Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-25
COMMUNITY TREE
ATTRACTS 10000
Big Congregation Hears Mighty
Choir in Unique Open
Air Service.
ClTYS FOURTH CELEBRATION
Giant Cedar. Aglow With Lights
and Tinsel. Forms Bril-
liant Spectacle.

udIlt SpeStdSiC.
Ecsplendtnt in a garment Of ColorcL
cedar tree, planted on the Ford lot
threw the mngic spoil Of it's beauty
last night over an audience OF 90. 900
people attending the city's fourth an
nual municipal Christmas celebrations
while the carols OF tho choir lifted the
vast crowd above terrestrial matters
for tho brief period o; the service. into
an atmosphere OF deep reverence
Simplicity and solcmnity cha,acter-
lied the occasion. Dn account of the fact
that Christmas Eve this year occurred
or sunday !ecIdadly subdued note
marked tho service. Tho folk dancing
Of last year was dispensed with, ani
tn" grand iall Will no, he given Th.
celebration yesterday represented
Christmas in It's original meaning. :;
festival Of religion. peace and broth
erly love.
In contrast to the Slood-rcd Christ
nlas OF Europe, tho occasion In Rich
mond was one OF peace and happiness.
a Merry Christmas to You was on
every tongue. While the cities Of til.
Old World arc battered by cannon and
shaken by tho thunder Of bursting
shells. Richmond streets Yesterday
evening echoed with the melody OF
anthems. tho kindly greeting of neigh
bors and tho laughter Of children
STAR OF BETHLEHEM MOVES
AGAIN FROM TIL. EAST
Promptly at o'clock a EIttterinr
star appeared in the east and moved
slowly toward tho tree AZ tho same
timc vested choir OF fort. 1.url.
appeared In the doorway Of The Ftrs,
baptist Church aud walked toward tho
tree singing. "Oh. Come, All Yc Faith.
ful" Trurnpetcrs from kcsSnich's I,and
marched with the singers and as the
procession approached. the drums and
larger horns Of :he band stationed il,
the stand beside the tree toinod I'm
the mustc. Professor Walter G MGR.
Ger. director OF music in the Richmond
schools. led the procession and con-
Quoted the singing. Rev James w
Morris. ID, o.. rector OF Monumental
Episcopal Church. marched with the
singers BOY Scouts kent the pati,
clear from the church TO the tree. and
marched behind the procession.
The John Marshall High School Ca
detS' in full regalia. formed "A Gordon
around the Ford lot. In bleachers
raised along the entire eastern side
OF the lot. vas mighty chorus Of
school children and members Of churci,
choirs. Tho vested singers were drawn
from the St Fauls and Monumental
Episcopal Church choirs, supple mcnted
by few additional choristers.
MURNIUR OF ADMIRATION
GREETS BRIGHT SPECTACLE
When the song was finished and the
lights Of the tree were turned on. The
beams OF the guiding star were put
out. and in its place appeared a larger
and more brilliant star directly over
the tree. 4 thrill of pleasure and =
gentle murmur went through the
crowd. Tall and symmetrical, the tree
glowed with hundreds Of red. purple
green. whit" and golden lights Ropes
oi red and silver were festooned about
its body and shimmer!nE 'icicles" hung
at the tips OF the branches
AS soon as the people had tasted the
+! beauty OF the scene, Rev. James w
Morris. D. D., stepped TO tho front Of
tho band stand and read the wonder
ful song OF the angels. from ST Luke.
Glory to God In the highest and, on
earth. peace. good will toward men"
When he had finished, the great choir
Of 1900 voices responded:
'Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King,
Peace on earth and mercy mild.
God and sinners reconciled"
Followed then in quick succession 20
Little Town OF Bethlehem" 1T Came
Upon Midnight Clear" Holy Night.
Peaceful Night" and Joy to the
World Dr. Morris pronounced the
benediction. and the service was over.
CROWD LARGEST IN
HISTORY OF CELEBRATION
The crowd was easily the largest that
ever witnessed municipal Christmas
| celebration in Richmond. 1t was csti-
mated at 10000 people. Broad Street
was packed from Tenth to Twelfth.
Far up Eleventh Street extended the
congregation. All open space imme-
diately around the lot was taken up.
and Capital square was filled. Win
dows I'm buildings overlooking tho
scene were crowded with faces. street
cars could not run in the vicinity OF
the tree while the service was in
progress.
The high school cadets assembled at
tho city Hall at $50 o'clock, and took
minutes later. For an hour they rem
dered invaluable assistance to the po-
lice in keeping back the crowd from
tho space reserved for those taking
part in the exercises About 200 BOY
Scouts. led by scout Executive Charles
L. Weaver and ten Scout masters, also
did efficient work.
Miss Annie Virginia Speishts. daugh-
ter OF J. l.. SpeiEhts the city electrical
inspector who superintended the light
ing of the tree. pressed the button
which illuminated the star. Miss Dali
las Burrows, daughter OF Mrs. w. a.
Burrows. chairman OF the decorating
committee. turned on the lights OF the
tree.
"The celebration has bccn wonder
fully successful" said Alexander j.
RyIand. chairman of tho general mu
niclpal Christmas committee THO
program was carried out without a
hitch The people of the city turned
out In greater numbers than ever be-
fore. Je believe there, were twice as
|