Evening star., 1901-12-25
FOR WORTHY POOR
Thousands of Hearts Made Glad This
Christmas.
NOBLE WORK OF ALMhS TEMPLE
Baskets of Provisions Sent Out
and Concert for Children.
OTHER CHARITABLE WORK

''The poor ye have always with you" At
no time in the year is this thought brought
to mind more forcibly than at the approach
| of the holiday season. when gladness and
goSd cheer ought to pervade all homes. TO
meet just such g contingency the various
charitable organizations Of the District
have been working assiduously for many
! days to properly insure the destitute having
| a merry Christmas. There has been a
| marked cooperation in this respect among
the various charities that has been most
! praiseworthy, and the result is that on no
previous occasion have the poor been SO
well provided for. The Associated Chari-
| ties has been most active, and through it's
agents have distributed supplies and gifts
that made glad many a formerly neglected
hearthstone today.
These agents, many Of whom did the work
voluntarily and without remuneration, have
patroled the courts, alleys and tenements,
ferreting out destitute families that de-
served relief Many pitiful stories are
lated by these agents of cases of destit ution
that they encountered in their rounds.
All were relieved, however. according to
the exigencies Of each inoIvidual case.
Work Of AImas Temple.
The drill room of the National Rifles
Armory on G street presented a scene Of
animation from long before sunrise today.
1t has been the custom of the members Of
Alnnas Temple, Mystic Shrine, to display
their deeds of charity at Christmas time,
and this year was no exception.
Until long after midnight half hundred
of the mobiles worked with will filling the
baskets and getting everything in readi-
ness for today's distribution. Potentate
Frank X. Raymond was in charge of the
work. Frank A. Sebring looked after the
distribution of the tickets and Thomas B.
Walker and f. II. Pilisbury' saw that the
baskets were delivered. George II. Walker
who has been potentate of Aimas Temple,
stood at the main door of the armory all
the forenoon and saw that no needy per-
son was turned away.
Covered with Baskets of Provisions.
The entire floor of the drill room was
covered with baskets of provisions before
the work of delivering was commenced. In
the center of the room were two Christmas
trees loaded with presents and confections.
The whole scene reminded one of cotton
field. Every basket was filed to overflow .
ing. The contents of each basket were
twenty pounds of flour, one pound Of cof-
fee, one-half pound of tea, one quart OF
beans, two pounds of hominy, one box of
English plum pudding, a ham weighing
from six to ten pounds one peck of tur-
nips and a loaf of fresh bread.
Twenty or more wagons were backed up
at the rear door of the armory when the
Shriners returned to their work this morn>
ing. There was little, If any, delay In get.
to the homes, where they brought good
cheer. Quite a number of persons called ;
with their tickets and took the baskets
away with them.
Concert for Poor Children.
At 1 o'clock this afternoon Haley's Band
marched into the armory and took seats /
provided for it on the east side Of the drill 4
A cyfxr 10
after o'clock. This was provided for the
pleasure of the poor children of the city.
Hundreds of little men and women flocIled
to the armory, listened to the music and
We're given candy and nuts. Three tons Of 4
candy were distributed by the Shriners.
There were 1,So0 pairs of stockings filed .
with sweetmeats, and when these were ex-
haUsted 800 boxes of the same were given 4
out The little folks enjoyed the treat
hugely and their childish prattle was
enough in itself to repay the big-heaTted .
men of AlmaS Temple who had worked so
hard to make the occasion success.
General George II. Harries of the WASH
ington Traction Company contributed 900
street car tickets and Glover & Hyde of the
Columbia Traction Company 500 tickets,
and these were distributed among those
who needed transportation.
Central Union Mission.
The day at the Central Union Mission
was one of good cheer. At 10 o'clock SER
vices were held in the auditorium. o. B.
Brown chairman of the board of directors,
presided. There was good singing. A hum
dred men from the streets sought refuge
there and seemed to appreciate the gospel
words that were told. just before the close
of the service Mr.. Brown said that the
board of directors had decided to give q
little token of money to the employees that
had been so faithful through the year and
had contributed so much to place the mis-
sion on a sure foundation.
To carry on this work for the Lord 1t
REQUIRES a great many workers and there is
nonch work TO be DONE he said There
is work both manual and mental to be
done Christ brought good Will to men.
We are our brothers Keeper: Ihose VINO
have been reached by the spirit Of the Lord
Jesus know this as none other can. The
board has watched with pleasure the fidel-
ity of those who have worked so hard for
the mission. We realize that we are all
on a common platform. We want to livo
with Him and in harmony with each other"
Mr. j. c. Pratt, the treasurer, after ex.
planning that the money had been contrib.
uted as a free will offering from the Chris
ttan churches of the city, called off the
names of the employees and each was hand
ed an envelope.
Every person who desired one was given
a ticket which entitled him to a bountiful
Christmas dinner.
salvation Army.
The Salvation army, as has been the cus-
tom for years. looked after a great many
needy families in the city. The soldiers
have been working almost day and night
during the past month to accomplish 40
much good as possible. Nearly 300 baskets
of provisions were sent out to needy fami-
lies, and IL is estimated that at least 1,S00
persons will be benefited thereby. Many
articles of clothing were also distributed
among the poor.
Yesterday the ladies Of st. Patrick's
Church met in Carroll Hall and filled 40
boxes with groceries to be sent to the needy
families of the church.
An oyster supper and Christmas social
will be given to the Young Wage Farmers
Club at 522 9th street on Thursday ever<nG,
December 26, at o'clock, by the w. c. n.
U. ladies having charge of that branch Of
their work. =
In Georgetown.
The hearts of many poor families in the
section west Of Rock creek were made
happy today by the donations of good
things for the holiday. II anything. the
chs rif ftyic fvear excaedad that for many