Christmas Memories
The social life of the Miller family revolved almost entirely around the church. And at that time, just as now, Christmas was the most sacred of all holidays. In December 1951, George E. Miller (born in 1888) described a typical Christmas of his childhood in the “Timber Cruiser,” which was sent to the clients of his lumber company.
Dear Friends:
It is my thought to take you back some fifty years and unfold to you a Christmas scene as it was impressed upon my mind as a boy. The setting was here in a suburb of Portland, in a small one-room church. There were two rows of benches, separated by a central aisle. The women and girls occupied one side, the men and boys the other.
These were still pioneer days, and Portland was getting off to a good start. The church was illuminated with coal oil lamps and heated by a wood-burning stove. The members were mostly poor, hard-working families who wanted to get ahead out West, the new land of opportunity.
Christmas trees were to be had by walking a few blocks, taking an axe with you, and cutting your own. I can still recall going with my dad and other men after the church Christmas tree, which would be about 20 feet in height. The Christmas tree ornaments were largely the same as those used today, with one notable exception. The trees were lighted with real wax candles placed in spring clamp holders.
The program was held on Christmas Eve and had priority over everything. The starry-eyed children occupied the front benches of the church. The service was opened with prayer by the minister, usually accompanied by the reading of the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel. Next came the singing of the Christmas hymns. Then as now, the most beloved of hymns was “Silent Night, Holy Night.” Usually, the effect of this hymn as sung by devout worshipers is nothing short of heavenly.
With the worship part of the service over, it's now time for the practical side. The ushers came forward with pilot flames on long poles to light the wax candles on the Christmas tree. The eyes of every child followed the ushers' movements until every candle was lit, and if ever an usher overlooked a candle, dozens of eager fingers were pointed to it. When all the candles were lit, the children settled back in their seats to behold the wonder of wonders, their own Christmas tree.
It was the custom of the day for families to bring gifts for their children to church, rather than giving them gifts at home. This was possible because the people were universally limited in their means, and only simple, inexpensive gifts were possible. This element eliminated all pride and jealousy, and all could rejoice together. The girls’ dolls were strung on a wire across part of the platform, clothesline fashion, with no child knowing which doll was hers. I can also remember harmonicas, tops that made music while they spun, and bags of marbles that we boys received. It was a time of intense excitement as the deacons distributed the gifts, and the church ensured that no child was overlooked.
One of the program's features was the performance of musical numbers and the recitation of "pieces". We children usually went forward when our turn came with fears and tremors, and what a sense of relief it was if we could get through it without bogging down.
The final act was marked by the distribution of bags of candy, with an orange thrown in for good measure. Everyone shared in this, and when we left the church, we all felt it was the happiest and most glorious night of the whole year.
Such was the simplicity of it all, and who can say we did not enter into the fullest blessing of the true meaning of Christmas!
George E. Miller
It is my thought to take you back some fifty years and unfold to you a Christmas scene as it was impressed upon my mind as a boy. The setting was here in a suburb of Portland, in a small one-room church. There were two rows of benches, separated by a central aisle. The women and girls occupied one side, the men and boys the other.
These were still pioneer days, and Portland was getting off to a good start. The church was illuminated with coal oil lamps and heated by a wood-burning stove. The members were mostly poor, hard-working families who wanted to get ahead out West, the new land of opportunity.
Christmas trees were to be had by walking a few blocks, taking an axe with you, and cutting your own. I can still recall going with my dad and other men after the church Christmas tree, which would be about 20 feet in height. The Christmas tree ornaments were largely the same as those used today, with one notable exception. The trees were lighted with real wax candles placed in spring clamp holders.
The program was held on Christmas Eve and had priority over everything. The starry-eyed children occupied the front benches of the church. The service was opened with prayer by the minister, usually accompanied by the reading of the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel. Next came the singing of the Christmas hymns. Then as now, the most beloved of hymns was “Silent Night, Holy Night.” Usually, the effect of this hymn as sung by devout worshipers is nothing short of heavenly.
With the worship part of the service over, it's now time for the practical side. The ushers came forward with pilot flames on long poles to light the wax candles on the Christmas tree. The eyes of every child followed the ushers' movements until every candle was lit, and if ever an usher overlooked a candle, dozens of eager fingers were pointed to it. When all the candles were lit, the children settled back in their seats to behold the wonder of wonders, their own Christmas tree.
It was the custom of the day for families to bring gifts for their children to church, rather than giving them gifts at home. This was possible because the people were universally limited in their means, and only simple, inexpensive gifts were possible. This element eliminated all pride and jealousy, and all could rejoice together. The girls’ dolls were strung on a wire across part of the platform, clothesline fashion, with no child knowing which doll was hers. I can also remember harmonicas, tops that made music while they spun, and bags of marbles that we boys received. It was a time of intense excitement as the deacons distributed the gifts, and the church ensured that no child was overlooked.
One of the program's features was the performance of musical numbers and the recitation of "pieces". We children usually went forward when our turn came with fears and tremors, and what a sense of relief it was if we could get through it without bogging down.
The final act was marked by the distribution of bags of candy, with an orange thrown in for good measure. Everyone shared in this, and when we left the church, we all felt it was the happiest and most glorious night of the whole year.
Such was the simplicity of it all, and who can say we did not enter into the fullest blessing of the true meaning of Christmas!
George E. Miller
Note
In this story, George Miller is describing the Christmas Eve service held at the original First German Congregational Church, known as Ebenezer, during the 1890s. His parents, John O. and Anna Elisabeth Miller, lived a few blocks from the church.
Source
Haynes, Emma S. My Mother's People. N.p.: 1959. Print. Edited for clarity.
Last updated October 7, 2025