Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-26
AQUIET CHRISTMAS
People of Rock Island Generally
Observe the Day at
Home.
CHURCH SERVICES WELL ATTENDED
Cherries Weather Conditions Oper-
ate to Prevent
Travel.
CHURCH SERVICES WELL ATTENDED

y quiet Christmas was yesterday
and as gloomy as cloudy skies and a
bare and slippery earth could make
il. The effect of the darkness and
lampness was particularly felt, com
ing as it did so suddenly after all had
become inlred TO real Christmas
weather.
II must not be supposed. however.
shat the gladdest holiday of the year
was allowed to pass unobserved in
Rock Island ON this account. Uusa-
luxurious conditions ont of doors rem
dered home and fireside all the more
attractive. and if Kris Kringle was
unable to use his sleigh he found an
other conveyance that answered his
purposes just as well. In fact there
was probably more Christmas" in ev-
idence in the city than ever before in
it's history.
Scarcely a wheel turned anywhere
but on the railways and street car
lines, and few were the business
houses that opened their doors even
for n short time in the morning. The
unprecedented rush of the week past
left everyone i'm condition To nppre-
ciate chance to rest. and rest they
did. There was fair travel both in
and out of town. but the vast ma
jority of people stayed at home.
Church Services
The day was made much of in the
usual fashion among those of Cath
Ole. Lutheran and Episcopal faith.
unusually large congregations being
present wherever services were held.
Perhaps the greatest outpouring of
people at any one place was that in
attendance at Sacred Heart
church, where the first services were
held in the handsome new edifice just
completed on Twenty-cighth street
and Fifth avenue. Commodious as
the structure is it's capacity was tax
ed to accommodate those who were
present at the first mass. The deco
rations were especially fine. setting
off the interior beauty of the church
to great advantage, and the music
and services were particularly i'm
preSsive. In st. Joseph's and st.
Mary's churches masses were likewise
held at ), S and 1880 i'm the morning,
and there was special music and elab-
crate decorative effects. At St. JO-
seph's the musical program was UNI
der the direction of Mrs. T. Il. Reidy.
At Trinity Episcopal church the SER
vices were of the usual attractive and
impressive nature. consisting of mid
night mass Christmas eve and morn
ing prayer, sermon and celebration
Christmas morning, the rector, Rev.
DIR. r. F. Sweet. and the curate, Rev.
George Kaltenbach, participating in
all the services. Yesterday afternoon
the annual Christmas festival for the
Sunday schools of the parish and mis-
sion were held in the church \ fea-
ture was the representation of the
babe of Bethlehem in the crib which
had been prepared in the tower. The
service was beautiful in its simplicity
and included an appropriate address
by the rector, at the conclusion of
which the children were formed in
procession by the curate and, headed
by the rector, marched down the aisle
singing the joyous Christmas carol. |
20, little Town of Bethlehem" and |
passing the door of the tower viewed |
the depicted scene of the sacred ma |
tivity Then returning to their seats |
the children were presented with |
Christmas boxes, the teachers in the |
school being also remembered.
At the German Lutheran church |
there were services at 10 n. IN. and at |
1880 p. m, with holy communion at
the former period.
The program for the regular We'd
nesday evening praise meeting at the
First Church of Christ Scientist was
elaborated and musical features in
troduced. These included a vocal
solo by Miss Pauline Woltmann and
cor1iet solo by Prof. C. F. Toenniges.
At the Grace Lutheran church
there were matin services at Christ
mas morning and those for the chill
dren at z in the evening.
ChIIdren's Exercises
CI,r-is.f aynrpiSaS