The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-28
Event Last Night Was One
of the Enjoyable Affairs
of the Season.
WAS GIVEN FOR OFFICERS AND
MEN OF SHIPS IN PORT, BUT
WAS ATTENDED BY RESIDENTS
WHO ASSISTED IN MAKING THE
EVENING PLEASANT FOR THE
MEN.

Christmas was celebrated at the
Norwegian church on South Palafox
street last night, and but few of the
readers of these lines have any con-
ception of the uniqueness and touch
ing beauty of that celebration Of the
birth of the Savior of the world.
The celebration was ostensibly
Christmas tree for the officers and
seamen of the ships from all OF
Scandinavian now in port, but in reali-
ty it was gathering-an eminently
respectable and devoutly respectable
gathering-of all of Pensacola's
Scandinavian citizens to make merry
the Christmas tide for the men and
boys of their race who go down to
the sea in ships 1t was in fact.
delightful function, really inspiring
scene to one who had never before
witnessed one of these celebrations
before. The brain and Drawn and
the grace and beauty of Pensacola's
Scandinavians was there, and it mat
tered not whether the sailor, whose
function it was, was the master of
ship or the masters cabin boy, he was
of the occasion-as a man, one OF
Gods children come to celebrate the
natal day of His Son whom He sent
to redeem and save the world.
Reverend johannes Helle, pastor of
the mission, was in charge of the
celebration, and every master, and
more than a hundred of the sailors
from the Norwegian, Swedish, Dan
ish and Finnish shipS-the ships from
all of the Baltic states, were there.
From floor to ceiling, and from
the altar to the back of the edifice the
church was decorated with the flags
Of all the nations of Scandinavia, and
overhead and to either side of the
entrance to the church, old Glory
was draped in graceful folds.
Immediately in front Of the altar
stood an enormous Christmas tree
brilliantly illuminated with vari-color-
ed candles and bedecked with spark
ling ornaments. This tree was liter
ally laden with remembrances- tokens
of love, from the folks at home" for
the officers and men of the Scandinav-
ian ships now in in port.
In the ante-room, or more properly
speaking. in the reading room of the
church, tables literally grooming with
refreshments consisting of sand
witches, cakes, coffee. chocolate. fruits,
bon bons, etc, were set and were
served by the Pensacola ladies Of the
congregation, and no sailorman or cit
izen' who was there could have left
hungry.
The national anthems Of Norway,
Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Amer
lea were sung: and the most unique
feature of the celebration was the
singing by the sailors, as they march
ed around the Christmas tree, of the
Christmas hymns of all of the nations
represented there. REGULATIONS from
Ibsen, Bjornsen, Wergeland. Wei
haven and Runeberg were rendered
and an original poem dedicated to
Haakon, the young king of Norway
was recited by the grand old man"
of Pensacola's Scandinavian citi-
zens, Mr.. P. J. Mckenzie Oerting
At eleven o'clock the distribution OF
the presents on the Christmas tree
occurred and it was indeed pleas
ing sight to witness the fair haired,
blue eyed boys, (seme of them mere
lads) and men receive the gifts that
were there from mothers, sweethearts
and wives in faraway Norway and
Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
Home, Sweet Home, translated
into the Norwegian, as il is in every
language of the civilized globe, was
sung and the celebration of Christ
mas. 1906, was at an end.