The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-12-26
YULETIDE JOY
WIDESPREAD
Observance of Christmas
Took on Many Phases
in Barre
CHURCHES LEADERS
IN THE MOVEMENT
Exercises and Christmas
Tree Festivities Pleased
a Large Number

Christmas conditions as near the idea
as possible so tar as the weather wa
concerned gladdened the hearts OF old anC
| Young celebrators of the luletide II
Barre and for the reason that the calen
dar holiday this year doubled the week
end breathing spell for those who lool
upon day OF such grace as u real vaca
tion, most OF the festivities began in {
sense on Saturday and continued unit
last evening. Sunday was day o.
! Christmas obseryances in most Of the
churches and there were services yester
day at st. Monca's and in the Church Of
the Good Shepherd. Catholics gathered
for the customary midnight mass at st
Moniea's and there was a night before
service at the Episcopal church. At tht
| Baptist, Methodist, Congregational and
First Presbyterian churches there were
special services and appropriate pulpit
utterances. At all services the birth OF
the Redeemer was glorified in special mu'
steal programs. Children OF the First
Baptist church enjoyed their annual
Christmas tree last evening and in the
Congregational church, where the com
mendabe custom originated in Barre, the
children shared with the young people OF
the Heddng Methodist church the credit
of "bringing white gifts to the Master
In each instance the services were at
tended by large congregations. A Christ
mas concert program was carried out by
the children of the Universalist church
Sunday afternoon St. Monica's Sunday
school had its Yuletide Christmas observ-
ance in the Knights of Columbus hall
Sunday afternoon. "Julotta" Christmas
was observed by the people of the Swed-
ish Baptist mission Monday morning at
$3.50 o'clock and in the evening there was
a Christmas tree for the young folks.
For the third consecutive year the
Congregational Christmas celebration
took the form OF "white gift" obsery-
ance, with very fitting and well carried
out program. which was opened with the
singing OF "Jov to the World by chill
dren in the distance. The church was
prettiIy decorated across the front of the
platform with festoons of white, against
which scarlet poinsettias stood out sharp
ly, and on the platform at the right was
a white cross, emblematic OF the season,
and at the foot Of which were placed the
white gifts" from the different depart
ments of the church and Sunday school.
At the front OF the church the light
over the choir was so arranged that it
appeared as a brilliant star, representing
the one which guided the shepherds to
where the Babe OF Bethlehem was Graded
in manger. In the dim light diffused
over the church by the star, the congre-
CATION assembled and the rendering of
carols, familiar Christmas hymns and
other selections by Miss Gladys Gale at
the organ, assisted by Mrs, f. W. Bruce,
violin, and Kenneth Gale, trombone, was
most pleasing.
An innovation in the musical program
was the presence of n chorus of about 20
voices in the balcony at the back of the
church. which, together with the choir
and the voices OF the children, added
much to the pleasure of the occasion.
The Junior and primary departments
Of the Sunday school marched into the
church auditorium bearing their banners,
and then were seated at the front of the
church.
The whole white gift" idea is based
on "The Legend of Cathay," where, on
the kings birthday. a party is said to be
given, when every gift is white, and the
great king esteems not one gift above an
other, whether from rich or poor, so long
as all the gifts are white. This selection,
''The Legend of Cathay" Yves given by
Miss Helen Roscoe. There were several
songs by the junior and primary depart
ments, solo, "The Hush of Night Has
Fallen" by Fred Inglis. congregational
and chorus singing of Christmas hymns
and carols and the various departments
Of church work presented their white
gifts of money, potatoes, clothing and
many other things to ease a poverty
stricken home, to bring JOY to the heart
of some child or to aid in the work OF
the parish among those where need may
develop through the winter. The wom
ans association presented check for
$500 to pay a note.
The children fell in heartily with the
white gift" plan and many of the classes
raised $40 or more for whatever par
ticulsr purpose they voted to have it go,
while the older ones raised proportion
ately larger amounts.
Tonight, tomorrow afternoon and to- |
morrow night, the teachers of the inter |
mediate, primary and junior grades are
TO give Christmas parties for those in |
heir departments.
At the Sunday morning service there |
Has special music, Kenneth Gale assist
ng with the trombone. and d sermon on
The Supremacy of Jesus" was preached |
,y the pastor, Rev. j. w. Barnett.
The annual Christmas tree exercises
we're held last evening in the vestry of
g. John the Baptist Episcopal church in
There was present the
argest number ever assembled for a
'hristmas entertainment in the history
# the church. First of all, there was a
ervice in the church. which all attended.
after the service. the following program
vas rendered: Song by the school; reci
ations. David Littlewood. Gladys Me
Rae and Charles Nevins; song by Mrs.
ioo7e's class; dialogue by the boys;
ecitations. Beatrice Suitor, Ronald Suit
II. Osmond Miller. Norman Mcleod. An
"a Bell McAuley; song by the school;
Elsie Mcleod. Lillian Mann,
,unice Geake. Margaret Mathewson, Az
Is Nevins. David Littlew0od.
Mrs. W. J. Edwards presided at the I