The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-12-29
4.1Ek51sA TED THE OCCASION
OF THE BIRTH OF THE
SAVIOUR.
Christmas coming on Sunday this

ShiiSNuaS coming ON sunday TN
. year Afforded something of a doubl
celebration of the great occasion, an,
while the Sunday schools had thei
Z usual exercises the churches took ad
8 vantage of the day by recognizing il
} on a greater scale than is usual. Sun
DAY the day was full of pleasure, ant
carried on in a quiet way. Family
> parties and those of friends Joined
together were the order of the day
with the turkey as the center piece
on many a dinner table.
Monday the day was more gener-
ally observed by the closing of the
stores at the noon hour, while the
banks did not open their doors in the
morning. Business vas generally
suspended and the day was spent in
social ways.
The Sunday schools of the city
held their Christmas trees Saturday
evening and they brought out the
children and their elders in large
numbers at each church where eXer-
cises were held.
At the Congregational church a
cantata was. given entitled Santa
Claus Surprise Party" participated
in by the children of the school, in
which many of the little folks appear
ed in song and recitation, while old
Santa made his appearance at the
proper time and brou"ht gladness to
the hearts of the little ones. The
church was decorated in fine shape
with the things which represent the
season, and a great tree stood in n
corner of the church laden with the
things to bring cheer to the hearts of
the children. These were distributed
amid much excitement, and the eN-
ercises came to a close.
| Sunday morning at the church ser
vices, Rev. w. NJ. MAR preached a
sermon applicable to the occasion. his
theme being based on the thought it
there had been no Christ, and pointed
out what the world and the condi-
lions would have been without the
Saviour. Some special music was rem
dered by the choir.
Saturday evening the Methodist
church was the center of attraction
flor the body of Sunday school child
tren which attend that church. The
auditorium was filled and the front
part of the church was reserved for
the children, where they could get
the full benefit of the exercises. SUI
perintendent Hardy had charge of
the program which had been arrang-
led for the entertainment of the pub
lie. 1t comprised solos, duets, class
selections and dialogues, all of which
had the Christmas spirit in them.
Tine little folks acquitted themselves
in a creditable manner With the
i%conclusion of the exercises the audi
lence repaired to the basement where
1.-THE distribution of candy and nuts
took place. The little folks had a
oval good time and the occasion will
long be remembered.
The Christmas Sunday was a day
of large interest and activity at the
First Methodist Episcopal church. DR..
HoaolanN preached a Christmas ser
mon in the morning using as the
text, "The Dayspring from on high
hath visited u.s." The message was
intended to inspire goodwill, joy and
hope in the hearts of the people. He
spoke of the sure progress of the COS
pei of Jesus in the world as seen in
the movements for peace among the
nations and the feeling everywhere
that all men are brothers. He made
a strong personal appeal to the people
ito accept the Christ as their Saviour
and concluded with this pertinent
Mean to Us?' is it that the Christ
was born in far off Bethlehem and liv.
ed awhile in Palestine, or that He has
been born in our hearts and lives in
our lives? Is it that the angels sang
the Glory Song while shepherds
watched their focks by night, or that
in our hearts and home that song is
daily and nightly sung? Is it that
wise men brought gifts of gold then
and we get gifts now, or that we give
our gold and ourselves to Him in
service of u brothers? The music
of the morning service was appro-
pirate and beautiful. The congrega-
ton was exceptionally large in it be-
ing many visitors and strangers who
were spending the Sunday in the
city. The pastor welcomed ten new
members into the church.
A great audience heard the splen-
told Christmas service of song at the
evening hour. The excellent choir,
under the leadership of Prof. Hobson
and the splendid accompaniment of
the great organ by Miss Samuel
Ford, made a service full of spiritual
beauty and uplift. The chorus num-
bers, the solos and Duets were all of
the highest order. The choir caught
the spirit of the Christmas and the
service will long remain as a delight
full memory to all who had the priv;-
|lege of being present. President
|Kerfoot and Mrs. WHITAKER were he
respective leaders of the Epworth
Leagues and impressed in a fine way
the Christmas lesson on the young
people.
The Christmas tree entertainment
at the Presbyterian church Saturday
evening brought out a very large
crowd of children and members of
the church. A fine tree graced one
corner of the church and with it's i'll
Elimination and present fired the
hearts of the children to an exciting
point. Under the direction of l.. A..
Williams a fine program Of music of
Christmas songs and recitations was
given and every number was thor
oughly enjoyed. Late in the evening
the present, together with nutes and
candy were distributed to the child
rem.
Sunday morning DR.. j. l.. Seaton,
of the University occupied the pulpit
and delivered a fine sermon that was
appropriate to the day. At the close