Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-26
CHRISTMAS DAY OBSERVANCE
Well Attended Services Held by the Ruastc Churches of
 the City-Approprate Sermons by Pastors

 ualistic churches on Christmas morn there were large attendances and able sermons were delivered by the preach CTS;
 Christ Episcopal Church. Peace will come when men have learned the message of good will. said Rev. R. R. Graham, rector of Christ Episcopal church, in an able sermon delivered on Christmas morning. The service was we'll attended, and in part Rev. MT. Graham said:
 At this holy season, even though the world be at war, we should try to hear the angels song of peace on earth and to understand it's meaning.
 Therefore in this our Christmas cele- bration we cannot be altogether un- mindful of recent events which contain at least a suggestion, even though it be only a faint one, of the possibility of peace in the not too distant future. the purpose, or even the sincerity, Of the suggestion put forth by the Teu- tonic powers and their allies looking towards conference on terms of wisdom or possible usefulness at this time of the note sent by the president of the United States to the various warning nations, we cannot but hope that all this may be a step in the right direction which will ultimately lead ' lC IA1O 3OiiS hSPO0 4O1 PO8SCs Spirit of Christ May Rule. We have prayed that God would so direct the minds of those in authority so that truth and justice. peace and good will might prevail among men, and it is only right that we should | try to see in these things an answer to l our prayers which will lead us to | prayer with more earnestness and faith | than ever that the Spirit of Christ in fl1n oil <,f l But when we pray for peace what 1 do we, what ought we to desire? Do l we merely desire a cessation of strife l because war interfereS with our plans. or because the emotional strain of it's 1 horrors is too much for us, and we do 1 ed?
 Or when we pray for peace do we 1 really pray for victory for one side or the other, and if so are we justified l in offering such a prayer?
 l Yes! If we are indeed convinced 1 that that victory would tend to the glory of God, and the establishment l of lasting peace on earth, a peace i founded not on force but on the 1 stronger ground of good will among men. Each side hopes for victory with ] the triumph and glory it will bring 1 to them, and the defeat and humilia- l ton it will cause to others, but such | victory cannot in itself bring about the fulfillment of the angels song. When the angels san&aAt the birth l of Christ, Glory to God in the High | est, they did not mean simply that a | louder strain of praise should ascend to Him to whom all creation is ever singing it's song of praise, but that a new and fuller note should henceWorth swell that song.
 1 Godlille, and now when Christ is born 1 that which is most truly godlike is l made known to us.
 l We still see God seated on His eternal throne yielding His almighty l power; we still hear heaven and earth sing Worthy art thou. uor Lord and our God, to receive the power and the glory and the honor; for Thou didst l create all things, and because of Thy | will they were, and were created" | tEat is we still recognize the might and | majesty of God.
 But we also hear the no less uni versal Worthy is the Lamb, that hath l been slain, to receive the power, and 1 riches, and wisdom, and might. and honor, and glory and blessing"
 We glorify God for what He is, and we now know that He is love, and that therefore we can only truly glorify | Him when we are loving.
 As we bow before the Infant in the
 manager at Bethlehem we learn the secret of true greatness, and we must l LSNST 1cGSSL lIG lGSSOn taught | Not by outward might, not by re- sistless power, does God fulfill His l great purpose for the salvation o1 mankind, but by sending His Son tc be born of a Virgin.
 Seeing that Son of God a helpless Infant in His mothers arms. and knowing that He is worthy of ou1 adoration, we learn how the song o1 the angels may be made a reality, Glory will be given to God in the highest when we have really learned what God is, and when our wonder al His love exceeds even our adoration o1 His power and majesty.
 When Peace Will Come. Peace will come when men have learned the message of good will, wher | they see clearly that the spirit o1 Christmas with it's message of love and brotherhood is the supreme mes. sage of God to man.
 When He who as at this time waS born for our salvation rules in the hearts and lives of all men, then in- l deed the whole world will sing the an gels. song; then peace which is not l simply the cessation of actual strife will rule in the world.
 l This will be victory" victory o1 the Christ spirit over the world spirit victory of love over hate; true glory tc God in the highest, and deep, abiding peace to man on earth.
 St. Patrick5s Church.
 The observance of the Feast Of the Nativity began at St. Patrick's churcf | with a high mass at 5.30 o'clock. suns by the rector, Rev. J. H. Broderick For this service Organist Frank L Farrell had arranged the followint
 programme which was we'll given b!
 the choir:
 zChristmas morning (organ), Bartlett
 Kyria and Gloria, Stewart; Veni Crea
 tor, Brizzi; Credo, Stewart; Adest
 Fi6elis Novello; Sanctus and Agnu
 Dei, Stewart; Postal Marche.
 The low mass at 7.31 was req,
 by Rev. Myles P. Calvin and that a t9 by Rev. Peter J. Cuny At the
 o'clock (children's) mass, the Junio
 choir gave the following pleasing pro
 gramme under the direction of Henr LaFontaine, organist:
 On This Postal Day, Victor Ham
 merel; See Amid the Winter Snow
 Victor Hammerel; Offertory Solo. Can
 tique de Noel, Miss May Ansel1; Si lent Night; Adeste Fideles.
 In the solemn high mass at 10.3
 Father SCuny was celebrant, Fathe
 Broderfck deacon and Father Galvi
 sub-deacon. Bakers string orchestr } assisted the choir in Interpreting tn following numbers: