Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-11-13
CITY TO HAVE 4
CHRISTMAS TREE
Planned to EmbOdy Yuletide Spirit
of the Community.
EVERYBODY ASKED TO JOIN.
People viii Gather Around it and
SiBg The O 4 Carols.

College Avenue Baptist Young
Peoples Society which has expressed
willingness and desire TO partici.
pate in the movement for the Com
munity Christmas Tree, ask 20 have
the matter clearly presented
The Capital has endeavored 10 ex-
plain the plan. but for the benefit OF
the inquirer. this paper herewith re-
produces the following from the Balti-
more Sun:
Everyone will have Christmas
tree this year. This tree will belong
to every man, woman and child in
the city, no matter how rich or how
poor on how friendless or lonely.
Everyone will have a share in it.
The Community Tree will b. erect
ed on some downtown square or plnzs,
where il will stand during Christmas
week as the embodiment of the
Christmas spirit Thousands Of col.
ored electric lights will be used To
decorate it, The tree itself will be-
the largest and most beautiful which
can be secured The old carols will
be sung on Christmas-Ev and on
New Years Eve. The whole city
will be invited to attend, for il will
be the city's own tree.
Men and women who have the
brains and capacity and the Christmas
spirit to push such project through
will be asked to serve on a commit
tee of arrangements. Musicians and
singers will be called upon 20 share
their gifts with the community at the
tfee on the two nights. In fact,
everyone will be asked to take part
The press believes in the plan.
They will receive subscriptions for
the nece ssary expenses. They should
be marked for "The Community
Tree. Rev. Dr. Carlton ID. Harris,
editor Of the Southern Methodist, call
ed the attention of Mayor Preston.
of Baltimore, TO the plan some days
ago. He has agreed to do all he can
to push the plan through and will
serve on the committee of arrange
ments.
The plan for a Community Christ
mas Tree for Baltimore is based ON
the New York and Boston trees of
last winter. They were tremendous
ly successful. The New YOrl. tree
a great 60.foot balsam pine-was
erected in Madison Square. in the
heart Of the city. II was decorated
with 5000 colored electric lights.
From ths topmost bough shone great
star, symbolical Of the star Of Beth
lebem two thousand years ago.
Iong before the hour set for the
lighting Of the tree on Christmas
Eve Madison Square was thronged.
As the crowd stood silent, watching
the turning on of the lights, the great
choir burst into "Silent Night, Holy
Night. Thousands in the crowd
united with the singers on the plat
form. The program lasted from $50
o'clock till o'clock Christmas morn
ing. Sacred and patriotic music, the
hymns and songs Of all nations were
sung. Thousands stood for ,urs en-
| joying the spirit Of Christmas The
tree remained standing during Christ
mas week On New Years Eve an
other program was rendered.
The outdoor Christmas tree was
gift in every sense. The Adiron-
| dack Club gavA the tree. The rail-
road company carried il free. The
electric lights were given. The cur
rent was provided. Donors, who
remained unknown, subscribed TO a
fund to cover all other expenses.
The great opera singers Of the city
sang, unannounced and unheralded.
| The spirit Of Christmas ruled, every
body trying TO do something for
some body else.