Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-26
OF JOY
Heard in the Churches of Rock
Island During Yes.
terday.
CONGREGATIONS ARE LARGE
Religious Significance Of the Festival
fmpressiveIy En-
phasized.

| church of every denomination there
were sermons, and music, and flowers,
to mark the coincidence of Sunday and
Christmas yesterday. Never before
was the religious significance more i'm
pressively or more generally empha-
| sized. In the Roman Catholic and
Episcopal churches musical programs
| for which there had been long prepa-
ration were rendered, and scarcely less
attractive musical features were offer
| ed by the other denominations.
| The sermons dealt with the uplifting
| influence wrought by mankind and
civilization by the Christ child. Topic
| al subjects were forgotten for the day
| and the pastors concentrated their elo-
quence on the lesson learned from the
life and death of the Man of Galiee.
A spirit of hope for the future was
dominant in all the sermons, the pas
tors urging that in Christs example
would be found a beacon light to lead
the world TO the place for which the
NaZarene laid down his life.
SANTA Sees Trinity Church.
At Trinity Episcopal church the first
service was at midnight, and the chill
dren's exercises were held in the after
noon, when presents were distributed
from huge Christmas tree. The mis-
sion Sunday school will have its enter
tainment this evening at 1880 o'clock.
The services at Trinity yesterday were
conducted by Few. Day, of st. Kathar-
ines hall, Davenport.
In Roman Catholic Churches
In the Roman Catholic churches the
first service was at o'clock in the
morning. The congregations were
large in all three churches, st. Joseph's,
st. Mary's and Sacred Heart. The 9TH
er masses were at and 1920 o'cock.
Rev. Father Thomas Mackin was I'M
able to officiate at St. Joseph's. the first
time in years. owing to an illness that
has confined him to the rectory for
weeks. and his message of cheer was
conveyed to his people through his as
sistant, Father Harrington.
Three Schools Unite.
Saturday evening the three parochi-
al schools of the city gathered at the
German Lutheran church on Twentieth
street to receive their visit from Santa
Claus. A program of songs and reci-
tations was given by the young folks,
after which the many good things that
the tree bore were distributed. Rev c..
A. Mennicke preached the Christmas
sermon yesterday morning, and in the
evening services were in charge of
Rev. E. ID. Mennicke.
| EndenvOrs Have Prayer Service.
| At Memorial Christian church the
Christian Endeavorers held a prayer
service at o'clock in the morning,
with special music. The subject was
1.-The First Christmas" In the even
ling Christmas concert was given. In
the morning Rev. o. w. Lawrence
preached on Christ in the World and
Christ in the Heart
The choir of the Memorial Christian
church gave its annual program OF
Christmas songs, before a wellfiled
house II was the general opinion OF
the large audience that the choir has
never given a better program. The har-
mony and symmetry in the work of the
chorus demonstrated the splendid lead
| shin of Miss Fay Warren, under
whose direction they have worked dur
ling the past three months. The solos
of the evening were greatly enjoyed.
| Master John Swiney, of Davenport. as
sisted the choir by singing two solos.
THE solo parts taken by Mr.. Stock
man were well rendered, Miss Bertha
Karr who is a favorite with Memorial
Christian church audiences was greatly
enjoyed as her singing always is. Miss
Warren sang the Birth Day OF
King" which voiced most beautifully
the sentiment of the sermon.
Hear Concert Program.
The CONGREGATION of the First Metho-
dist church was provided a concert last
evening, and there also was special mu-
sic in the morning. This evening the
children's exercises are TO be held at
the church. christmas at Grandpa's,"
cantata, will be presented. There was
christmas music at Broadway Presby-
terrain church, with a concert in the
evening by quaTtet choir
| a. VI. f. Little One. Happy.
| The little folks of the African Metho-
dist church had their visit from Santa
Claus Saturday evening. There was a
present for each child. Yesterday morn
ing Rev. ID. w. Brown preached ON the
subject, Where is He That Was Born
King OF the Jews?"
At the y. VI. G. A.
| At the Y. NJ c. A. special program
was carried out yesterday afternoon.
the principal address being made by
DR.. ]. w. Stewart, on The Unspeak-
able Gift" Musical numbers were
given by Miss Holt, Fred Schneider
and Will Marquis, and ladies' quar-
tet. composed of Mrs. ]. X. Scott, Mrs.
w. UIlemeyer, Mrs. Anderson and Miss
Bartholomew. At the boys meeting
Rev. o. w. Lawrence. of the Christian
Ichurch, read selections from Eugene