Evening star., 1923-12-24
PRESIDENT TO OPEN
CHRISTMAS RITES
IN CAPITAL TODAY
City Prepares ReverentiaI,
Joyous Celebration of
Birth of Christ.
CH0IRS TO SING CAROLS
AT WHITE HOUSE TONIGHT
Observance to Begin With Light
ing of Tree on Ellipse by
Mr.. Coolidge.

The shington public, beginning
at 5 o'clock this afternoon, will par
ticipate in a series of Christmas cele-
brations with a spirit of reverence
for the Christ-birth which, according
to the plans for commemoration of
the event, has seldom been equaled
in the District of Columbia Men
women and children of all races and
creeds each will have a share in ex-
pressing the feeling that pervadcs
their hearts on the night before Christ
mas.
The public observance of this event
will be formally opened by the Presi-
dent OF the United States, who at
o'clock will go TO the Ellipse, where
Washingtons community Christmas
tree stands. He will turn the switch
that will cause the giant Vermont fir
to blaze forth in an array OF red,
green and white lights The tree was
sent to Mr. Coolidge by his college
and the Executive presented it TO the
community center department of the
public schools.
With the illumination Of the trees
effected. the Epiphany choir, led by
Adolf Torovsky, who conducted the
singing at the time of the burial OF
the unknown soldier, will open Il
program of Christmas carols, gather
cd about the brilliant tree and ac-
companied by one of the most famous
brass quartets in the country from
the United States Marine Band. Then
the full Marine Band, under the direc-
tion of Taylor Branson, second leader.
Will play appropriate selections from
z to S o'clock, upG- the conclusion
of which this particular ceremony
will end The tree, however. will
remain lighted
Carols at White House
At o'clock hundreds of persons are
expected to assemble. on the north
grounds of the White House. and in
conjunction with the First Congre-
gational Church choir sing carols to
President and Mrs. Coolidge. The
choir. numbering seventy-two voices.
will be located on the north portico
and will also sing separately. Harry
Edward Mueller. organist and choir
master of the Presidents church, will
direct the singers at the piano. Mu-
sicians from the Marine Band will
accompany the choir and audience.
trumpets; "Oh, Come All Ye Faith
full" choir and audience: Draw Nigh.
Emmanuel" "A Virgin Unspotted,'
God Rest Ye. Merry Gentleme n
choir and audience; The Shepherds
Christmas Song (fute obblgato):
we Three Kings (male chorus) and
THE First Noel" choir: Joy to the
Night" soprano and chorus: "sleep,
Holy Babe choir: Holy Night,
Peaceful Night" choir and audience:
"Hark the Herald Angels Sing" choir
and audience.
Verse of the songs which the au-
| dience is to sing were printed In The
| Star of yesterday, when the sugges-
! tion was made that they be clipped
and carried to the Executive Mansion,
together with Illuminating facilities,
| in order that the most effective cho-
| rus can be obtained.
Shortly after the close of the White
House caroling, the colored residents
| of Washington will assemble at the
at midnight inaugurate impressive
services. The Amphion Club. an eff
cient chorus from the colored com
munity centers, will sing carols
around the tree. AS the services
progress an Illuminated cross will
be flashed on the Washington Monu-
ment and shepherds, emulating the
journey to Bethlehem, will go to the
cross.
Mrs. Forrest Heads Program.
The community center program has
been arranged By Mrs. Marie Moore
Forrest.
In another section of the city, where
Central High School is located, the
annual Christmas music fete and
dance carnival of the Community
Music Association will begin at 1880
O'Clock. Robert Lawrence, the di-
rector of community singing, has ar
ranged a program that offers the
public a unique Christmas ceremony.
In addition to the carefully selected
list of feature attractions there VIII
be the singing of carols by the
audience, accompanied by chimes,
brass quartet and pipe organ.
William c. White. principal of the
Army Music School, will present a
concert band composed of soloists and
the evening.
The brass quartet of the Army
Band will be heard in carols from the
upper balcony and also will join in
the accompaniment to the carol sing
ing by the audience. Alfred p. Gsell
of the band will be the chimes solo
ist Of the evening and Howard Lloyd
of the University of Virginia will
play marimba solos. Elizabeth and
usual ARRANGEMENT for harp. violin
and voice of an old Christmas carol
entitled "'Tis Christmas Day" They
also will repeat their rendition OF
Holy Night" which was the feature
of last years carol concert.
The Hoffman and Hoskins Salon OF
Dance will present three dance
numbers santa Claus and the Chill
dren." Beautiful Girls" and 'At
Dawning.'
The dancers participating are Char
line Springsguth. Jack Rice, Linda
Ann Smith, Anna Bradley. Dorothy
Gates Bessie Dumbris. Frances An-
derson, Ruth Moore, Ruth Haskell,
Emily Peters. Anna Gleason, Marie
Horning, Charlotte Rosendorf, Evelyn
Hartstall, Mary Mcdaniel. Dorothy
Borders, Phyllis Davies. Grace Wood
chich and Margaret Langdale. I.e.
vanche G. Eason will appear in hef
shawl dance. a rhythmic interpre.
tation Of a well known waltz song,
Assisting Mr.. Lawrence will be Mrs.
H. Clyde Grimes, organist, and Will
| liam r. Pierson, pianist.
In most of the churches of the
city special Christmas celebrations
have been arranged. There will be
services early this evening to be fol-
| lowed by services at midnight an
well early tomorrow morning, to
close later in the morning with more
| elaborate exercises.
At Luther Place Memorial Church
a trombone choir will play carols
| tomorrow at $3.50 am. from the