Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-12-24
AUGUSTA CHURCHES
OBSERVE CHRISTMAS
At Sunday Services Which Are Well
Attended Special Musical Pro-
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! AS might be expected under presen.
conditions Christmas observances sun
! day at Augusta churches had several
unusual features. All We're IN keep
| ing with the true Christmas spirit and
at each service there was good at
tendance.
The Universalist church received the
gift of a service flag from the ladies
| Of tie Murray Alliance in the morn
ing. The presentation took place at
the opening of the morning service.
Rev. A. +. WaIch, the pastor, made
appropriate remarks and as he men
toned each of the 16 names repre-
scented by the stars on the flag Mas
ter Samuel Freeman, attired in his
Boy Scout uniform, saluted by dipping
the Stars and Stripes. The service
| flag was concealed overhead III the
chancel and when Rev. Mr.. Walch fin
| ished his remarks little Miss Hazel
Page pulled the cord which unfurled
the banner. The young men whom
| the 1c stars represent are as follows:
Capt William {. Goodwin. Major
Francis H. Farnham, Capt. Ellery w.
Niles, Lieut.. Raymond w. Swift, Carl
A r. Lewis, BARLEY a. Jackson, Co.
nan Gage, Leroy Hussey, Clarence ID.
Stevens, Lieut.. Carl f.. Witherell,
Lieut.. Donald G. Metcalf, CLYDE w.
Metcalf. Fred S. Freeman. Edward G.
| Freeman. Roscoe c. Witham and Geo.
w. Williams.
The Sunday school hour was given
over to Christmas exercises carried
| out by the children and the presenta-
ton Of gifts to the children. Christ
mas trees were employed as decora-
tons. For conservation reasopS it
had been decided to combine the
Christmas tree exercises with the reg
ular Sunday school service.
The Christmas services at the South
| Parish Congregational church We're the
best in years. THE attendance at both
services was large. The music was
| particularly fine. Mr.. Roothby preach
| ed a stirring sermon in the morning,
| his text being "Christmas in a World
at War" At the white Gift serv-
ice at o'clock in the afternoon the
| presents from the several classes were
for the following objects: Salvation
Army, money and toys; Augusta Cen
eral hospital, fruit, candy. and books
needy of tho city. money, vegetables,
| clothing. fruit ana candy; Chrildren' S
| Armenian Relief Fund. money. The
Legend Of St Christopher" was read by
| Mrs. E. G. Carll The decorations Of
| green, with the white cross in the fore
| ground and the illuminated star above,
were most effective
| At the Penney Memorial church. Rev.
| I. b. Mower of Waterville preached a
strong Christmas sermon on the text,
! The Grace Of Christ" A solo
| by Mrs. Edwin Burleigh entitled,
The Heavenly Stranger" was eff
| fectively rendered. The preaching
service was followed by the usual
exercises for the children. consisting
of songs and recitations. The Christ
mas tree ceremonies also took place at
this time. To teach the young children
the spirit of giving, the children of the
Sunday school from the ages Of j to
II had been instructed to bring gifts
| for the members of the Cradle Roll ra-
| Their than to expect gifts for them
selves. They We're. however, remem-
bered with Christmas favors.
There was special music at the
morning service at the First Baptist
church and Rev. r. S. Pinkham
! preached a sermon entitled, "a Christ
mas Message" In the afternoon the
children presented a program of songs
and recitations, and were visited by
Santa Claus. who was we'll laden with
! gifts. In the evening, The Littlest
| Son was presented in song and story.
In this We're introduced a duet by Mrs
| Gay and Roger Nye and several other
| fine numbers