p. 8 | WHAT THE CHRISTMAS TREE BORE

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Tuesday, January 6, 1885

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 62, No. 1

WHAT THE CHRISTMAS TREE BORE.

The evening of Dec. 25 was made a very pleasant occasion for both old and young, by exercises at the Tabernacle, provided by the church, College, and Rivulet, T. and M. Societies of Battle Creek.

The exercises consisted of prayer, remarks, reading of missionary letters, reading of an original Christmas poem, Scripture recitations by the College society, an interesting children's exercise by the Rivulet society, and a Conversation—Why don't you join the Missionary Society? by members of the church V. M. society, answering in a very natural and effective way the excuses and objections usually urged for not engaging in missionary work. So fully was this done that those personating the objectors yielded all their excuses, and joined the society.

This was followed by the gathering of the fruit of the tree. Acting on a suggestion made by Sr. White in the REVIEW a few weeks ago, it had been decided to make the Central European Mission the object of the offerings on this occasion. The fruit was therefore cash contributions to this mission hung upon the tree in various tasteful and attractive forms. Two ready scribes took down the sums as they were read off, and the whole footed up to twelve hundred and thirty-three dollars, and thirty-seven cents, besides one gold ring, one pen, and two cans of choice fruit. One family gave five hundred dollars. The tree thus turned out to be very gratifyingly fruitful in a good cause.

The preceding exercises had been interspersed with four select pieces of music beautifully rendered by the choir, and the whole congregation now joined in the stirring strains of old Coronation, after which Eld. H. M. Kenyon, who also made the opening prayer, dismissed with the benediction.

The presidents of the different societies, W. C. Sisley and W. K. Loughborough are entitled to credit for their care and labor in making the arrangements, and the interesting manner in which the exercises were conducted. For the Christmas poem, which was by O. C. Godsmark, we hope to find room in the REVIEW soon.

Looking at results obtained simply on this occasion, one can but feel like invoking a blessing on these missionary organizations. May they prosper greatly in the Lord. The members will look back with satisfaction upon their Christmas offerings of 1884, as they watch the progress of the cause in Europe, and feel that they have contributed something toward warning the millions there of the coming of the great day of the Lord.

We trust the contributions offered on this occasion may be made effectual by the blessing of the Lord, in advancing the work which our dear brethren in Europe are so zealously laboring to carry forward in his name.