Arizona republican., 1901-12-25
CHRISTMAS IN PHOENIX
Exercises in the Various
Churches of the City
The Season Was Opened in Delight
full Manner at Bethany Chapel.
The Observance of Today in the
Family Circle.

The Christmas season was opened in
this city by exercises at Bethany
Chapel on Monday night. They Were
held then for the reason that the
pupils who attend the chapel afternoon
Sunday school come from all parts OF
the city. and are also pupils of Sunday
schools of the various churches IN
which arrangements had been made
for. exercises on Christmas Eve. But
no where did they surpass in interest
and beauty the entertainment at
Bethany chapel. The work of prepara-
ton and execution was directed by
Mrs Walter Hin. The chief incident Of
the programme was not the Christmas
tree alone as might have been eX-
pected, but a portrayal OF the birth of
the Christ child.
The Christmas tree was q nagnin-
cent fir deliberately decorated. Above
II was suspended a Star OF Bethlehem
The star consisted of a pastepoard
frame covered with tissue paper.
upon which We're thrown the rays Of
an incandescent lamp. Near by was Il
Manager in which babe lay. not "A doll.
but a really enough" babe. The shep-
herds. (boys of the Sunday SCHOOL, en-
tered and ga=ed upon the star and the
Manager and were thrilled by the
angels music" furnished by the or
ganist, Rev. Mr.. Muir. Then came the
villagers tnore boys and girls of the
Sunday school. and still later. the
Magi Gnore pupils of the Sunday
SCHOOL,. who had followed the star
from the east
The climax OF this part of the enter
tainncnt came when Mrs. Hill lifted
the babe from it's bed OF hay in the
manager and held it up to the view of
the audience. which greeted 1t with
loud applause. The exercises We're
closed with the distribution of the
gifts. which were numerous and hand
some.
Christmas Eve was never a more
welo ONE date to Phoenix people. old
and young. than this year There never
was time when the little folks waited
more longingly for the favors OF Santl
Claus. and there never was n time
when fond parents. who are in close
touch with chat worthy. were in bet
ter position to gratiry the desires of
the LATHE ones.
AT nearly all the churches last
night there were Christmas trees o.
other methods of distributing presents.
accompanied by exercises appropriate
to the occasion. in which both old and
young participated. These exercises
were all of so similar 4 nature that
special description would be tiresomc,
but they consisted of recitatIons. scrip
ture reading. musical selections and
1s.ort talks on that event Of greatest
human interest which the festivities %
Chris t!nas and the subsequent holt
days commemorate. The services at
most OF the churches began at an early
hour. that the little ones. who largely
composed the congregations, might get
home early.
At the VI. E church. South. there
was a beautifully dressed tree laden
with its rich fruitaGe. The church was
decorated appropriately and the seat
ing capacity was more than taxed,
many being forced to stand during the
services that preceded the distribution
of presents. The programme and the
general success of the festsl occasion
was better than any previously held IN
the church.
At the First Nj. z. church there was
not only a handsome tree. but 1t was
surrounded by realistic winter scene.
the tree seeming to rise out of
vast snow-bank. At one side OF the
pulpit was the motto. Peace on earth.
good will toward mel,' in electric
lights of alternating colors. Else
where the walls of the room bore APP
propriate notices and decorations of
green. The tree. in the other
churches. was an evergreen. imported
for the occasion.
At the appointed hour the children,
who had been assembled ir the par
Tors below the auditorium. marched
upstairs. entering the rear door OF
the church. meanwhile singing There