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Page 181 Baptist Church, of this City. Instead of Christmas trees and presents indiscriminately distributed, they give their schools an intellectual entertainment, instructive n the ways of the Lord; an dat the close, present awards of merit to the deserving, for good behaviour and proficiency in the study; and to every one a small bag of fruit and confections to take home with them. Nothing is permitted to be done in the church that will, in the least, detract from the sacredness of the place, and give the children a wrong impression of the objects and purposes of the Sunday School. If Sabbath Schools must have festivals of the worldly character (although in any wise I think them wrong) they should hire a public hall for the occassion. I think strawberry festivals also - when held in the church edifice - decidely worng. I would have the house of God devoted exclusively to the worship of God, for God alone is it dedicated. Friday, December 27th - Business all give? Merchants, generally, say that it has not been so unclear for many years. Health better - praise the Lord, and although a rainy night ventured out to Prayer meeting; Alas? I do not think I shall be sorry going even if it is the cause of relapse, it was so