The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-24
CHRISTMAS EVE
1t Will Be Observed by All the
Churches.
The Big City Christmas Tree
Outdoors the Feature.
Be LIGHTED At 5 O'CLOCK
1t Is Now Ready on the Plaza
East of State House.
Other Exercises for the Night
Before Christmas. .

Thousands Of people will be at
tracted to the state house grounds
this evening for the lighting for the
first time of Topeka's big thirty-foot
municipal Christmas tree. N. p. Nc
Comas, a soloist from Marshalfs band.
from the capitol dome will give a
that the ceremonies are about to be-
gin. The blast from above will be
answered by d. H. Porter, an ex-army
busler, stationed on the east steps of
the building. DR.. Charles M. Shell
don, standing at the east entrance,
will press a button at $3.50 o'clock
that will illuminate the tree, which 10
stationed in the center OF the plaza
east of the state house.
A choir from the Presbyterian
churches of the city under the lead
ership of Elon s. Clark will sing IA
miiiar Christmas hymns. Mrs. Ethel
McKibben will officiate at the organ.
The following will be among the
selections that will be rendered by the
choir: "Oh. Little Town Of Bethle-
hem," 10y to the World" "Blest Be
the Tie that Binds "1ark, Ten Thou
sand Harps and Voices Calling" "Je-
sus Shall Reign" Love Divine All
Love Excelling." and America.
from the Harry Forbes farm, west OF
Gage park. late Monday. and 1t was
nut in place Tuesday afternoon. 1t
took two teams to bring it in from the
farm. Lungren and Carlson furnished
the platform on which the tree is sta
toned and lifted the pine into place.
Electricians Do Quick Work.
At five o'clock Tuesday evening
twenty-four members Of the Topeka
Ay.k nwnk Nh<SD
of Electrical WORKERS., left their work
in various parts of the city and at
Sis o'clock they were ION the job. ;"
They gave their services free of
charge in string.1g the lights and
making the proper connections. They
strung on the tree two hundred and
forty colored lamps, and in four
enty-two lights. They had competed
their task by Sis o'clock-precisely
an hour from the time they started.
AS they had not been to supper the
ladies of the Topeka Federation OF
Missions were on hand to serve q
lunch OF coffee ard doughnuts. The
state will furnish the current for the
tree.
The tree has not been installed par
ticularly for either the poor or the
rich classes of pe0ple-it is something
for every one to enjoy. The promot-
ers. the members Of the Topeka Fed
Grafton of Missions. have worked hard
to carry out the plans.
Tree IL for All Topeka.
The tree will be lighted at 5:45
o'clock after today and continuing
until New Years day. The lights will
10 out each night at 10 o'clock with
the exception Of tonight and New
Years eve when they will be left
burning until midnight. There has
been some talk of arranging for a band
to play between IL and IL o'clock
New Years eve. The services will last
Approximately half an hour each eve
ming. There will be no gifts on the
tree-it IL just to look pretty. A good
view of It may be had from the corner
of Ninth street and Kansas avenue.
The star at the top of the tree will
be lighted tonight as the choir sings:
"Oh, Little Star of Bethlehem. How
Still We See Thee Rise"
The churches conducting the muni-
Gceniinusd IN Page Twel