaker said he wanted the men
to feel that all that was being done for
nloo in thA
name and for the sake of the Saviour
of men. He alluded to a statement he
had made some time ago, when he said
he feared Savannah people were too
prone to make sandwiches and coffee
rather than Christianity the principal
feature of their entertainment of the
strangers within their gates.
81 have been somewhat criticised on
this account" said the speaker, land
/ think l have been considerably mis-
understood. 1 am a believer in sand
witches and coffee: they are good things
in their place and to give them a good
way of showing our kindly feeling for
others. But l don't think they should
be elevated above religion. l believe IN
piety more than / do in pie; l would
place Christ above Coffee
There were instrumental numbers
and vocal solos and quartettes inter
spersed through the programme, and
supper was served the men as they sat
in the hall. AS were the other provis-
ions that had been made for the en-
tertainment and pleasure of the marin
ers, the supper was furnished by the
Ladies' Auxiliary of the Port Society
and served to the men by the hands
of. its own fair members.
I. The distribution of the gifts was the
most interesting and important fea-
ture. Each man had been provided
with a card bearing a number and
corresponding numbers were placed on
the gifts. AS Rev. Halvor liver
son, chaplain of the So
on the packages the men claimed their
gifts Half a dozen boys assisted the
chaplain in their distribution through
out the hall.
The gifts included sweaters. muf-
fers, caps, gloves, packages Of yarn
socks and comfort bags, the last col
lection of scissors, buttons, thread and
other articles by which Jack may
transform himself into his own tailor.
1t was 10 O'Clock before the distribu-
ton was concluded.
The chapel of the bethel, in which the
exercises were held, had been hand
somely decorated for the occasion. Two
large Christmas trees were ablaze with
candles and glttering with tinsel while
banner that was stretched across the
other end of the room gave the Christ
mas greeting of GLORY to God in the
highest; on earth peace, good will to-
wards men," Flags of all ma tions were
draped about the pillars and suspended
from the rafters.