The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-17
CHILDREN WILL GIVE
At SUNDAY SCHOOLS
rHR1sTMAs CELEBRATIONS TO
HAVE NEW FEATURE.
Santa, Claus Will Be Visitor at Near
~ All the Gatherings, But He Will
Come to Collect Toys, Nuts and can
DIV for Children Who Might Be over
looked.

Good st. Nicholas is planning nu.
merous and brilliant fetes for the small
people of Minneapolis, working thru
his agents. the Sunday schools, instead
of for the Sunday schools, as has been
his custom. There will be few Sunday
school celebrations he will not visit in
person, accompanied by the most ell
fish of elves or miniature counterparts
of himself and the seductive jingling
of bells; the object of his visits will be
to gather up wealth of presents for
children who are less fortunate than
those in the Sunday schools, and the
children will thus learn the sweetness /
of giving.
Refreshing departures have been
taken this year from the time honored |
custom of tree and treat Believing
that cit is more blessed to give than
to receive,' Plymouth Sunday school
will have no tree, no tinsel, no toys,
no candy, fruit or nuts. Instead,
Santa Claus will be present, having az
rived tired from a long journey, and
disheartened because the wee ones of
Bethel Settlement have no Christmas.
But lo the children Of Plymouth
church come to his aid, marching up
with their little hands filled with
goodies and toys to cram his pack,
eyes brimful Of happiness to gladden.
his heart. Tt is extremely probable
that there will be much whispering be-
tween the directors of Bethel Settle
ment and teachers, and then more be-
tween teachers and pupils, over tho
choice Of gifts for Santa Claus, and
that everything will not be as casual
as it appears. But at any rate the
g Il,
Sunday school will glow with the
blessedness of giving and down around
Bethel other little hearts will be warm,
too.
The Days Significance.
The Christmas observance Of the
Hennepin Avenue Sunday school will
aim to emphasize the spiritual signif-
canoe of the day. The Sunday school
room will be deliberately decorated
with evergreens and flaming poinset-
tia blossoms, and the platform will be
banked with fir trees dressed in tinsel
and electric lights. But among the
trees will be manger, wide and roomy
and deep, for the reception Of the chill
--dren's gifts for others less fortunate
than themselves. A deaconess will pre-
side at the manger, and next day the
gifts Of food and fruit and toys will
be distributed. There will be a pro-
gram by the children, Of which the
most interesting feature will be the
story of the nativity, told by the in
FAINT class of fifty 'wee uns.''
: An old English carol service will be
part of the Christmas celebration
planned by st. Marks. Christmas
eve the full vested choir will sing old
Nhr,S 1c
ing the children will hold festival in
the parish house. First there will be
) brief, formal service in the church,
Then the children's saint will drop
Flown the chimney and leave fairy
stockings full of candy and oranges.
But the really important feature of
the evening will be the gathering of
he children's gifts to be distributed
next day, and songs and recitations by
he children will make the time pass
pleasantly. r.
- The Wesley Program.
Neither will there be gifts of candy
IT anything else for the little people
If Wesley Sunday school. The whole
celebration will consist Of a program
If songs and recitatiOns and grand
gathering of presents for the poor.
Zach class will give some special arti-
lie of food, either a necessity or a lux
ry~in the way of fruit or nuts, and
tt the same time contribute a number
the program. This will take place
friday evening before Christmas, and
will result in a delightful program and
1t least $75 worth of food for the poor
The bits of children who cannot under.
tand the philosophy of a Christmas
without a Christmas tree, will contrib
tie as their share little trees prettily
trimmed to aid in the decorations and
alter to gladden. the lives of other chill
lren; but that, too, will be giving.
The trimming of trees with gifts fol-
he needy will be feature of the
christmas festivities Of the Church Of
he Redeemer. Trees innocent of tin
or holiday fruit will extend waiting
ranches on Saturday before Christ
qas, and on them will be placed any
hing and everything edible that is a
II appropriate for Christmas dinners
o that the trees will literally blossom
With Christmas dinners. The children
bill have their own particular treat O.
andy and oranges, just plucked from
he children's tree in the center O
he Sunday school room, and big Sant
lauS anu 11ICle koanCa ClauS Will be o.
and to assist.
Secrecy at Westminster.
Westminster Sunday school will cel
brate, too, but everybody who Know
nything about the Christmas parties
oes around on tiptoes and says Ssh!
'henever the subject is broachei
.owever, Riverside chapel is rrepa,
lg a cantata of forty voices for tn
riday after Christmas. It will be civ
a by the young women and men q
le chapel, but there will be choruse
{ children
Central Baptist Sunday school wi
ave vesper song service on Suudo,
I'D Thursday following there will be
hristmas drama called fsCnristnas i
II Lands.' But here also there wi
9 giving, each class having it's ow
'crets and plans to make some on
Apply. ~"
-.-.oliday Excursion Rates to Easter
Points. 7,slr-
The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroa
Is on sale round trip excursion tic1
s with limit for return to Jan. s