Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-01-01
PRAYERS OFFERED
FOR ENDING OF WAR
Hope Expressed for the COM
ing of Peace During the
Year at All the Watch
Night Meetings-R ecep-
tions Held by the Y. M.
G. A.

New Years day of 1917 dawned in
Boise in softness of grey mists aud
with promise of warmth which was
in contradistinction to the unusual
steady crispness with which the year
1916 closed its days. Over the white
dome of the capitol building floated
golden fleecy cloud which the rising
sun had reflected up from the hills t.
the east. Under the shadow of the
freshly cut stones of the capitol build
ing the brilliant colored lights of the
municipal Christmas tree twinkled
feebly in the coming Of a new day in
which they were to be finally extin-
guished. and in symbolism that the re-
joicings of 1916 were now passing into
the reality of 1917.
The early morning bells of st. John )
cathedral called the Catholics to New
Years worship at $50 and again at 8
o'clock. At 1890 services were held
both at st. Johns and st. Michaers. The
New Year service of the Episcopals was
simple, with the celebration of the holy
communion.
New Years day marks the beginning
and the state house was solemnized this
morning with the inaugural ceremonies
of the new state officials. This day al
so marks an epoch in the return of the
Idaho soldier boys from the border, and
is the day on which they passed in re-
view before the governor
This afternoon the rotunda of the
capitol was again filled with a holiday
gathering and the Of he
tary band filled it's balconies and was
echoed back by it's carved dome.
ANNUAL RECEPTIONS.
The Y. M. c. A. and Y. w. C. A. are
holding their annual New Years re-
ception and jollification this afternoon
and evening at the Y. M. C. A. rooms.
1t includes formal reception, athletics
in the gymna SUM and taffy pull in
the evening.
Thoughtful preparations for the New
Year were characteristic of the festivi-
ties of New Years eve, celebrated la st
night with the spirit of worship which
the Sabbath evening, on which New
Years eve fell this year, engenders.
Dinner parties and light frivolities sunk
into the more solemn arrangements of
the churches and the community peace
celebration which took place in the
capitol building. Statewide prohibition
had wiped out the hilarity which the
wine cups had formerly afforded.
Peace was the uppermost subject in
all of the watch night gatherings in
addition to the services at the various
churches a celebration was held at the
capitol. This meeting formed a link in
the chain of the peace gatherings which
stretched from ocean to ocean in the
United States on New Years eve, and
which were organized by the American
Neutral Conference committee AS the
stroke of midnight was sounded in the
cities of the far eastern shore the pray
er for a will for peace" was sent out,
and westward leading, still proceed
Ing" was taken up by other cities as
the midnight hour reached them, until
it echoed out over the far western wat
ers.
The Boise exercises were opened with
short talk by Miss Pearl Tyer VINO
had received the communication from
the American Neutral Conference COM
mittee through Mrs. Bertha Kunz Bak-
err, one of the members of the executive
board of that committee. Judge ]. II.
Richards gave a short address in which
the thought was emphasized that ma
tons as well as individuals must learn
the lessons that satisfactory living can
only be attained by adherence to the
principles of righteousness.
Mrs. Charlotte Zu Tavern Gillen who
is close student of the precepts OF
peace which the world renowned pro-
phet in Persia. Baha'o'llah. gave to the
world in the first utterance for a uni
versal peace tribunal and a world fed :
Grafton of states, spoke concerning the
laws which such federation would
necessitate.
The capitol building with it's rounds
of balconies rising from the wider first
balcony furnished an admirable place
for the accommodation of large crowds
and in the brilliant lights made the
speakers on the first gallery plainly Wis
ible to all. The community singing was
carried from ba cony to balcony and
were the first songs to be sung in the
new building. The opening words were
those of the stately hymn. Come Thou
Almighty King" and America was the
closing song. Just as the midnight hour
was striking a beautiful prayer for the
peace and unity of all mankind was
read by Mrs. Gillen.
PRAYER FOR PEACE.
Universal peace was also the prayer
Of the midnight in the services which
were held at the BAPTIST church, where
large number We're assembled. In
the Christian church at this hour the
congregation joined hands and sang
the unity hymn, "Blest be the tie that
binds" In the First Methodist church
the assisting pastor. Rey W. w van