The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-12-29
YULET|DE SPIRIT PERMEATED
CITY; FESTIVITIES OF THE DAY
Worthy Work of the Ladies' Relief Society;
Elks and Eagles Also Did Their Share
To Make People Happy
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
Like beautiful mantle of purity
the snow fell all through the night
last Saturday and when people awoke
Sunday morning they found white
city, every ugly nook hidden, await
ing Christmas day. What did it
matter if the heavy snow interfered
with traffic? 1t was lovely err
mine cloak to hide all that was not
beautiful. Sunday was a day of hol-
mess and good cheer throughout
Mankato, and the charitable hearted
did not forget their unfortunate
brothers and sisters, and the chill
dren were generously remembered.
Churches held beautiful services,
impressive with the Christmas spirit,
and almost everyone wendell their
way toward some house of worship to
give thanks on this joyful and happy
occasion. Sunday school children,
imbued with the joy of giving, sang
their Christmas songs and brought
their white gifts" for the poor. 1t
was in reality white Christmas, %
and the, spirit of comradeship and
brotherly love was abroad.
EIks AS Big Brothers.
Every Mankato Elk was big
brother to some poor child in the city
last Sunday and saw that that child
had merry Christmas, money or no
money. Some of the Elks took care of
several. 1t was all under the general
management of special committee,
consisting of John Macbeth, George
Pond, John G. Gerlich, NJ. d. Fritz, C.
E. Wise, w. r. Hammett and Henry
Robel, Jr.
Under the management of the same
committee, fifteen Christmas dinners
were distributed to as many poor
families yesterday.
The children that responded to the
generous invitation that the Elks ex-
tended and gathered at the Grand and
Sandon theatres early Sunday after
noon to see the performances num-
bered in all as many as five hundred.
Later in the afternoon they gathered
at the Elks' club house, where they
were ushered into the big hall up
stairs. Here a magnificent Christmas
tree stood. There were gifts for ALL
For the most part the gifts were use
full articles, not playthings. For eX-
ample, $50 pairs of shoes and over
shoes were distributed Most of the
gifts consisted of wearing apparel,
most timely for poor children with the
worst part of winter still to come.
There were two representatives of
Santa Claus, properly accoutred, who
handed out not only these gifts, but
nuts and candies as well. These were
r. II. Foster and Frank Busch. Many
of the children had already received
nuts and candies at one of the the
aires.
The Elks' orchestra was on hand at
the club house and played many an
appropriate popular air, while the
little folks sang. Frank Blyler sans
several solos. The children remained
at the club house about two hours.
Quite number of the children who
were on the list for gifts were not
present at the general distribution. To
the homes of these children the gifts
were delivered this morning.
The recipients of the gifts included
children not only of the city, but the
outskirts as well.
vesper Services Were Held
Vesper services were held at the
Presbyterian church Sunday after
noon at five o'clock, and splendid
program was given. Christmas carols
were sung by the church choir and
Sunday school, under the direction
of Mrs. H. A. Patterson, the little
folks of Miss Heglund's primary class
gave some pretty songs. Rev. T.
Ross Paden, who gave short talk,
hot 10 ictr oh
he would like to bring to everyone
realization that in the joyous busy
time of Christmas one was apt to
overlook the fact that it was the
Christ child who made Christmas
possible, and He must not be forgot
ten, as all gratitude and reverence
was due to Him. The church was
handsome with Christmas deccora-
lions in red and green, a pretty
Christmas tree, and a glowing Star
of Bethlehem, fashioned from electric
lights, hanging over the altar. The
pupils of the Sunday school, led by
their respective teachers, marched
around the auditorium and passed
the front of the altar, depositing
their white gifts at the foot of the
Christmas tree. Alexis Parlova
played Schubert's "Litany'' as a vio-
lin solo, accompanied by Mrs. Mamie
Skuse Gerlach, and the fable of the
Christmas rose was read by Mrs. H.
/. Parry. The girls chorus sang sew
eral selections, appropriate to
Christmas time. The services were
largely attended by members of the
congregation and others.
Fine Time For Travellers.
Local United Commercial Travellers
and their families celebrated Christ
mas last Saturday evening in the
knights of Columbus hall. There were
about forty adults present and about
thirty five little folks. Candy and nuts
were distributed, games were played
and there were various amusements
appropriate to the season. The gath
ering dispersed about 1880 O'Clock,
after enjoying a delightful evening.
Service at Centenary Church.
A fine musical service, appropriate
to the Christmas season, was given
Sunday evening at the Centenary
Methodist church The music was un-
der the direction of d. M. Jones. Two
numbers were sung by the chorus
choir of the church, consisting of