New-York tribune., 1921-12-26
Real Heart of
City Is Shown
In Yule Spirit
Thousands Quit Firesides
to Bring Cheer to Needy
in Biggest Christmas
Here Since the War
'ihrongs Crowd Churches
Unforlunates Given Big
Dinners and Friendless
i'll Hospitals Remembered

New York subordinated it's rolling of
the yule log to the spirit of Bethlehem
yesterday.
Although the citys millions gave
themselves over to firesidc and other
merrymaking called for by the tradi-
tions of the day to degree not en-
joyed on any previous Christmas since
the armisticc, they carried out to the
fullest extent the meaning to mankind
Of the Star of Bethlehem.
The theaters and like centers of
amusement were crowded, but no more.
II as much, as were the churches, which
reported an almost unprecedented at
tendance for the morning services.
thousands of New Workers who were
aole financially to do 50 Transformed
arab drcarlness to joy in homes of the
needy and unfortunate throughout the
c,ity, through presenting Christmas
dinner baskets. Throngs of hungry
men were fed by the Salvation Army
and similar Institutions. Friendless
hospital patients were visited and given
tokens OF cheer and comfort. Even the
inmates of prisons We're helped briefly
to forget the gray walls contining them
through festivities arranged for their
enjoyment.
Children Remembered
And of course the children of the
city we're made aware that the faithful
Santa had not forgotten them But
more than ever before. according to
the reports which poured into the news
paper offices last night, was this re-
rfrt+ =.
needy.
Something Of the spirit in which the
day was celebrated was sounded in the
Christmas sermons of the city's leading
clergymen.
christmas speaks to us Of the most
glorious event in the worlds historv,o
said Bishop William T. Manning.
preaching IN the Cathedral of St. John
the Divine. at is day on which the
door OF Heaven seems wide open TO us.
On Christmas Day we look into the
very heart of God. We are reminded
to-day that the Word who was made
OF flesh still dwells among us. Never
since the angel sang the first Christ
mas carol above the fields of Bethle-
hem has the promise of Christ's peace
on earth seemed so near to its fulfill
ment as it does now"
Solemn Pontifical Mass
Solemn pontitical mass was celebrated
in st. Patrick's Cathedral bv Arch
bishop Patrick J. Hayes. Afterward
tne Rev. D. A. Sullivan, of the Oblate
Fathers of Lowell, Mass, said in his
sermon there:
Through God we move. think and
act. Thoughts of gratitude should be
IN the mind of every Christian en- this
the anniversary of Christ's entrance
INTO the world, sent to US by His Heav-
enly Father to be our brother and re-
store us to the spiritual life"
speaking in Calvary Baptist Church
the Rev. John Roach Straton said:
The manger cradle at Bethlehem is
the shrine of humanity's best affec-
tlons and the center of the worlds
highest interest. Never before. with
the promise Of peace on earth so near
OF realization as it is now, have we
had such a Christmas as now in this
year of 1921"
Foilowing is a partial summary of
the efforts of New Workers and New
York organizations and institutions to
spread Christmas cheer throughout the
city:
Salvation Army-More than 1000
men given dinner at three centers and
hundreds of dinner baskets distributed.
Volunteers of America-Thousands
Of dinner baskets given out
Thomas w. Lamont-Dinner for
newsboys at the Brace Memorial News.
boys Home.
Chicken for Prisoners
The Tombs-Chicken dinners given
the 497 prisoners.
Rronx County Jail-Special dinners
and ''songfest."
Elks' Club-Santa presented gifts to