The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-12-21
EKS Will ACT
SANTA CLAUS TO
NEEDY KIDDIES
Christmas Tree At Elks
Home Gorgeous Affair.
Admission By Ticket

Hundreds Of. kiddies will be made
happy Christmas day when the distribu.
tions of presents from the annual
Ohristmas tree given by Birmingham
Lodge No. 20 Benevolent Protective
Order OF Elks, at their home corner
Of Eighth avenue and Nineteenth street
win be made. An immense tree has
been erected in the spacious dining room
Vim ybs brilliantly lighted and decorated
and loaded to the breaking point with
presents for the youngsters.
John B. Antwine, chairman. of the
Christmas tree committee states that all
tho presents and, fruits and candies
have been bought and that they will be
more numerous and of better quality
than those Of previous years. They will
include dolls, wagons, skates, balls, bats
horns fruits, cakes and candy. The
distribution will be made on Christmas
day at ESQ. p. m. A short program
win be rendered with music by the Elks
orchestra under the direction Of Prof.
Harry Moran. W. T. Harrison, who for
many years has taken the part will act
az Santa. Claus. IT
The committee in charge consists Of
John E. Antwine, chairman, A. Harry
Moore, vice chairman, DIR. John w.
Perkins, DR.. B. A. Fox, B. L. Clark,
Clarence HiItbruner, and G. w. Parrish.
The committee assisted by the ladies
auxiliary. viii distribute the Christmas
cheer.
All children who desire to partici-
pate in. the Elks Christmas tree must
Be provided with ticket which may
be secured from members of the lodge,
or from the committee at the Elks home,
who will be on hand each day from
1:30 to 8 80 o'clock until December
"a. Owing to abuses in the past, the
rule that each child must be provided
with ticket will be strictly adhered
to, but no deserving child will be re-
fused ticket on making application~for
the same.
It will be Of interest to note that
the giving Of Christmas tree by the
Elks for the poor kiddies of the city
originated in the Birmingham Lodge
some 80 years ago, when a number Of
the early members raised fund among
themselves for this purpose. The affair
proved q hugh success and hundreds
Of neglected children were made glad
by the bounty of the Elks. The idea was
taken up by other Elks lodges, until
today in every section Of the United
States where an Elks lodge esists, the
poor, are remembered by a Christmas
tree or Christmas hamper Of provisions,
or some other substantial Christmas Of
fering. For more than a quarter of a
century the Birmingham Elks have,
with a few exceptions, carried out the
Christmas tree idea and have gladdened
the hearts Of thousands Of children dur
ing that time.
Preparations for the watch party"
on New Years Eve are well under way
and the committee headed by Clarence
Hiltbruner will announce the program
in the next few days. Dancing and
music will be featured at the party and a
number Of surprise stunts will be pulled
off. .,=
At the regular meeting of the lodge
held last Tuesday night several candi-
dates were initiated and other business
transacted. An invitation to attend the
presentation Sunday afternoon, Decem-
Der 20 of Max Sasnoff picture of
Christ, to Kilby prison, by the Big
Brothers Bible class of the First Pres
byterian church of Montgomery, of
which Judge McCord is teacher, was
received and a number of members of
the lodge signified their intention of &C.
cepting the invitation. Judge McCord
Will make the presentati address