The Washington herald., 1915-12-19

The State Department requests that the
ministers of the District recognise the
second pan-Amerfcan scientific congress.
which will meet here December N-Janu-
ary 8, by preaching appropriate sermons
on January 2. The object OF the con-
gress is to cultivate closer and more
friendly relations of the American re-
publics The officers of the Pastors Feo.
GRAFTON. DR.. C. A. Vincent. president, ana
Rev. Charles E. Fultz, secretary. rec
commended some recognition OF this oe.
casion. Several hundred delegates Will
be present in the churches January :.
The American Mission in Egypt" was
described by Rev. ]. Alvin Csmpoeh.
pastor of the United Presbyterian
Church. in an address delivered on an
evening the past week under the auspices
of the woman's Home and Foreign mis-
stonary Society of the Luther Place Me
mortal Lutheran Church. The prfncipai
mission in Egypt is that conducted by
the United Presbyterian denomination.
At the Church of the Covenant this aft
ernoon the music will be given by the
double quartet, and in the evening by
the evening choir of 100 voices, with dou-
bile quartet, both services being unoer
the direction of Sydney Lloyd wright
son. with Harvey Murray at the organ.
The following are the musical numbers
for the afternoon service. The Word OF
the Lord (Briggs), incidental SOLOS py
Mrs. Gawler and Mr.. Humphrey: bass
solo ..Be Thou with Me" (GeibeD, Mr..
Humphrey; Thou Art My AlT' CWoolerD.
incidental solo, Miss Harper; 20 GOD,
Thou Art My God (Bach-GounodD. In
cfdental SOLO Mrs. Gawler; Hide Me on-
der the Shadow" (West.
The evening program includes organ
prelude "Priere-Offertoire Devred,'
20 Love that Will Not Let Me Co Gel
heb. incidental solos. Mrs. Gawler ana
Mr. Gorbach: contralto solo. There Is
Green Hill Far Away tGounod). Miss
Harper: How Lovely Are the Messen-
gers" from "St. Paul. (Mendelssohn):
Come Unto Him CGounod), organ post
lude, Allegro, Sonata in G Volckmaf'.
Today is the fourth and last Sunday OF
Advent. The season Of Advent Is Pc
iod ot between three and four weeks and
begins with the Sunday nearest the teas'
of St Andrew and terminates on CHRIST
mas Eve. The practice of fasting ana
abstinence during Advent has always
varied and still varies in dinerent parts
Of the Catholic Church. In this country
the Fridays in Advent are observed as
fasting days.
The origin of the Christmas tree ana
of Christmas giving is traced oy
writer in the National Monthly WHO
says:
Across the English Channel, where
the Gauls and the Franks and the Nortn-
men observed the stern rites OF the Sc
we're religion Of a strong-hearted race,
trees formed an important part in the
festal observances OF the feast days. the
nine tree-eyer in all ages an object OF
deserved admiration-was greatly revered
hy the Northern folk. At the time Of the
unia-winter celebration the Mortimer
hung gifts upon the tree for their eods
As is readily seen- when the early iath-
ers of the church came to the nerce
people. with their message OF peace II
was easy to change the idea OF gifts prof.
fered TO heather deities into custom
where offerings were made to the Chris
tian God.
Thus from such humble beginnings be-
gan the cherished customs which are our
, heritage of today. Gift giving on the
birthday of Christ may be logically trac-
I'D TO that observance, prevalent in the
middle ages, of having Christmas boxes
wherein offerings were placed for the
,,riests Christmas boxes gradually be-
came an institution in Christian families
as we'll Hanging up the stockings on
Christmas eve. as the institution OF gooo
81 Nicholas, old Santa Claus. is Of pure
ly Christian origin and started IN Ger
many many hundred years ago. 1t has
become one of the most cherished OF
Christmas customs OF the ciViiizeo
world
The observance Of the week of prayer
at the beginning Of the New Year Is
urged by the Federal Council OF the
Churches of Christ in America, which
has sent on, the following appeal:
ITO the Churches of Christ In America
and to the People of God in Every Ma
ton: Brethren beloved in the Lord
Throughout the whole world. this word
Of our God seems to be sounding in the
ears of praying people day and night
This is a day of trouble when in so many
lands and among SO many nations agony
and suffering are multiplied by the
wounding and killing of Gods beloved
children. As the sin OF war is more evil
dent now than ever before in human his
tory, so is the help which can come only
from God more vitality essential than
ever before As 1t is impossible to over
state the horrors of war, so We may be
profoundly grateful that 1t is impossible
to exaggerated the power and grace Of
our God who invites us to cry unto Him
for help.
yet no sooner do We begin to cry to
Him than We are confronted with the
unspeakable sorrow of divided Chris
tendon Christians are grouped into
many bands under different names suG-
gesting the sway Of the human spirit
rather than that of the divine spirit.
The great prayer of our Lord: that
they may be all one; even as Thou, Faith
er, art In me, and / in Thee, that they
may also be one in us: that the world
may believe that Thou didst send me- is
vet unfulflled. Surely, praying people of
every race and tongue in all the earth
will fall down before our God In the
opening of the new year and beseach OF
Him for these overshadowing objects of
intercession. Peace and Unity.
Though sundered far. BY faith they meet
Around one common mercy seat
Beyond the borders thought of hereto