Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1916-12-14

tti Whut tho abo VI ioSo VI ichbiOh
of the spectators.
The true slogan of such trees is
"It's your tree; It's my tree; it's every
body's tree" On this occasion there
mingle choirs that at no other time
would sing together and sectarians
that would not pop corn together have
been humanized and united. All join
in making great c0-Ordinated rally
for Christmas cheer. Great families
sing carols and anthems expressive Of
the common hope for the better city
and the better world. 1t Is all signifi.
cant of the Christmas spirit OF good
will toward all men. Great cities are
surprised at the awakened social con.
seriousness that they have never pos.
sessed before. Thus Is the people,
Christmas spirit manifested and the
best Of all holidays brought out into
the open with, who shall say, how
great an opportunity for engendering
neighborliness and good will.
No Need Of Enforcing Order.
Some people," says the Outlook
came in furs and In their automo
jiles, many by trolley and subway;
more walked from distance. Scat
tered through the crowd were hun
dreds Of outcasts and 1t was noticed
that silver passed quietly from gloved
hands to bare ones throughout the
crowd. There was no need of enforc
ing order; the star and the tree did
that. II was the second municipal
Christmas tree in New York"
Now and then, It is true. 1t is found
that In some places the movement Il
not be directed with fine percep
tion OF its highest possibilities. Tt
such places the promoters OF thii
movement usually send reprints OF ;
letter which appeared In the columns
OF the local newspaper Of an Ohit
town, written by citizen who hat
caught the real meaning of the Ire,
OF Light. He said
The True Purpose.
"In reading an account OF the pro
posed Christmas tree to be erected II
the public square, II seemed to m
that the true purpose OF a municipal
tree has been misunderstood. TIL
great evergreen which stood In Mad
son Square, New York. last year. iron
Christmas Eve until New Years. wa
the embodiment OF quite anothe
Idea.
This tree was moderated say
for the hundreds OF electric lights hid
den in its branches. the white sta
which crowned II, and the fall @
snow which came just at the right mC
ment. No gifts were heaped at II
foot nor suspended from its branches
but every evening groups OF singers
sometimes adults. sometimes children
gathered on a pine sheltered platforr
near the tree and sang the Christina
hymns and carols. embodying the r,
ligiOus experience OF many people
AT evening. as soon as the lights b.
gan TO twinkle In the tree. the crowd
would gather-yOung and old, ric
and poor happy and unhappy-an
soon hundreds Of voices would take II
the song. Elbow to elbow in N
throng stood men and women frol
every walk In life. II. under the Il
fluence OF the spiritual idea for whiC
the tree stood, material gift giving r
suited. II was spontaneous and anon
nous. by all means reaC
the needy children through the usu
charitable channels. but DON'T Ill
tribute gifts from the tree. Let I
keep our tree free from the matcri
Misrepresentation OF CRAFTSMANSHIP
the spirit Of the eternal. whose syr
, Dol II Is. may teach us the real mea
. Ing OF Christmas"
The Ohio town above alluded
promptly abandoned the intended dI
,ributlon OF gifts from the tree.
!. Records Are Significant
The community Christmas tree HI
been adopted by all crecds and color
all classes and conditions Of mankin
one Of the most interesting Guido