The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-01-01
CHRISTMAS
PLEASURES
Were Enjoyed BY Various Sun.
day Schools, and the Christ
mas Trees Were Laden.
STEREoPTIcoN AT ST. PETERS

Drill in First Presbyterian Church.
| Christmas Trees Fruit GrandIy and
the Crop Fully Garnered. and the
Children were Satisfied and Happy.
Christmastide is ever pleasant with
children, and the heads of the various
Sunday schools are fully alive to the
fact. Fifty years ago, outside Of the
Episcopal and Catholic churches, it was
considered almost sacriege to hold
these pretty observances of Christmas
within the church edifce in fact, the
Christmas tree was rarity. But the
ideas of the world have broadened,
and Easter observance has also been
added to the Sunday school exercises.
1t is not always convenient to hold
the children's exercises ON Christmas
4 Day, and many church societies
spread them through the week fol-
lowing.
The children of St. Peters Church
had their Christmas festival in the
Sunday school rooms of the church on
\ Monday evening at 7.30 o'clock. The
4 place was crowded with the children
and their friends when the lights
were turned low to allow the display
of the stereopticon views, depicting
scenes from the life of Christ. The
rector, Rev. Philemon Sturges, ex-
planned the views as they were thrown
on the screen, and this part of the
entertainment occupied about three
fourths of an hour The sheet on
which the pictures had been thrown
was then pulled aside and a murmur
OF "Ohs" greeted the appearance of
4 the lighted Christmas tree glittering
with tinsel and gauze. Gifts were then
distributed to the classes, as also boxes
OF candy, which seemed very accept
able to the youngsters. Refreshments
were then served.
A Christmas Carol service was held
on Sunday afternoon, when the full
choir under the direction of Professor
Matthews rendered the carol music
delightfully."-. Mr. Janeski sang the
tenor solos in the anthem.
Christmas tree exercises together
with carol service were held at the
First Presbyterian Church Tuesday
evening, beginning at 7 O'Clock. a
large gathering of children and friends
were ON hand, which comfortably filled
the church edifice, After the custon1-
AIRY prayer and caroi singing the
primary school gave several numbers
in clever manner which tickled the
risibilities of the audience.
7 The elder children then took a hand
in the affair and several excellent prose
fpieces and poems were recited by
these. The crowning number of the
evening was the shepherds Drill,''
in which twelve young girls, dressed
in white, with &ed baldrics over theil
left shoulders, went through a mum
Der Of pretty figures Each partici-
pant had "A shepherds crook in hel
hand, which at one point in the drill
was arehed with that of her neighbor
forming a heart. The whilOm shep.
hedesseS also sang creditably.
Rev. Philemon Sturges made the
] Christmas address, pointing out the
[ helpfnl points of the Christmas story
and reminding the congregation that
the Christmas message was one of 3ioy
and goodwill.
As so0nias the benediction had been
said tine Sunday school again fised back
to the Sunday school rooms where the
Z tree had been prepared and the pres
} ents We've appropriately distribNted.
The Industrial School held its exer-
cises in the First Baptist Church on
Tuesday afternoon and the occasion
n was made more enjoyable than usual
by the singing of the different classes.
] A responsive Bible reading each verse
lbeing followed by a chorus made an
4 attractive programme, The Rev. Will
+ lam nj. Hughes, rector of the ChMrch
OF the Redeemer, made a very happy
address to the children, i'm which he
warned them about "fitSan starts. y
The tree Was handsomely decorated
with dolls, strings Of popcorn and other
4 trappings, so that when the candies
were lighted the effect was charming.
4 Presents and candy were distributed
at the end of the exercises.
The Christmas entertainment at the
Methodist Church was emioyed bv Al
large gathering in spite of the gengthy
programme. The exercises began
with singing by the, whole school.
which was followed by prayer and re-
sponsive reading. The Primary de-
partMent's share in the entertainunent
was especially we'll received. Among
the pleasing pieces presented by the
youngsters was cantata entitled
Who is Santa Claus ~ There were
also numerous recitations, dialogues
and duets with choruses. The five
part recitation, Growing the Cross. .
given by the Junior and intermediate
Departments was especially well
well done. The Shepherds Dri /. =
in which ten young girls participated
was particularly pretty affair. At
the conclusion of the exercises re-
freshments were served Ia the Sunday
school room.
At 6 O'Clock on Wednesday evening
the Sunday sschOol of the Baptist
Church held its exercises in the
church. After the usual prayer and
scripture reading a hymn was sung,
the forerunner of the regular exercises.
A recitation entitled "Star, Crown
and Sceptre, /" was quits pretty affair,
wnlle .vefslks other recitatiOns and