The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-12-25
SPIRIT OF PEACE
Continued from Page one.l

and in most of the church services of
last night and this morning the chill
dren made contributions to be used for
the poorer children The former
brought their presents, their pennies
and their nickels. to the churches and
today their presents are being dis
trfbuted by automobile to The poor
boys and girls.
There was no municipal Christmas
tree in Topeka this year but with the
thousands of trees in homes, the big
trees at the various churches it is
doubtful if many children failed to
see one. But to make certain that no
child was missed the Elks entertained
nearly POO children this morning with
an immense Christmas tree, individual
presents and music.
The E1ks Tree.
The ElSs tree is an annual affair.
Weeks IN advance d directory is made
of all the children in Topeka who need
outside attention on Christmas day.
The number usually runs around l.
600. The members of the local lodge
contribute literally for the purchase
7 OF tree, decorations, candy, nuts and
other things of that character This
morning at 10 o'clock there was a
throng on hand for the annual celebra-
. ton. There were big boys and big
girls. there were tiny mites of chill
dren in care of older brothers and sis
tiers. Each and everyone was remem-
berede There was music and a short
programmed long enough to mar the
big Christmas frolic that was on. Then
the children went to the Best and Cozy
moving picture theaterS as the guests
of the ElSs- There is no happier an
nual affair in Topeka than the Ell<s'
Christmas celebration for the young
sters.
The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army did its usual
good work in distributing Christmas
baskets. All yesterday afternoon the
Barracks at 400 Kansas avenue were
their baskets. Each basket contained
a Christmas dinner big enough to feed
from five to eight people. Two hun
dred and fifty such dinners were dis
tributed by Ensign W. G. Houser. The
Salvation Army is systematic in its
Christmas charity and each basket was
given out upon the presentation of a
card The cards had been distributed
after each case was investigated and
found to be worthy.
In each basket was a roast, or If
there was someone sick in the family,
a chicken; then came double loaf of
bread. potatoes, milk. coffee. cookies,
butter, sugar. a can of vegetables and
a can of peaches. The Salvation Army
collected the money and the supplies
providing these dinners from the char
.itably inclined people of Topeka. En-
sign Houser does not believe there Is a
worthy home in Topeka today without
a good Christmas dinner.
The Confidential Exchange.
completely organized in Topeka this
year that there was little chance for a
miss Through the Confidential TX
change. supervised by the Public |
We flare Committee of the CONNER |
cia1 club, tab was kept of the work |
of most churches and charitable or |
CARNATIONS Implications were large |
" abolished also.
For instance, the Confidential Ex-
change knew where every basket fur
nisbed by the Salvation Army was |
going, and allowed no other baskets |
from other organizations to go to |
those homes. Below are the organ |
1zations and concerns doing their |
Christmas work in a cooperative |
manner through the Confidential Xxx |
change: |
Salvation Army: State Savings bank, |
large donation of toys: twelve classes |
in the Central Congregational church |
helped needy families; Euclid Avenue |
NJ E church gave Christmas trees |
and helped generally; Mizpah class |
of the First Presbyterian church cared |
for sixty-two families; the Moose |
lodge cared for twenty families: the |
boys class TO the Swedish Mission |
furnished several dinners: |
CONGREGATIONAL Sunday school at |
girls of the Harveyville high school, /
sent a box of dolls; the Willing |
Workers" at Mission Center, furnished |
dinners for twelve needy families. In 1
addition to all these the following |