The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-01
GLAD NEW YEAR
N0|S|LY WEI LCOMED.
With Many Evidences of
Joy 1906 Is Ush.
cred In.
SWEET SERVICE AT
CENTENARY CHURCH
Last Moments of@old Year and
First of New speht in Silent
Prayer-Beautiful Old
Hymns Ring Out
From the
Chimes.

Awaky &C midnihgt, with hundreds
upon nc dark streets and nearly cvery
lousg lighted. while tVeless watchers.
sleeby-cycd counted the long, lingering
nltIncnts, away, Richmond gave glad and
ybisy welcome to the New Year OF 1905.
4 A roar Of fire. crackers, a shrek from
steam Whistles and the sweet peal of
church chimes combining In a strange
medley. broke the stiffness OF the mid
night hour and hcralded tic coming OF
a. new day and ii new year. SHyrockets
tore through, the air, red lights suddenly
appeared at a thousand different points
in the dark. and hundreds OF front doors
were thrown open letting out IL food of
light and In u gust OF chill January air
Broad Street between Sixth and Ninth,
quiet and deserted an instant before.
was alive with people And noisy with
sound an instant after tho hands OF the
anxiously watched clock had met across
tho midnight mark. Stores that had
kept open. patiently housing the watch
crs. tgriied crowds onto the sidewalks
suddenly. and for few moments the
scenes Of Christmas eve were enacted
agnin Boxes of fireworks were dragged
into tile street and commonly exploded
without reference TO the conteJts Rock
cts shot along the pavement. Roman can
dies rolled across the ground. sending
out showers of sparks. and popcrackeiS
OF all sizes went of wiki q rattle and
4 bang.
II was q merry outonrsf while It laysed.
which vas not long. lass,n othe1 Soc
tions Of t,ta city canIa an occasionai
ioors from 81 giant RFs-.ssIles:er. while
xkyrockets shot up nov and then from
every direction. Church -goers making
honneward after the long watch-n night
services added 10 the curious midnight
scene. Many girls ard women were in
the streets The toxn seemed awake
IN every quarter. Hundreds OF little
,a,nIly grouy,s watched the old year out
and the birth of the new, and happy
wcll-wishing followed
Impressive Service.
TIE watcls-niglit stryices were we'll at
attended. AT Centenary Methodist Ch.rch
a large congregation filed the main aud
forum OF ,IIe bull EaE and for an hour
and afhalf awaited the coming OF me
New Year. The stetes were very impress
sivc. The service began at i0:3o o'clock
with an organ prelude and chimes. Tie
usual order of song and prayer wns OBJ
served. The pastor. the Rev. DIR. w. j.
Young, preached an eloquent sermon UP n
,.'rhc Patience OF Hope his text being
Romans VA Otlitr anthems and prayers
followed.
As the midnight hoartfbesan to draw
near the ifnpressiyeness of the service
vii, usnt The rt .Nffepr.
or twenty minuiss were spent In song
and prayer. the grand notes OF the great
new organ flooding the church with the
familiar melody Il some of the od W;cs-
leyan hymns. There were as many wo-
men and girls az men and poys In the
congregation Watches Were consulted
from time to time as the end came always
nearer and expectancy shone on every
face.
At three m!n,Ges to II O'Clock DR..
Young, standing III the rostrnm wi II
watch in hand, asked the congregation
TO sing the second stanza of the hymn,
'.Closc TO Thee 1t was the congroea-
tioii's consecratiol to a new year of SER
vice In the church. The notes OF the big
organ ceased AMI quiet fol o e. the ho se
With heads bent !, silent prayer the con
gregation wa!tedta an instant longer. a
rattle of hrecracksrs on the outside hro'fe
the Stiffness fira and then from tie
tower the chimes rang out the old year.
The PASTORS vo!cr was raised in an 10
vocation for the liessing of God upon /, $
flock. The peal ol the bells sounded for
some moments across the midnight air.
playing some of tlls old hymns--"All Fail,
the Power of Jasus's -,ame;" "Coma
Hithcr Ye Fathtll," and Praise God
From Whom All Hessings Flow Ate
much hand hnking and Bell-wisng the
congregation departed homeward through
the dark. cold streets.
Watch-nlght services We're also held ut
Laurel Street Churrb.