CHRISTMAS DAY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8258, 26 December 1911, Page 5

CHRISTMAS DAY.

The eve of the day on which the Christian world celebrates the nativity of its Lord, and which is coincident with the real opening of the Vuletide holiday season, was graced with fane weather. The winds raged not, neither did the clouds lower; a bright sun gladdened .the face* of Nature, and a truly. Sabbath calm prevailed in AshImrtori on the 24th inst. But, alas for liuman hopes! the conditions changed abruptly ill.the small hours of Monday morning, and Christmas Day itself was one- of the wettest and gloomiest experienced locally for some time past. A large number of local residents were away from-home, and .the-.majority of those who remained had perforce to snend the day indoors. The town bore a deserted appearance,' and generally the gladness of the day was confined to the hearth and home. CHURCH SERVICES. St.- Stephen's Church was tastefully decorated for the Christmas services. A short choral service was held at the «lose of evensong on Sunday night, and on Monday morning there were two ■celebrations of Holy Communion. The first was at 8.30 a.m. and the second at the mid^-day service, and at each, in spite of the unpropitious elements, ■ a very fair number of communicants pai--ticipated. " All the 'services were conducted by the vicar. Mr Whitehouse's morning text was Isaiah ix., 6 —"For linto us a child is born, unto ns a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be; -called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." In the evening he preached from John i, 14—" And the World was made flesh, and dwelt \ among us (and we beheld his glory, and glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full- of grace and .truth." Jackson's ".Te Deum" was sung at "the morningl service, as was also the anthem, " Let Us Go Now Even Unto Bethlehem." At the Church of the Holy Name there were good attendances, despite the inclement weather. Mass was celebrated at 8 and 9 a.m. by the- Very Rev. Dean O'Donnell, and the preacher at 11 a.m. was the Rev. Father Bartley, S.M.M.A.