Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-12-30
CHRISTMAS IN
MART|NSBURG
Appropriately Observed and Services
in the Churches are Unusually
80 Well Attended.

-. Well Attended. g
So * .s4 q a NJ y
Christmas in Martinsburg was prob
ably more extensively observed this
year than eve before. Following
Sunday as it did there was less. OF
business traffic than is usual and few
Il any Of the business houses were
crel. i
.s..- Every one took the day off and
with the- famil gatherings and the
services ilns the. churches and other
gatherings, the day was appropriated
ly celebrated fn@esr
Beginning at midnigEt. sSunday the
day wasoushered ins wit SaAsefvice at
Christ Reformed church, that was fol
lowed laterain the morning with ser.
vices ini;sonesor twosaof the. other
churches at 5so'cIock and then through
the afternoon and evening the enter
tainments and services more especial
ly for the children were held
The day was not bright but as a
whole the day was clear and the tenn.
,perature was comfortable. while late
in the evening blanket of fog Gov
cred the earth. ~
The modern observance of Christ
mas day is stra1ge mixture OF
Christmas fervor and customs. hand
cd down from our Morse, Scandina
wan and German forefatheTs The
Christian jubilation over the birth q
Saviour has been combined with
ancient and traditional celebrations
of the Yuie, the. ,midwinter feast il
those old Scandlnavians and .Gernaans
in their virgin forests Of massive
oaks. HSh haaida in hand awith,,tfe sing
ing OF CAROLS and joyful religious. ser
vices in honor of the birth of Christ
re have. the Christmas tress adorned
iii glory aad sparkling in their magni
fieent radiance of light and color, the
OF Fnistlet9e and holly and
hemlock, and the exchange Of gifts
among friends. !. But the faint -ol
paganism in the festival celebration
does not make itsany the less a day
CT gladness aad rejoicing. q. ~.
Christ Reformed .chartcsl, =
TIE services held. i'm Christ Re
formed church beginning at midnight
Sunday and ushering in the Christmas
festival were most impressive land
we're attended by the. largest congre
cation that has gathered at an early
Christmas serviceain that church fol-
some years.
DR.. Charles e. Wehler, dean of the
Woman's College of Frederick, aad' 9
cousin of the pastor, conducted the
service in a most impressive manner
and his address on that occasion was
most appropriate and edifying to the
congregation.
The choir. rendered the anthems and
other music in pleasing manner and
the music was most inspiring and full
Of the good cheer OF the season
The services for this occasion had
been arranged by the pastor, DR.. Hoff
helms, but on account of his critical
illness was not permitted to take part
IN 1t. His absence and serious condi
ton caused sadness in the congre
cation that was noticeable and added
much to the impressiveness of the
OCCASION
The first Christmas Of Or. Hoff
helms passionate here he introduced
the early morning service at O'clock
and for So years this has been the
custom and this year the midnight
service was an innovation which he
had planned with much pleasure
Over the altar was small arch with
the inscription, "eTHE LIGHT OF THE
WORLD IS JESUS" the letters Of
which he had made himself. Under
this and on the altar We're placed
lighted candles, symbolic of the in
scription above the altar.
childrens' Service.
The chiIdrens' service in the after
noon at o'clock was largely attended
with almost full attendance of the
membership of the Sunday school
Mr.. Frank w. Cushwa, head of the
English department of Exeter AGA
denny, who is spending Christmas al
his home, took the pastors place and
conducted the service. His address
to the school on And Jesus increased
in wisdom and statue and in favor
with God and man" was most edify
ing and was listened to with much in
terest by those present. The fact thai
he was at one time member of the
Sunday school and was able to &C
ceptably ELL the place for the pastor
was most gratifying to the members
OF the congregation and his friends.
After the service in the church the
school returned TO the Sunday school
from where they received their giN
of box OF candy and orange. Tbs