CHRISTMAS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1447, 29 December 1885, Page 2

CHRISTMAS.

Once more Christmae has coma to ns and again departed, and in no quiet a manner as to make the fact hard to realise. Tire stir ia business circles on Christmas Eve wan hardly as brisk si usual, and there were but few displays to hersld the event of the morrow. The hotels were decorated inside and out with evergreens, but as most of the business in the stores is done in the day time few attractions are laid out to induce customers ■ to visit them in the evening. At Qeraidine the butchers’ shops were, however, well stocked with prime meat of all descriptions. Mr Lodge had an except onally fine show, and Mr Lawson had a prime carcase of beef which would have done credit to a shop in a larger town, I and hie lambs were also very good, j Gbruoinb. I Christmas Day being fine the township 1 and bush were visited by a few parties kfrom Temuka and Timaru, In the morning service was conducted in St. Mary’s Episcopalian Church, by the Rev. Jas. Preston, assisted by Dr Emh who lead the lessons. The Rev. Incumbent preached an ■ appropriate sermon from the text contained ' in the 24th verse of the 118th Psalm. The choir was a very strong one and the singing was exceptionally good. The Church was most tastefully and neatly decorated with flowers, this work having been done by several ladies of the congregation the evening before. Mass was eelebr t d by the Hev, Father Keane in St. Mary’s Homan Catholic Church in the forenoon. During the afteruoou the Geraldine Vo'untesr Bind paraded the upper paitef the township, and in the evening were playing in the lower end. Great improvement has taken place of late in the efficiency of the band, and judging by the number of people who collected around them their playing was much appreciated. Temoka. Only for the shops being opened to a later hour than usual, and the band playing from bouse to house, Christmas Bra would not have been distinguishable from any other evening. At about 9 o’clock in the evening, the band commenced to play, and naturally enough collected a crowd, but nothing like the number that followed it on former years. It continued to pUy until about 3 o’clock in the morning, and its excellent music was thoroughly enjoyed. Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Father Pauvel at 8 a.m., and again at 10.30. At the latter mass a very efficient choir, with Miss Gaffiney presiding at the organ, sang very well. Services were held in St John the - Evangelist’s Church, Winchester, and St. Saviour’s Church, Temuka, in t''e former at 9 a.m., and in the latter *t 11 a.m. and 7.30 p.m,, the Rev. T. A. Hamilton officiating at each service. At Winchester, taking for hie text Luke, Chop. 11, verge 14, “On Earth peace, goodwill towards men,’’ ho preached a very telling and appropriate sermon. Jo Temuka he took for hid text LukeOltap. 11, verse |O, I* Behold I bring

you good tidings of great jny ’* These he said were the words chosen 45 years ago hy the Her. Samuel Marsden when preaching his first sermon to the Maoris. The good tidings of Christmas Day were found in the fact of the birth of Christ. This fact should find its effect in the love of God born in our hearts, and the result of this lose was the charities and kindnesses of the season to our fellow men. In the evening the sermon was founded on Matthew, Chap. I, verse 23, “Immanuel, God with us,” which he treated in a most, impressive manner. Both Churches were very tastefully decorated. The decorations of St. John the Evangelist’s deserve more| than the usual conventional meed of praise, being chaste and at the same time simple. The thanks of the congregation are due to Mrs F. H. Barker and Mrs D. Inwood for the neat manner in which they decorated thie Church. St Saviour’s was also beautifully decorated, the large quantity of lilies being very noticeable, and native grasses and palms in profusion making a contrast. The decorations did infinite credit to the large number of ladiea who assisted in producing so pleasing an effect. We are requested by the Rev. Mr Hamdton to convey his thanks to the kind donors of flowers and evergreens. A service wae held in the Wesleyan Church at II a.m. the Rev. W. Q. Thomas officiating.' The subject was the song of the angels, on which the rev. gentleman preached a very forcible sermon, in which be contrasted the Christmas season in the Old Country with that in New Zealand. He then dwelt on the sympathy between God and man, sympathy between angels and man, and sympathy between man and man, in which he referred to the kind charitable feeling called forth by this season of the year.