The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-26
.YULETIDE JOY
WIDESPREAD
Barre Celebration of Christ
mas Was One Of Great
Gayety -.
CHURCHES HELD
FINE EXERCISES
While a Multitude of Gifts
Brought Pleasure to
Celebrators

ColeDrdCOfS
Everywhere in Barre yesterday the
Christmas spirit was rife. Business in
every quarter was suspended and for
day, at least, the secular life of the city
| blended itself in an uncommon measure
with the Yuletide festivities of the
church. Christmas eve the observance
began with exercises and Christmas trees
| for the youngsters in several churches.
| At the Hedding Methodist church there
was concert, followed by the usual
distribution of gifts. In like manner the
| festival was observed at the First Pres
byterian church and at the Congrega-
tional and Universalist churches there
was also an abundance of seasonable
cheer for the younger generation. The
Swedish Baptist mission held its annual
Christmas gathering Wednesday night.
Christmas for the Catholics of Barre
was ushered in with a celebration. of
solemn high mass in the midnight watch.
st. Moniea's church was in festal garb
for the greatest day in the church calen-
dar. The congregation was large enough
to tax the spacious facilities of the larg-
est house OF worship in the city, The
pastor, Rev. P. NJ. McKenna. celebrated
the mass. Again on Christmas morn
ing, there were special services in st.
AIonica's and at the Church of the Good
Shepherd the festival of the Nativity
was observed with 6 celebration OF holy
communion and a short Christmas hom-
iiy by the rector, Rev. w. j. NJ. Beattie.
In the evening the Sunday school OF
the First Baptist church held its an
nual Christmas tree and exercises.
In keeping with a custom established
almost as early as its organization was
effected, the Salvation Army distributed
many baskets of food among the poor.
Early Christmas donations contributed
through the medium of mite.b boxes and
the Army kettle, which was located on
North Main street for two weeks prior
to Yesterday, were responsible for the
carrying of good cheer into many homes
in Barre that would otherwise have
failed. no doubt, to sense the Christmas
spirit in the air. The response this
year was unusually large, an officer of
the Army said yesterday, and the sphere
of the Army's charity was correspond
ingly widened. Not all of the charity
was left to the Salvationists, however,
for if the truth We're known, there were
good many individuals who practiced
a small but practicable kind of philan-
throphy among their less fortunate
brethen yesterday.
The weather man was little perverse
on people who for sentimental reasons
associate Christmas with driven snow,
with a December sun that glistens on
the drifts. To make the outdoor con-
ditions quite ideal for Dec. 25, the spirit
of the season might have helped along
the good cheer by extending to the
weather and providing some sunshine.
But it didn't. The temperature was
low and on the whole there are probably
more people who enjoy warm holiday
than n colder one. 1t wasn't green
Christmas, nor blue one for anybody,
it may be hoped.
Two Trees at Universalist Church.
Wednesday evening nearly 200 people
assembled in the vestry of the Univer
salist church. There were two majestic
fir trees in holiday attire and other
Yuletde decorations helped to surcharge
the air with Christmas.
The program was opened by the chor
us Singing, Twinkle Stars" Then fol-
lowed delightful merry Christmas can
tata entitled, charmed Garden" in
which 90 members of the Sunday school
participated. The leading participants
were as follows; Two shepherds, Robert
Steele and Wendell Lane; queen, Rachel
Cutler; lady-in- waiting, Cleors Rey
nolds: l2 fairies, a sandman and CHOIR
us. The parts were creditablv accepted
and the cantata added greatly to the
pleasure of the occasion. The remainder
of the program was carried out as fol-
lows; Song, 81 Wish You Merry Christ
mas" the letter class; christmas
Cheer" Warren Burr; exercise, "The
story of the Holly; "The Birthday
Song" Wendell Lane; exercises, "The
First Christmas" "How to Re Happy"
"The Christmas Dream" "Toys' Quar-
TEL sO0Es Lucy unDutiCHs ne OWi,
Gordon Reardon; "Santa's Way of Trav-
cling Charles Lynde; "The Story
Grandma Told" Leone Reynolds; "Slum-
Der Song" closing chorus.
Some of the young men of the church
then assisted in distributing the pres
ents. The Christmas trees and the dec
orations were in charge of Mr.. and Mrs
George Bates, assisted by a number of
young ladies, and the concert was car
ried out under the direction of Mrs.
j. B. Reardon.
Large Crowd at Congregational Church.
Between 800 and 400 people, mostly
Young folks. but fair sprinkling of
the elders, were present in the vestry OF
the Congregational church for the Sun
day school tree and exercises on the eve
of Christmas. Ten of the older girls
opened the program with a chorus en-
titled. "Chiming Bells" and Miss Eliza
beth White followed with recitation.
Twenty little ones contributed to fir
tree exercise and another score of
sang the Snowflake Song"
The primary department brought the ex-
ercises TO a close by singing "0nce
Lovely Babe" There We're two Christ
mas trees that fairly goaned under their
burdens of Christmas cheer. Santa