New Britain herald., 1924-12-24
CITY WAITING FOR
 TICK OF MIDNIGHT Children, Old and Young, SuS-
 pect Clocks Are Stopped BUT SANTA IS COMING
Observance of Christmas In Homes And Churches Features of Day Elks Send GO Dinners To Needy Childrcn's Home Program,

N~-~
 Childrcn's Home Program.
 Religious observance of Christ mas Day will begin with the stroke of midnight tonight when solemn high mass will be sung at St, Mary church and other churches followed later in the day by service in churches throughout the city.
 The midnight mass is new fca- ture of Christmas services in this city. In anticipation of a large at tendance, Rev. Matthew J. 1raynor pastor, announced this morning that the doors of the church will not be opened until 11:15 o'clock. Supt. William J. Bryan of the Connectt- cut Co.,, has detailed special troleys to be in front of the church at 1,&O o'clock to transport parishioners from the western section of the town to their homes. Elaborate musical programs will feature tho regular Christmas day masses and service In this city's churches.
 Protestant Church Observance
 A beautiful custom has been re- vived at the First Lltheran church since the coming to this city of Rev Dr. Abel A. Ahlqlist. and tomorrow for the third Christmas, Dr. Ahl- ouist and his choir will call on tho sick and shut-ins of the conerc ga ton and will sing Christmas carols.
 The Sunday school of the First Lutheran church will have its an nual Christmas party tomorrow aft ernoon,
 This afternoon at o'clock the primary department of the First Baptist church is holding it's annual party.
 There will be a special service at ] o'clock tomorrow morning at the Swedish Bethany church. Tho male quartet will sing "Christmas Morn" and tho choir will sing Christmas sclectionst
 Friday afternoon at o'clock the Italian extension of the South Con- gregational church will have it's an nual exercises at the Hunter Road meeting place.
 The Sunday school Of the Rcfor- nation church will hold it's Christ mas exercises at 4;30 o'clock tomor- row afternoon.
 The Emmanuel Gospel church school will hold its Christmas sH"r- cisjs tomorrow evening at 7:45 o'clock.
 There will be holy communion at St. Marks Episcopal church tomor- TOW morning at 7. 9 and il o'clock, with sermon at II.
 There will be special Christina services at lo;&o a. m. and at , D. m. tomorrow at st. Matthews German Lutheran church
 The German Daptist church will observe Christmas at o'clock to- morrow afternoon.
 Elks in santa Claus Role.
 Tn keeping with its annual custom, New Britain lodge of EIks today dis trbutcd complete turkey dinners to about GO needy families. The din nors consisted of everything which goes to make a Christmas meal com p)ctc, even q bag of charcoal for the fire.
 About 100 Christmas boxes con, taining fruit, candy, nuts and other goodies were sent tA correctional in. slitutions in Connecticut where New Britain boys and girls are confined The institutions include Long Lan' Farm for girls, Connecticut schoo for boys at Meridon, Florence Crit tenden Home in New Haven, Hous' of the Good Shepherd at Hartford Cheshire Koformatory and the stat institution at Mansfield. The bulk of the expense for th' dinners and Christmas boxes wa borne by the members of the lodg' and additional funds were taker from the lodge treasury. Members also gave tncir time to delivering the packages.
 Basket dinners were given yostor day to tho families of atout Is OK scr,iccmrn by the American Legion ladies anNiiary. and Home Service bureau, and the local chapter of tho American Rcd Cross. BoXes con taininG ranhcrs of small gifts were also sent to all disabled local mer in hospitals throughout tho country
 Visiting Nurses Have Tree.
 The Visiting Nurses had Christ mas tree at the headquarters on Cen, ter street and gave out presents this afternoon to the children of familie! in their care.
 Home From colleges,
 The fesu}fi,e of the holidays hav' OContinucd on Page Flftecn)