The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-26
WHITE HOUSE HAS A QUIET CELEBRATION
MT. And Mrs. Frank StearnS
 Are Guests Of President, Who Later Attends Cere- monies For Disabled Soldiers NEW YORK AND CHICAGO REPORT JOYFUL YULETIDE From All Quarters Come Re- ports Of A Real 0Id-Fash- toned Christmas, Goodwill And Good Cheer

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-(By As sociated Press.)-The White House today had one of it's most quiet Christmas days, despite the presence within 1t of two boys-the first boys to call the White House their home since the days of Charlie Taft and the Roosevelts.
 The President and Mrs. Coolidge and their two sons, John and Calvin, Jr., who are home for the holidays, observed a typical New England Christmas. They. with their only guests, MT. and Mrs. Frank w. Stearns of Boston, assembled after breakfast around small tree in the Blue room and exchanged gifts in much the same manner as the aver age American family. Then the family attended a union Christmas service of the churches of the city at the First Congregational church, where the Coolidges worship.
 Luncheon followed church, then a quiet afternoon, and early in the eve ming Christmas dinner. The only departure from the line followed by the thousands upon thousands of American families in the celebration of the holiday was after dinner, when the chief executive and Mrs. Coolidge went to Walter Reid Military hos pita1 to join with disabled former service men In a Christmas entertain ment.
 Bishop William F. McDowell Of the Episcopal church delivered the ser mon at tho union services, attended by tho President. ana took oceasion to aliude to the controversy now in progress between the modernist and the fundamentalist, over merits of religion belief.
 Extracts From Sermon.
 "A few years ago." Bishop Me Dowell said, the author of widely read book said these words: one of the weaknesses of the church today is-put bluntly--that Christians are not making enough of Jesus Christ, ana that sentence oddly enough Is seized eagerly by two groups that do not agree with ono another at all. Tho highly conservative group, al ways sure of Its own orthodox, just because 1t is conservative, heartily approves tho statement with many and loud affirmations about Jesus Christ and much assertion of what it thinks about Him.
 "The other group, weary of reac- tionary conservatism, gratefully ac- cepts this statement as covering it's own view that it is Jesus Christ and doctrines about Him that must be emphasized. And before we know it the doctrinal debate is on, the violent phrases are filling the air, Shib- boleths are being shouted, names are being called and men are being tested and classified while the church wallows in the ruck of controversy.
 O O O
 AIIudes To Controversy.
 "This Christmas day finds us in danger of fighting about Him or about our interpretation of Him rather than making enough of Him.
 Senator watson of Indiana was an occupant of the presidential pew the President and Mrs. Coolidge having extended an invitation to him to sit with them upon meeting him at the church door. Several cabinet mem- hers. who remained in Washington for the holidays, and Chief Justice Taft also were in the congregation.
 All in all the day was the most complete holiday MT. Coolidge has had since he became president. He made one visit to his office and that was only for few minutes early in the day before going out for his customary morning walk. He held no conferences.