Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-27

AOL bllC dAbelI AAOWCASs OOuDlC lOPC6 of laurel draped between the pillars made a pretty vista to the rear and the windows were banked with ever green, white crosses and red wreaths, the baptismal font also lending it. self to the decorative scheme. The promised new organ had not arrived but the Christmas music was success fully given without it. through the skill and talent of director and choir, and made an impressive and harmoni- ous part of the service.
 The sermon by the rector, Rev. Neil son Poe Carey, was from Luke ii:11 as the text. This verse is taken from the first Christmas sermon ever preached and which after all the cen turies remains the best. It was a brief sermon of only three sentences. but it began in a good way. It began with a bond of sympathy. The tactful words. Fear not" came first as words of assurance, to the shepherds fright ened by the wonderful preparations heaven made for the service. Then came our text, the real message and the kernel of the discourse. This important sentence-so simple that even the shepherds could understand, but so profound that they, nor even we, realize the full extent of its mean ing was followed by the conclusion, having a practical bearing and en- joining a duty of action upon the con- gregation. Then the winter night echoed with the anthem of the heav- enly choir. The best way on this an- niversary is to go back and repeat the service-to learn the lesson of Christmas which tells what mankind wants most to hear. It tells us that God is Emmanuel-he is with us, and all must be well; that he is our Saw jour and brings hope of a remedy from the dark cloud sof sin and suffering which shall free men from it's handi- cap and make the world better. Grat- itude for this inspires to Christmas cheer for others.
 Trinity Episcopal Church.
 The Christmas day service at Trim ity Episcopal church at 10.30 a. m, was well attended, the congregation hearing a strong sermon from the rector. Archdeacon J. Eldred Brown. who spoke from the text, And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Saw four of the world" Through the over whelming evidence which they saw in Jesus life, the apostles, he said, had been compelled to change their nation al prejurice and their convictions on the Kingship of Jesus. They lived and suffered to bear testimony to their belief, producing a witness for him that is enough to satisfy even this most skeptical age. In the gospel they lived to propagate is to be found fundamental doctrines found in no other religion and characteristics to make Christianity the world religion. Moreover it is workable, and thus an- swers the call of an age which de- mands the practical.
 The music for the service was all from the works of Dudley Buck and was given under the direction of the organist and choir di- rector, Miss Caroline H. Thompson
 The singers met the exacting require ments of the composer in splendid form. with fine solo wcrK by Miss Ma bel Clark, soprano, and William Scott. tenor, and trio number of these two with Walter M. Buckingham, bass. The other members of the choir are Miss Phoebe McNeeley and Miss Marion Parkinson, sopranos; Miss Ruth Beebe and Miss Alice Oat, altos.
 Poingettia flowers and Christmas green were prettily arranged for the altar decorations. and in the windows of the church were wreaths and banks of green.
 The Sunday school of Trinity Epis- copal church held it's annual Christmas service Sunday evening at o'clock in the church, which was lighted for the first time with electric lights, which have been put fin by Louis P. Roath in memory of his wife. They comprise der the gallery, at the pulpit and organ and in the Sunday. school room. The fixtures are considered unecualled in beauty by any in the city.
 After evening prayer, conducted by Archdeacon J. Eldred Brown. Christi mas carols were sung under the lead- ership of the choir. and short ad- dress was made by the archdeacon.
 A specially interesting part of the service was, the award of the different pins indicating terms of perfect at tendance at school. In the list were seventeen who need only another term to make perfect record for four years. The following received pins:
 One term, John Freyer, Louisa Frey CT. Miriam Bergstresser, Alfred Dean, Harriet Colt; two terms, Helen Adams, Kathryn Sullivan; three terms q year), Frances Baker, Elizabeth Gunsalve, h. terms, Frank Pardy, Pearl Smith: five terms. Ruth Barber, May Revell, Mary Walz. Viola Walk; six terms ( two years), Grace Parker. George Sanders. Robert Stevens, Ruth Stevens; nine terms (three years), Alice Dean, Bertha Dean: eleven terms, Hazel Fairclough, Charles Fields. Berry Fields, Wilfred Pardy, Reginald Pardy, Alice Revell, Revell. Tyler Rogers, George riel Smith, Rachel Smith, Reginald Smith, Woodruff Sullivan, Burton Edith Thomas.
 At Park Church.
 The storm interfered greatly with thu carxyiap of of,,1rnb ov day. The Christmas music could not be given on account of lack of elec- trical power and will be given next There was the usual pulpit decoration of evergreens. The fifty or more people who were in attendance at the service listened to an eloquent Christmas sermon by Rev. Dr. Howe, which amply repaid them for braving the storm.
 His text was Matthew i:21 and Ga- latians iva. Christ's advent was in the nature of a continuation or cli- max. It was the hour to which every thing was leading up and all history pressing as with the tramp of mill lion feet. Yet 1t was not the final goal-merely a point of departure. From it history takes new begin ming. and all that falls to come into touch with it is arrested. As witness the nation whose progress and growth except merely material--has stopped for 1000 years. A new set of forces entered the world then. As we would realize if we tried to write the his tory of the world with that eliminated. It was a time when the old pagan conditions were in a state of exhaust ed vitality-a time of utter hopeless ness as voiced by the men of the peri od crying out for a strong inspira- ton. Without it there was nothing. And without it what would we be do- ing today? There were be no Chris