The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-12-21
WHITE CHRISTMAS
SERVICES ARE HELD
BYLOCAL CHURCHES
That 1T Is More Blessed to
Give Than Receive" Motif
DECORATIONS ARE
OF UNUSUAL BEAUTY
World Steadily Growing More Spirit
ual, Says the Rev. Mr.. Barnwell
In Explaining Meaning of thea
Services-Charity Offering

Services-Charity Offering
The spirit of giving rather than that
of receiving WAS exemplified in Bir-
mingham yesterday when a number of
the churches in the city had what is
known as "The White Christmas"
''The White Christmas" is founded
upon a legend as pretty as the service
itself and is now almost universally
observed over the United States The
observance was begun in Birmingham
about three years ago and the idea has
so appealed to religious workers that
it is now the custom in most of the
churches in the city.
Once upon time. so the story runs,
ruler of that mythical kingdom of
Cathay, of which the poets sing, desir-
ing to extend to his. subjects Christmas
hospitality, sent invitations to all in
the land to attend at the castle on
Christmas day. All the people were to
bring gifts and the King made bat
one condition. that all should be white.
And so on the day the multitude
gathered at the palace and each had
gift for the King. The rich brought
pearls and ivory and magnificent gifts,
while the poor presented him with
white doves and other inexpensive
tokens
And the King. surveying the gifts,
saw not that one was a priceless pearl
and the other but dove; he only
caught the sheen of white and saw the
motive-love and service.
On this fanciful story has the white
Christmas been founded and the pur-
pose of the services Is to bring nome
to the children the Biblical injunction
that 1T is more blessed to give than
to receive
Church of the Advent
At the Church of the Advent yes
terday afternoon elaborate services
were held. The Rev. Middleton :.
Barnwell the rector, in a brief address
to the congregation, explained the
white Christmas and the motives I'M
derIying 1T. He expressed the opinion
that the world was steadily coming
more to the spiritual and recognizing
the merit of giving rather than receiv-
ing.
Donations were made by all the
classes OF the Sunday school of money,
clothing, toys and articles of SIM
liar nature.
The cash donations amounted to several
hundred dollars and will be sent to the
Episcopal Orphans home at Mobile.
particularly interesting feature of the
services was the recitations and songs of
the little wee tots. The babies, scarce
able to stand. sang "Luther's Cradle
Hymn" while the primary department
sang Under the Stars" and recited the
whole of the Christmas story from the
Bible.
The decoration OF the church and the
Christmas tree attracted particular COM
ment for their beauty and individuality.
The tree was perfect cedar of great
height, and was covered with a gauzy
white sheen while from every branch
peeped a tiny glowing incandescent globe.
Scattered tastefully among the branches
were a number of white wreaths, and
the effect of the whole was unusually
striking.
First Presbyterian
At the First Presbyterian church the
white Christmas services were held at 5
o'clock and took the place of the reg
ular evening services. The church had
been tastefully decorated with narcissus,
tulle and white bunting, while at many
points giant potted ferns relieved the mo-
notony of the white.
The Sunday school had charge of the
services and each class presented its Of
fering and it's part of the programme. L ne
classes made offerings to specific pur-
poses. such as the Mercy Home, the Anti
tuberculosis association and kindred Or
CARNATIONS. The offering amounted to
over $500 This is the third white Christ
mas service held at the First Presbyterian
church.
A majority of the Methodist churches
held services yesterday. At the High
lands Methodist church at O'Clock there
was a special musical programme during
which Mrs. Thomas Morris, Jr., gave
a selection on the harp and Mrs B. y
Wilkerson presented THE First Christmas
Carol" Mrs. j. NJ. Mason sang Silent
Night. Holy Night The closing number
on the programme was Away in the
Manger," sung by the boy choir of the
church.
At the Fountain Heights Methodist
church services were held at o'clock
with the superintendent of the Sunday
school. j, t. Alternately. as master of GER
enonies. The church was crowded and
number We're unable to gain entrance
Selections were rendered by mixed QUAR-
tet, while Miss Lucy Buckley sang. There
were also a number of selections by the
regular choir. The offerings amounted to
over 800.
Services were held by other Methodist
churches as follows: Norwood at $780,
st. John5s at $3.50, North Highlands at
1880 and Eleventh Avenue at 7:30.
At the First Baptist church services
were held at o'clock. The Sunday
school classes made offerings for specific
purposes. There were a number of reel
tations and special musical pro-
gramme. At the Southside Baptist Ralph
Corners story, The Angel and the
Star" was the basis of the services,
which were held at s o'clock At Z
o'clock the first White Christmas cele-
bration ever held at the Park Avenue
Baptist church was observed with APP
propriate exercises
Regular Christmas Trees
Arrangements have been made by
churches not having the White Christ
mas services to have the regular Christ
mas tree. Many of these will be given
Christmas eve night.
At st. Pauls, however, exercises were
held yesterday afternoon
The teachers of the Sunday school
under the direction of the superintend-
nj ~.