The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-12-24

Promptly az tho lamps flicker along
broad Street and the bells toll the hour
OF 6 o'clock tonight the Communltv
christmas Tree, reared In tho middle of
me vacant space once occupied by old
FORD Hotel viii blaze out in rnvriad
lights. and 1000 school children wiI
hurst into sounding song When the
children raise their voices under di.
rcctlon OF Professor w II. Mercer and
10 the accom- panment OF Kessnich's
hand. the lights in the tree will be
cXtingushed. and the words OF tho
carols Will be flashed onto a screen at
tNched 10 the building wall opposite to
me CITY Han. Thus all may read and
sing The hymns and carols Will he
sung TO airs familiar to all who come.
and IT Is especially requested that as
~ Tree peionss 10 all the people all
VIII ;o!n In the vast medley OF song
Inc giant tree will spring into light
lotwoen tho hymns, and above II vii
iHoVe tho Star OF the East until II
mas found an abiding place just ABOVE
inc topmost bough. where IL will re
main Ike the hrood.ng star OF destiny
that once shone above the little :own
of Bethlehem. The exercises viii las,
AN hour. after which the tree viii
stand silent and aglow. ! reminder OF
me past and prophecy for the fu-
ture.
The City's Christmas.
The Idea Of having Community
Christmas Tree was wrought ont or n
k'ndiy charity which would cxcnpltfy
peace on earth and good will toward
mon. II was reared by hands which
ieaIned the ancient teaching that 1T is
more blessed TO give than 20 receive
anu IL stands to-day symbol OF an all
perVad!ng sympathy and a token ,h,t
the story Of the cradle, in me inaoro,
mas not been forgot IT viii represent
the city's Christmas, tho Christmas for
The men who toll In the street. for the
men who labor with their minds To
make name ana fame, for. the women
VINO slave by day and by night and
their sisters upon whom fortune has
smiled her favor. and for tho little
chiioreh whose Christmas is a dim and
distant thing. While Il flashes form
its messages OF good cheer and its
kindly henisons. and while thousands
OF voices are caroling IN pleasant tuna
there VIII be others engaged in tho
pleasing business of doing out we'll
niied baskets 10 the deserving poor and
distributing stockings to little chill
oTeh' These viii labor so that none
may awaken tomorrow morning and
reel the loneliness Of those whom
santa Claus has passed and forgotten.
The symbol of Chnrity.
Tho tree viii be the symbol OF tha
charity. which goes forth without name
ana fingers wherever there is a fire.
less hearth and Il stocking hung at
the root of q lowly bed. This charity
VIII remember those who in other tima
have been forgotten and whose cbiid
ish faith in that timc-o figure OF
santa Claus has begun to wane Moth
crs and fathers Will go to-day to IN.
associated Charities building 1910 East
Frahkilh street, TO receive their bas-
kets, and this afternoon automobiles
guided and guarded by details of Bov
scouts VIII carry forth and distribute
thc stockings, which others more for
tunate have filled. Indexcd cards have
neen distributed among all those whose
naines nave been handed in by any
agent or charity organization what
socVcr and none Will go lacking II
there shall be some who are neglected
1t viii be because their names h.ve
not been made known, or because there
mas not been enough money to provide
Tor all. But the provisions which will
III the baskets have been bought care
iul!y and as chcaply as possible, and
II is hoped that they will suffice for
every need that cries
\ Community Movement.
II viii be the first time i'm the bis
tory of Richmond that all the city has
been Invited TO join in a common cele
bration, and that all the various or
Sans OF charity have been co-ordinatod
for the general good Around the giant
cedar tonight will be such scene OF
life and color, OF such completo and
joyous abandon as Richmond has never
seen before. From the dais around its
base and through its greening boughs
VIII well such song as the good peo.
pie of Richmond have never heard II
rs SAID that sound is never lost, and
perhaps this thousand throated SONG,
will become mingled in the music OF
the spheres Of which Pythagoras once
fondly dreamed. There is at least In
spiration in tho thought. and 1t wa,
through inspiration that the idea of a
Christmas for all was conceived. It
came OF boundless faith in man, OF a
hopo for tho ultimate good and of a
charity which believes much and gives
lConIinued On Third Pnya1 \