Merry Christmas members of the Stark County list group. I found this in the old newspaper on microfilm, which I am reading through now. --Richard How Christmas was celebrated in Canton 120 years ago: >From the Thursday, Dec. 23, 1880 Stark County Democrat, printed at Canton Ohio: "Christmas Among Our Many Churches How the Day Will be Observed by the Churches What Our Ministers Will Say and What will be Done for the Children At the First Methodist Christmas service will be held in the morning by Rev. Miller from the text, "His name shall be called Emanuel, which being interpreted is God with us." Regular service in the evening. The children's entertainment will be held New Years evening. At the English Lutheran the Sunday school and congregation will give a Christmas entertainment beginning at 10:00 in the morning. Fine music will form a prominent part. The regular Christmas sermon will be preached on Sunday, Rev. Kuhns has chosen for his text "The Wonderful Child." At the German Lutheran, Mr. J. H. Snyder, a theological student of the Capital City University at Columbus, who is spending his holiday vacation with his folks near this city, will preach the Christmas sermon from Luke II, 1:14v. At the St. John's Catholic church, Rev. Father Maguire will hold high mass at 6:00 a.m. and again at 8:00. Vespers as usual at 3:00 in the afternoon. The fine singing of the choir of this church will bring out a large number of people. The music on Christmas morning will be unusually fine. At the St. Peter's (German) Catholic church the services will be the same as those at the St. John's church, conducted by Rev. Father Arnold. In the old St. Peter's church a festival has been in progress since Monday night. It will conclude Christmas night with a turkey supper. The Presbyterians don't want their entertainment to conflict with that of any other church, so that Wednesday, December 29th, has been chosen as the evening for their entertainment. It will consist of music and literary efforts including what is known as the "fan drill." All are invited to attend. No regular Christmas services will be held. The Bethel on East Tuscarawas street will have a Christmas tree and entertainment Friday evening for the children. No services will be held on Christmas. No services will be held during the day at the Second Methodist, but beginning at 6 in the evening a literary and musical entertainment, with a Christmas tree for the children, will be given. At the Baptist church on next Sabbath, the pastor will preach both morning and evening. Subject of morning discourse, "Christ in the Prophecies." Evening subject "Christ in the Manger." The childrens entertainment, consisting of music, declamations, etc, will be held New Years night in the church. Christmas morning at 10:30 Rev. Avery of the Episcopal church will deliver the Christmas sermon. The church will be decorated. The children's' fair will be held Thursday evening, December 30th, and will be a musical entertainment by the children. The United Brethren have their Christmas service on Sunday morning. The pastor, Rev. E. Rock will deliver a sermon suitable to the occasion. The entertainment will be held Christmas night. Music, declamations etc. will compose the program. Each member of the Sabbath school will receive a present. The Trinity church will hold no services on Christmas. The entertainment will be held on Christmas night. At the German Reform the pastor, Rev. Peter Herbruck will deliver a Christmas sermon in the morning if he is able. At present he is ill. In the evening the regular Christmas entertainment will be held, a handsomely decorated Christmas tree will form a prominent feature. The Disciple church will give a Christmas concert Friday night with a Christmas tree and presents for the children. Friday night the Evangelical church on east Fourth street have their entertainment. Like the others it will consist of music declamations and an abundance of presents for the little ones."